Like Sheep With A Shepherd
Stories
Object:
Contents
A Story to Live By: "Like Sheep with a Shepherd"
Sharing Visions: "Someone to Watch over Me" by Patricia M. Thaker
Good Stories: "Sheep without a Shepherd" by John Sumwalt
Scrap Pile: Resources for Hurting Congregations
Dear StoryShare Friends,
My favorite nursery rhyme as a child was about lost sheep and a careless shepherd:
Little Boy Blue, come blow your horn,
The sheep's in the meadow, the cow's in the corn.
Where is the little boy that looks after the sheep?
He's under the haystack fast asleep.
This little cautionary tale from the world of Mother Goose reminds us of the consequences of sleeping on the job. Mark's Gospel tells of a time when Jesus and his disciples were trying to get away for some much-needed R & R. They steal away to a deserted place only to be followed by the needy, persistent crowds. Mark observes that Jesus had compassion on them because "they were like sheep without a shepherd."
The text raises the question "Where were the shepherds?" Why were the people so hungry for what Jesus had to offer? Had their shepherds failed them? Perhaps Jesus is alluding to Jeremiah's scathing rebuke of the exploitive, abusive shepherds in his day: "Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! says the Lord ... I will raise up shepherds over them who will shepherd them, and they shall not fear any longer, or be dismayed, nor shall any be missing, says the Lord" (Jeremiah 23:1, 4).
Much has been written about the abusive shepherds of our own day. This week's StoryShare offers a healing story for congregations who have been hurt by a careless shepherd. Write to us at if you have stories to share of wounded congregations that have found healing.
John Sumwalt
A Story to Live By
Like Sheep with a Shepherd
A shepherd was herding his flock in a remote pasture when suddenly a brand-new BMW advanced out of the dust cloud towards him. The driver, a young man in a Brioni suit, Gucci shoes, Ray-Ban sunglasses, and a YSL tie, leaned out the window and asked the shepherd, "If I tell you exactly how many sheep you have in your flock, will you give me one?"
The shepherd looked at the man, obviously a yuppie, then looked at his peacefully grazing flock and calmly answered, "Sure."
The yuppie parked his car, whipped out his IBM Thinkpad, and connected it to a cell phone. Then he surfed to a NASA page on the internet, where he called up a GPS satellite navigation system and scanned the area, and then opened up a database and an Excel spreadsheet with complex formulas. He sent an e-mail on his BlackBerry, and after a few minutes received a response. Finally, he printed out a 130-page report on his miniaturized printer, then turned to the shepherd and said, "You have exactly 1,586 sheep."
"That is correct; take one of the sheep," said the shepherd. He watched the young man select one of the animals and bundle it into his car. Then the shepherd said, "If I can tell you exactly what your business is, will you give me back my animal?"
"OK, why not," answered the young man.
"Clearly you are a consultant," said the shepherd.
"That's correct," said the yuppie. "But how did you guess that?"
"No guessing required," answered the shepherd. "You turned up here, although nobody called you. You want to get paid for an answer I already knew, to a question I never asked, and you don't know about my business ... now give me back my dog!"
Sharing Visions
Someone to Watch over Me
by Patricia M. Thaker
Forever I will keep my steadfast love for him, and my covenant with him will stand firm.
Psalm 89:28
In February of 2000, my grandfather, Lloyd Dings, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He passed away just twelve days later. My grandparents were married 56 years. The legacy he leaves behind is a wonderful wife and a beautiful family.
On the afternoon he died, I sat by grandfather's side and had a brief conversation with him. We held hands, and I cried as we spoke. I told him that I did not want him to leave us, and he replied that he knew, but he had to. I asked him to promise to watch over me when he was gone, and he promised that he would. I also asked him to be with me on my wedding day, to which he replied that he'd try his hardest.
He died six hours later.
That evening, I returned to my parents' home and fell asleep in the basement my grandfather had designed and built. About four hours later I awoke, terrified to realize that I couldn't move. I had a strong sense that my grandfather was present and standing at the end of the couch looking over me. A cool whisper passed across my face. I tried to make sense of what was happening, but couldn't. Minutes later, I saw tiny white lights in front of me, and the sensation passed. Finally I could move again. I looked behind me, expecting to see my grandfather, but he wasn't there. I looked at the place where I had sensed him to be and kept repeating, "I love you, Grandpa, I love you, Grandpa." I glanced at the clock, and it was 2:02 a.m. Still somewhat frightened, I turned on all the lights and the TV. Eventually I fell back asleep.
The next morning, confused and grief-stricken, I spoke with my mother about my experience. Later, we went to my grandmother Kathryn Ding's home, and we discovered something amazing. She had felt his presence at the same time I had. My grandmother was sleeping in the bed they had shared for so many years, and where my grandfather had died. She awoke feeling as if there was a cloud hovering over her. Rather than feeling frightened, she was comforted by this presence. But she wasn't sure exactly what it meant until I shared my story.
Later that day, I spoke with Alex, my fiance, and shared with him what had happened the night before. At that point, I still could not talk about it without crying. He listened and tried to comfort me. Then Alex told me that the strangest thing had happened to him the night before. He stirred in bed and awoke with a feeling that something was moving about the room. He quickly told himself that it must be the cat, then realized the cat was asleep next to him. We discovered that this occurred near the same time my grandmother and I had our experiences.
Sometimes I lay awake at night and say, "Okay, Grandpa, you can come back and visit me again." He hasn't yet, but I know I'll always have him watching over me.
Editor's Note: Lloyd M. Dings was a longtime faithful member of Wauwatosa Avenue United Methodist Church, where Jo and I serve. I visited with Lloyd in his home the day before he died. His whole extended family and a few friends were gathered in the living room. Lloyd was holding court in his recliner in the study. Kathryn was taking one or two people in at a time, so as not to tire him. When my turn came, I observed that Lloyd was weak, but his spirit was as strong as ever. We talked about many things. It was apparent that Lloyd had made his peace with everyone in this world, that he had finished his work here and was prepared to die with complete trust in God. He said, "I have my faith." As we were finishing our conversation, and as I was preparing to invite the others to come in and join us in prayer, Lloyd said, "John, I have a question for you. When I see my parents, what will they look like? Will they appear old, as they were when they died, or will they appear as they were when they were younger?" I shared what I have read in several sources, that people in their spirit bodies generally appear as they were in their prime. But I admitted that I do not know for sure. I said, "Lloyd, why don't you come back and tell me?" Then I told him that it is possible that he would be able to visit his loved ones after he died, and perhaps be able to communicate with them as Jesus communicated with his disciples after his resurrection.
Good Stories
Sheep without a Shepherd
by John Sumwalt
As he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.
Mark 6:34
Christ Community Church was without a pastor for the third time within four years. Dr. Albert Faithful had died after a long illness, just before he was to retire from a nineteen-year-long pastorate. The church had flourished under his leadership and he was much loved by everyone in the congregation. It was understood that Pastor Jillian Balm was to be with them on an interim basis for eighteen months. Many people came to love her in that brief time and it was difficult to bid her good-bye. But Pastor Balm had done her work well; the congregation had grieved for Dr. Faithful and was ready to welcome a new spiritual leader.
The Reverend Elsworth Worthy came to the church with the highest recommendations from the bishop. He and his family were warmly received and his ministry with Christ Church got off to a fast start. The Reverend Worthy was a dynamic preacher. Soon the pews were packed every Sunday and a second service had to be added in the chapel. Over a hundred new members joined the church during the first year. A longtime drive to purchase a new organ, which had been slowed after Dr. Faithful's death, was completed, and a magnificent new pipe organ was installed in the sanctuary. There was talk of building on to the educational wing, for the Sunday School program was also growing by leaps and bounds. Everyone had great praise for Reverend Worthy. "You have awakened a sleeping giant," they told him. They bragged about their new pastor to friends and business associates. "How lucky we are to have him," they said. "You must come and hear him preach some Sunday."
It was near the end of Reverend Worthy's second year when a rumor began to circulate about something going on between the pastor and one of the women in the choir. The leaders on the personnel committee quietly investigated and reported that the pastor had done nothing inappropriate. But the rumor persisted. Factions began to form. The largest group, the adamant supporters of Reverend Worthy, insisted that nothing was wrong, that a few naysayers were trying to destroy the unity of the church. A smaller but very vocal group of longtime members who had expressed opposition to some of the changes Reverend Worthy had made maintained that "where there is smoke there must be fire." But even they were shocked when Reverend Worthy announced from the pulpit on the Sunday before Easter that he was not only leaving the congregation, he was giving up pastoral ministry. The pastor offered no explanation for his sudden decision, but the next day it was revealed that six women from the congregation had filed sexual harrassment charges against the Reverend Worthy. Within a week, several women from two previous congregations served by Reverend Worthy had filed similar charges.
The congregation was devastated. Everyone was shocked. At first many of Reverend Worthy's supporters refused to believe what they had heard. Some blamed the women. Others asserted that the pastor was a victim of the pressures and strains of his position. They implied that the naysaying faction had been responsible for pushing him over the edge. The naysayers tossed the blame right back, complaining that if certain church leaders had been more vigilant, the whole mess could have been avoided.
The bishop sent another interim pastor, and though well-qualified, he was coolly received. Worship attendance plummeted. Many of the newer members left the church. The service in the chapel was discontinued. The building committee, which had recently been formed to draw up plans for the addition to the education wing, was disbanded. The choir director and the secretary resigned. Sunday offerings were so low that the congregation began to default on some of its bills.
The chairperson of the board called an emergency congregational meeting. About ninety of the longtime members were in attendance. Various proposals for actions to heal the congregation were put forth and debated. Some were in favor of calling a new pastor immediately: "Let's put the past behind us and get on with our ministry," they said. "What's done is done, we can't undo it." Others expressed feelings of hopelessness and despair. They didn't see how the congregation could ever recover from the betrayal they had suffered. Some who were quite vocal about their anger said they should hire a lawyer and sue Reverend Worthy, or perhaps the bishop who recommended him.
The meeting was apparently going to end without an agreement on a plan of action when Ellen Faithful rose to speak. Ellen was the daughter of the late Dr. Faithful and was held in high regard by most members of the congregation. She commented on the deep sadness and hurt they all shared as the result of the weakness of their spiritual leader. "I wish Dad were here," she said. "I am sure he would know what to do." There were many sympathetic and knowing nods all around the room. Everyone became quite still as they waited for Ellen to continue. It was clear that the Spirit had at last found a voice. "Nevertheless," Ellen went on, "we need not despair. We know Christ is with us, and we can be sure that Christ will show us the way out of this unfortunate dilemma."
Ellen's words were followed by a long, deliberative silence. It was the new interim pastor who spoke first, with a suggestion that they all bow in prayer and ask for guidance. After his quiet "amen," the discussion resumed in a new, positive tone. It was suggested that the congregation might hire a consultant to help them express their grief and anger, and give guidance as they explored options for the future. Everyone agreed that this would be a good place to start. The healing of Christ Church had begun.
Scrap Pile
Resources for Hurting Congregations
Congregations in which clergy misconduct has occurred are in need of special care. In an article titled "The Congregation is also a Victim" (from Clergy Sexual Misconduct: A Systems Perspective, The Alban Institute, 1993), Nancy Meyers Hopkins observes that "some congregations end up depressed with anger turned inward" (pg. 20). She says, "Successors of clergy who act out sexually are at great risk ... of angry projections from their parishioners" (pg. 6).
David Brubaker tells about the anger and frustration experienced when pastoral misconduct is disclosed: "There may be feelings of abandonment, rage, and shock, similar to a family which experiences incest.... They may blame or suspect the victim(s). It is not uncommon for the congregation to be divided into factions as persons try to sort out their own feelings. In one sense the congregation itself has been raped.... Whether or not the congregation can recover depends on its ability to work through the issue with openness and care. An outside consultant, someone trained in conflict resolution or pastoral counseling, can be very helpful. Failure to implement an adequate process can let a situation fester for years and drain a congregation of its spiritual and emotional energy." ("An Intervention Paradigm," MCS Conciliation Quarterly, Spring 1991, pg. 9.)
See also:
Marie Fortune, Is Nothing Sacred?: When Sex Invades the Pastoral Relationship (San Francisco: Harper and Row, 1987).
Lloyd Rediger, Ministry & Sexuality: Cases, Counseling and Care (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1990).
**********************************************
New Book Released
We are happy to report that the second volume in the vision series, Sharing Visions: Divine Revelations, Angels, and Holy Coincidences [link to 0-7880-1970-8], is now available from CSS Publishing Company. You can see what the book looks like by going to the home page of the CSS website
www.csspub.com. Then click on the cover of the book to get more information.
Special Pricing for StoryShare Subscribers
Sharing Visions [link to 0-7880-1970-8] retails for $19.95. CSS has graciously agreed to make the book available to StoryShare subscribers for just $11.97 (plus shipping & handling). To take advantage of this special pricing, you must use the special code SS40SV. Simply e-mail your order to
orders@csspub.com or phone 1-800-241-4056. If you live outside the U.S., phone 419-227-1818.
Practical Ministry Tool
I found the first volume of Vision Stories [link to 0-7880-1896-5] to be a great tool for ministry. I give a copy to each family after a funeral, and to each couple after a wedding. I give copies to people who come in for counseling and are searching for God's presence, seeking comfort or assurance. And I have given the book to many people who have visions and have wondered if they dared to tell anyone. I also make the books available to the congregation at my cost.
I am willing to come to your community to do a book signing, tell vision stories, or do a vision seminar if you will take a free will offering to cover travel expenses.
Collecting Personal Stories of "Holy Moments"
We are collecting personal stories for a third volume in the vision series, to be released in 2004. The working title is Holy Moments: Life-Changing Visions and Other Signs of God's Presence. If you have any stories to share of your personal experience of the holy, please send them to .
Praise For Sharing Visions
Bishop Richard Wilke, creator of the Disciple Bible Study series, writes: "I am rejoicing as I read the testimonies in Sharing Visions. What an inspiration! I recall my father, an unemotional man, telling me that his mother (who had died some years before) appeared to him in a dream and gave him counsel on a difficult decision he was wrestling with."
StoryShare, July 20, 2003, issue.
Copyright 2003 by CSS Publishing Company, Inc., Lima, Ohio.
All rights reserved. Subscribers to the StoryShare service may print and use this material as it was intended in sermons, in worship and classroom settings, in brief devotions, in radio spots, and as newsletter fillers. No additional permission is required from the publisher for such use by subscribers only. Inquiries should be addressed to
or to Permissions, CSS Publishing Company, Inc., P.O. Box 4503, Lima, Ohio 45802-4503.
A Story to Live By: "Like Sheep with a Shepherd"
Sharing Visions: "Someone to Watch over Me" by Patricia M. Thaker
Good Stories: "Sheep without a Shepherd" by John Sumwalt
Scrap Pile: Resources for Hurting Congregations
Dear StoryShare Friends,
My favorite nursery rhyme as a child was about lost sheep and a careless shepherd:
Little Boy Blue, come blow your horn,
The sheep's in the meadow, the cow's in the corn.
Where is the little boy that looks after the sheep?
He's under the haystack fast asleep.
This little cautionary tale from the world of Mother Goose reminds us of the consequences of sleeping on the job. Mark's Gospel tells of a time when Jesus and his disciples were trying to get away for some much-needed R & R. They steal away to a deserted place only to be followed by the needy, persistent crowds. Mark observes that Jesus had compassion on them because "they were like sheep without a shepherd."
The text raises the question "Where were the shepherds?" Why were the people so hungry for what Jesus had to offer? Had their shepherds failed them? Perhaps Jesus is alluding to Jeremiah's scathing rebuke of the exploitive, abusive shepherds in his day: "Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! says the Lord ... I will raise up shepherds over them who will shepherd them, and they shall not fear any longer, or be dismayed, nor shall any be missing, says the Lord" (Jeremiah 23:1, 4).
Much has been written about the abusive shepherds of our own day. This week's StoryShare offers a healing story for congregations who have been hurt by a careless shepherd. Write to us at if you have stories to share of wounded congregations that have found healing.
John Sumwalt
A Story to Live By
Like Sheep with a Shepherd
A shepherd was herding his flock in a remote pasture when suddenly a brand-new BMW advanced out of the dust cloud towards him. The driver, a young man in a Brioni suit, Gucci shoes, Ray-Ban sunglasses, and a YSL tie, leaned out the window and asked the shepherd, "If I tell you exactly how many sheep you have in your flock, will you give me one?"
The shepherd looked at the man, obviously a yuppie, then looked at his peacefully grazing flock and calmly answered, "Sure."
The yuppie parked his car, whipped out his IBM Thinkpad, and connected it to a cell phone. Then he surfed to a NASA page on the internet, where he called up a GPS satellite navigation system and scanned the area, and then opened up a database and an Excel spreadsheet with complex formulas. He sent an e-mail on his BlackBerry, and after a few minutes received a response. Finally, he printed out a 130-page report on his miniaturized printer, then turned to the shepherd and said, "You have exactly 1,586 sheep."
"That is correct; take one of the sheep," said the shepherd. He watched the young man select one of the animals and bundle it into his car. Then the shepherd said, "If I can tell you exactly what your business is, will you give me back my animal?"
"OK, why not," answered the young man.
"Clearly you are a consultant," said the shepherd.
"That's correct," said the yuppie. "But how did you guess that?"
"No guessing required," answered the shepherd. "You turned up here, although nobody called you. You want to get paid for an answer I already knew, to a question I never asked, and you don't know about my business ... now give me back my dog!"
Sharing Visions
Someone to Watch over Me
by Patricia M. Thaker
Forever I will keep my steadfast love for him, and my covenant with him will stand firm.
Psalm 89:28
In February of 2000, my grandfather, Lloyd Dings, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He passed away just twelve days later. My grandparents were married 56 years. The legacy he leaves behind is a wonderful wife and a beautiful family.
On the afternoon he died, I sat by grandfather's side and had a brief conversation with him. We held hands, and I cried as we spoke. I told him that I did not want him to leave us, and he replied that he knew, but he had to. I asked him to promise to watch over me when he was gone, and he promised that he would. I also asked him to be with me on my wedding day, to which he replied that he'd try his hardest.
He died six hours later.
That evening, I returned to my parents' home and fell asleep in the basement my grandfather had designed and built. About four hours later I awoke, terrified to realize that I couldn't move. I had a strong sense that my grandfather was present and standing at the end of the couch looking over me. A cool whisper passed across my face. I tried to make sense of what was happening, but couldn't. Minutes later, I saw tiny white lights in front of me, and the sensation passed. Finally I could move again. I looked behind me, expecting to see my grandfather, but he wasn't there. I looked at the place where I had sensed him to be and kept repeating, "I love you, Grandpa, I love you, Grandpa." I glanced at the clock, and it was 2:02 a.m. Still somewhat frightened, I turned on all the lights and the TV. Eventually I fell back asleep.
The next morning, confused and grief-stricken, I spoke with my mother about my experience. Later, we went to my grandmother Kathryn Ding's home, and we discovered something amazing. She had felt his presence at the same time I had. My grandmother was sleeping in the bed they had shared for so many years, and where my grandfather had died. She awoke feeling as if there was a cloud hovering over her. Rather than feeling frightened, she was comforted by this presence. But she wasn't sure exactly what it meant until I shared my story.
Later that day, I spoke with Alex, my fiance, and shared with him what had happened the night before. At that point, I still could not talk about it without crying. He listened and tried to comfort me. Then Alex told me that the strangest thing had happened to him the night before. He stirred in bed and awoke with a feeling that something was moving about the room. He quickly told himself that it must be the cat, then realized the cat was asleep next to him. We discovered that this occurred near the same time my grandmother and I had our experiences.
Sometimes I lay awake at night and say, "Okay, Grandpa, you can come back and visit me again." He hasn't yet, but I know I'll always have him watching over me.
Editor's Note: Lloyd M. Dings was a longtime faithful member of Wauwatosa Avenue United Methodist Church, where Jo and I serve. I visited with Lloyd in his home the day before he died. His whole extended family and a few friends were gathered in the living room. Lloyd was holding court in his recliner in the study. Kathryn was taking one or two people in at a time, so as not to tire him. When my turn came, I observed that Lloyd was weak, but his spirit was as strong as ever. We talked about many things. It was apparent that Lloyd had made his peace with everyone in this world, that he had finished his work here and was prepared to die with complete trust in God. He said, "I have my faith." As we were finishing our conversation, and as I was preparing to invite the others to come in and join us in prayer, Lloyd said, "John, I have a question for you. When I see my parents, what will they look like? Will they appear old, as they were when they died, or will they appear as they were when they were younger?" I shared what I have read in several sources, that people in their spirit bodies generally appear as they were in their prime. But I admitted that I do not know for sure. I said, "Lloyd, why don't you come back and tell me?" Then I told him that it is possible that he would be able to visit his loved ones after he died, and perhaps be able to communicate with them as Jesus communicated with his disciples after his resurrection.
Good Stories
Sheep without a Shepherd
by John Sumwalt
As he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.
Mark 6:34
Christ Community Church was without a pastor for the third time within four years. Dr. Albert Faithful had died after a long illness, just before he was to retire from a nineteen-year-long pastorate. The church had flourished under his leadership and he was much loved by everyone in the congregation. It was understood that Pastor Jillian Balm was to be with them on an interim basis for eighteen months. Many people came to love her in that brief time and it was difficult to bid her good-bye. But Pastor Balm had done her work well; the congregation had grieved for Dr. Faithful and was ready to welcome a new spiritual leader.
The Reverend Elsworth Worthy came to the church with the highest recommendations from the bishop. He and his family were warmly received and his ministry with Christ Church got off to a fast start. The Reverend Worthy was a dynamic preacher. Soon the pews were packed every Sunday and a second service had to be added in the chapel. Over a hundred new members joined the church during the first year. A longtime drive to purchase a new organ, which had been slowed after Dr. Faithful's death, was completed, and a magnificent new pipe organ was installed in the sanctuary. There was talk of building on to the educational wing, for the Sunday School program was also growing by leaps and bounds. Everyone had great praise for Reverend Worthy. "You have awakened a sleeping giant," they told him. They bragged about their new pastor to friends and business associates. "How lucky we are to have him," they said. "You must come and hear him preach some Sunday."
It was near the end of Reverend Worthy's second year when a rumor began to circulate about something going on between the pastor and one of the women in the choir. The leaders on the personnel committee quietly investigated and reported that the pastor had done nothing inappropriate. But the rumor persisted. Factions began to form. The largest group, the adamant supporters of Reverend Worthy, insisted that nothing was wrong, that a few naysayers were trying to destroy the unity of the church. A smaller but very vocal group of longtime members who had expressed opposition to some of the changes Reverend Worthy had made maintained that "where there is smoke there must be fire." But even they were shocked when Reverend Worthy announced from the pulpit on the Sunday before Easter that he was not only leaving the congregation, he was giving up pastoral ministry. The pastor offered no explanation for his sudden decision, but the next day it was revealed that six women from the congregation had filed sexual harrassment charges against the Reverend Worthy. Within a week, several women from two previous congregations served by Reverend Worthy had filed similar charges.
The congregation was devastated. Everyone was shocked. At first many of Reverend Worthy's supporters refused to believe what they had heard. Some blamed the women. Others asserted that the pastor was a victim of the pressures and strains of his position. They implied that the naysaying faction had been responsible for pushing him over the edge. The naysayers tossed the blame right back, complaining that if certain church leaders had been more vigilant, the whole mess could have been avoided.
The bishop sent another interim pastor, and though well-qualified, he was coolly received. Worship attendance plummeted. Many of the newer members left the church. The service in the chapel was discontinued. The building committee, which had recently been formed to draw up plans for the addition to the education wing, was disbanded. The choir director and the secretary resigned. Sunday offerings were so low that the congregation began to default on some of its bills.
The chairperson of the board called an emergency congregational meeting. About ninety of the longtime members were in attendance. Various proposals for actions to heal the congregation were put forth and debated. Some were in favor of calling a new pastor immediately: "Let's put the past behind us and get on with our ministry," they said. "What's done is done, we can't undo it." Others expressed feelings of hopelessness and despair. They didn't see how the congregation could ever recover from the betrayal they had suffered. Some who were quite vocal about their anger said they should hire a lawyer and sue Reverend Worthy, or perhaps the bishop who recommended him.
The meeting was apparently going to end without an agreement on a plan of action when Ellen Faithful rose to speak. Ellen was the daughter of the late Dr. Faithful and was held in high regard by most members of the congregation. She commented on the deep sadness and hurt they all shared as the result of the weakness of their spiritual leader. "I wish Dad were here," she said. "I am sure he would know what to do." There were many sympathetic and knowing nods all around the room. Everyone became quite still as they waited for Ellen to continue. It was clear that the Spirit had at last found a voice. "Nevertheless," Ellen went on, "we need not despair. We know Christ is with us, and we can be sure that Christ will show us the way out of this unfortunate dilemma."
Ellen's words were followed by a long, deliberative silence. It was the new interim pastor who spoke first, with a suggestion that they all bow in prayer and ask for guidance. After his quiet "amen," the discussion resumed in a new, positive tone. It was suggested that the congregation might hire a consultant to help them express their grief and anger, and give guidance as they explored options for the future. Everyone agreed that this would be a good place to start. The healing of Christ Church had begun.
Scrap Pile
Resources for Hurting Congregations
Congregations in which clergy misconduct has occurred are in need of special care. In an article titled "The Congregation is also a Victim" (from Clergy Sexual Misconduct: A Systems Perspective, The Alban Institute, 1993), Nancy Meyers Hopkins observes that "some congregations end up depressed with anger turned inward" (pg. 20). She says, "Successors of clergy who act out sexually are at great risk ... of angry projections from their parishioners" (pg. 6).
David Brubaker tells about the anger and frustration experienced when pastoral misconduct is disclosed: "There may be feelings of abandonment, rage, and shock, similar to a family which experiences incest.... They may blame or suspect the victim(s). It is not uncommon for the congregation to be divided into factions as persons try to sort out their own feelings. In one sense the congregation itself has been raped.... Whether or not the congregation can recover depends on its ability to work through the issue with openness and care. An outside consultant, someone trained in conflict resolution or pastoral counseling, can be very helpful. Failure to implement an adequate process can let a situation fester for years and drain a congregation of its spiritual and emotional energy." ("An Intervention Paradigm," MCS Conciliation Quarterly, Spring 1991, pg. 9.)
See also:
Marie Fortune, Is Nothing Sacred?: When Sex Invades the Pastoral Relationship (San Francisco: Harper and Row, 1987).
Lloyd Rediger, Ministry & Sexuality: Cases, Counseling and Care (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1990).
**********************************************
New Book Released
We are happy to report that the second volume in the vision series, Sharing Visions: Divine Revelations, Angels, and Holy Coincidences [link to 0-7880-1970-8], is now available from CSS Publishing Company. You can see what the book looks like by going to the home page of the CSS website
www.csspub.com. Then click on the cover of the book to get more information.
Special Pricing for StoryShare Subscribers
Sharing Visions [link to 0-7880-1970-8] retails for $19.95. CSS has graciously agreed to make the book available to StoryShare subscribers for just $11.97 (plus shipping & handling). To take advantage of this special pricing, you must use the special code SS40SV. Simply e-mail your order to
orders@csspub.com or phone 1-800-241-4056. If you live outside the U.S., phone 419-227-1818.
Practical Ministry Tool
I found the first volume of Vision Stories [link to 0-7880-1896-5] to be a great tool for ministry. I give a copy to each family after a funeral, and to each couple after a wedding. I give copies to people who come in for counseling and are searching for God's presence, seeking comfort or assurance. And I have given the book to many people who have visions and have wondered if they dared to tell anyone. I also make the books available to the congregation at my cost.
I am willing to come to your community to do a book signing, tell vision stories, or do a vision seminar if you will take a free will offering to cover travel expenses.
Collecting Personal Stories of "Holy Moments"
We are collecting personal stories for a third volume in the vision series, to be released in 2004. The working title is Holy Moments: Life-Changing Visions and Other Signs of God's Presence. If you have any stories to share of your personal experience of the holy, please send them to .
Praise For Sharing Visions
Bishop Richard Wilke, creator of the Disciple Bible Study series, writes: "I am rejoicing as I read the testimonies in Sharing Visions. What an inspiration! I recall my father, an unemotional man, telling me that his mother (who had died some years before) appeared to him in a dream and gave him counsel on a difficult decision he was wrestling with."
StoryShare, July 20, 2003, issue.
Copyright 2003 by CSS Publishing Company, Inc., Lima, Ohio.
All rights reserved. Subscribers to the StoryShare service may print and use this material as it was intended in sermons, in worship and classroom settings, in brief devotions, in radio spots, and as newsletter fillers. No additional permission is required from the publisher for such use by subscribers only. Inquiries should be addressed to
or to Permissions, CSS Publishing Company, Inc., P.O. Box 4503, Lima, Ohio 45802-4503.
