Giving Care Ethically
Jim Smith
When we sit in the counseling room with another person, we represent the church and the good name of Jesus Christ.
—Jim Smith It was a moral and ethical minefield, and Pastor Warren was walking through the middle of it. Every available course seemed rigged for disaster. Michael Thomas, a prominent school administrator in Pastor Warren's congregation, had been nominated for elder. His election to the board of elders seemed assured, for he was active and well-respected in the church and in community circles. He already sat on the boards of a Christian school system and the metropolitan museum. But Pastor Warren knew things about Thomas that very few others in the community knew, for Thomas and his wife had come to him for counseling. Pastor Warren knew that this man had a Jekyll-and-Hyde nature. Publicly, he was a learned, respected, socially conscious community leader; privately, he was a destructive, philandering, alcoholic husband. Pastor Warren knew of Thomas' addiction to pornography, sex, alcohol, and psychological abuse of his wife and two children. But his knowledge of Thomas' dark side was covered by the "confidentiality of the confessional." How could he prevent Thomas from being elected to the church board without breaking faith with the Thomases and with his own conscience as a pastor and counselor? In the nominating committee. Pastor Warren, whose role in which (according to his denomination's polity) is limited to advice, gently tried to propose other names or to suggest that Thomas might be too busy to serve—all to no avail. The Thomas nomination sailed through the committee and was unanimously approved in the congregational meeting. Most troubling of all, because of his background as an educator, he was given responsibility ...
Like the preview? To read this complete article
and 18,013 more in the archive—JOIN NOW!
Easily find high-quality, well-researched materials that provide a Christian perspective on topics ranging from headlines to history.
Start using this invaluable tool TODAY for preparing your Bible studies, presentations, class lectures, sermons, meetings, and more.
|
It's easy and quick to join:
Brought to You by Christianity Today Int'l |  |
|
| 
Find similar articles
E-mail this page
