I learn from example. I watch others to see what I can do better than I did before. The trick is to discern between a good example and a bad one. Case #1 is FCCF, and Case #2 is Somerset Church of Christ. Case #1 or Case #2, you decide based on the parable comparison.
From the book:
“That is exactly what Jimmy did in a prepared statement to his congregation. He laid out the facts of the charges against their beloved pastor of almost three decades. He notified them that no one suspected wrongdoing until someone reported it to them. He owned up to his part as the reporting party, concluding,
‘. . . as a parent myself, I know the question all of you parents have right now. I cannot disclose names publicly because we need to protect victims. There is no question that any of you cannot ask me. I only ask that you ask me directly and verify everything with Officer Beckner. Please do not speculate with each other and add confusion to this situation. We need to work with facts and help victims and the church to heal.’
With that straightforward statement to his flock, he unified them into a team working together for the greater good of not only the victims but also the church. He put the priority on the victims and on an open discussion of the facts. He did not seek to protect the church’s image or to hide behind his elders.” (Taylor, Joy S., A View from the Pews – The Inside Story of a Broken Church, 2022, Lily of the Valley Publishing, Santa Claus IN, p. 135.)
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