“One of the most effective ways a church can prevent spiritual abuse is by seeking leaders with integrity over talent, character over charisma, and maturity over verbal eloquence.”
I agree that Brian is legit. And I stopped listening to Tripp Fuller because in the end everything was always about... Tripp Fuller. And as I recall "influencer" is not one of the categories of leadership that St. Paul lifts up....
This article fits with the need to emphasize spiritual formation as an essential part of the education of religious leaders. Without this, skill training and information about scripture, theology, dogmatics, history, behavioral science, etc. are inadequate at best and dangerous at worst.
Spiritual formation is a lifelong process and benefits from mentorship, spiritual direction, and colleagues in the process. Although hard to measure, one can perceive how much the practices of a faith group encourages and values spiritual formation. Some clearly do, and others give no indications of doing so.
I've only had a few things go viral in my work in digital ministry. In those moments, I found myself at the face of tough choices for fame and influence. The pastor in me has always chosen to reject the influence and embrace the new people bearing their heart in the comments.
I can empathize with the challenging temptation, because I've lived it. This is something more and more online pastors will have to reckon with.
This is the first time i have read anything written by you, and I am impressed by your consistency in taking humility over stardom. You write about a difficult subject, one I am thankfully well protected from by an amazing wife who has her way of saying “really Dave?” Serving as a parish pastor in retirement is the best way to keep perspective. Providing consistent fidelity to the Scripture and Lutheran Confessions keeps me grounded in providing the best presentation of the Law of God and the Gospel that saves through Word and Sacrament. While my adopted tribe causes me heartburn often, it is the right place for me to be to be a faithful Pastor, an evangelical catholic with fidelity to Word and Sacrament as the Means of Grace. I look forward to reading more of your writings here. I invite you to check out my Substack padrepoedel.substack.com
Alas, the most important lesson is: get over Christianity and find something that is both true and edifying. There is nothing true or edifying about Christianity.
I was a rape victim by ANOTHER Seminarian (which I why I have 3 Masters instead of 2) before the words "date rape" were codified and the powers that be at the seminary tried to get me to leave because of course it never happened. I did chose to graduate with a lesser degree and made absolutely sure this repeat offender couldn't do this to another person( apparently he had at other seminaries before) or, to my knowledge ever get ordained.
And then before my first Sunday in one of my churches, I was taken aside and told that one of the power brokers had been assaulting parishioners for 40 years. When I went to the State Police to report it, I was dismissed until it was found out that this same person was a school bus driver! Rather than deal with this person, the church left the denomination and became independant because my reports had brought them under scrutiny by the Conference.
I agree that Brian is legit. And I stopped listening to Tripp Fuller because in the end everything was always about... Tripp Fuller. And as I recall "influencer" is not one of the categories of leadership that St. Paul lifts up....
As another person told me, Tripp loves him some Tripp.
This article fits with the need to emphasize spiritual formation as an essential part of the education of religious leaders. Without this, skill training and information about scripture, theology, dogmatics, history, behavioral science, etc. are inadequate at best and dangerous at worst.
Spiritual formation is a lifelong process and benefits from mentorship, spiritual direction, and colleagues in the process. Although hard to measure, one can perceive how much the practices of a faith group encourages and values spiritual formation. Some clearly do, and others give no indications of doing so.
I've only had a few things go viral in my work in digital ministry. In those moments, I found myself at the face of tough choices for fame and influence. The pastor in me has always chosen to reject the influence and embrace the new people bearing their heart in the comments.
I can empathize with the challenging temptation, because I've lived it. This is something more and more online pastors will have to reckon with.
This is the first time i have read anything written by you, and I am impressed by your consistency in taking humility over stardom. You write about a difficult subject, one I am thankfully well protected from by an amazing wife who has her way of saying “really Dave?” Serving as a parish pastor in retirement is the best way to keep perspective. Providing consistent fidelity to the Scripture and Lutheran Confessions keeps me grounded in providing the best presentation of the Law of God and the Gospel that saves through Word and Sacrament. While my adopted tribe causes me heartburn often, it is the right place for me to be to be a faithful Pastor, an evangelical catholic with fidelity to Word and Sacrament as the Means of Grace. I look forward to reading more of your writings here. I invite you to check out my Substack padrepoedel.substack.com
Alas, the most important lesson is: get over Christianity and find something that is both true and edifying. There is nothing true or edifying about Christianity.
Spot on. Thank you.
Another great article!
I was a rape victim by ANOTHER Seminarian (which I why I have 3 Masters instead of 2) before the words "date rape" were codified and the powers that be at the seminary tried to get me to leave because of course it never happened. I did chose to graduate with a lesser degree and made absolutely sure this repeat offender couldn't do this to another person( apparently he had at other seminaries before) or, to my knowledge ever get ordained.
And then before my first Sunday in one of my churches, I was taken aside and told that one of the power brokers had been assaulting parishioners for 40 years. When I went to the State Police to report it, I was dismissed until it was found out that this same person was a school bus driver! Rather than deal with this person, the church left the denomination and became independant because my reports had brought them under scrutiny by the Conference.
I’m so sorry. That is unconscionable.