This bleeds out to other parishioners who, following the leader's lead, presume the worst of people who question, thereby tightening the circle ever more.
I could go on. There are seven other similar situations I'm personally familiar with that I'm not at liberty to share. "Spiritual hazing" is a term that's come up recently and I'm sorry to say it's an apt one in many of these cases.
I could say a lot about how Rez uses its membership contract and adjoining Church Unity Pledge, and I might.
I could say a lot about the yo-yo-ing of Rez leaders being distant and then micromanaging, and I might.
I could say a lot about the yo-yo-ing of Rez leaders being distant and then micromanaging, and I might.
I could say a lot about the pattern of putting entirely-too-young men into leadership roles, and I might.
I could say a lot about how Rez has talked about gay Christians over the years, and I might.
I could say a lot about the ACNA, and I might.
I could say a lot about how Rez has talked about gay Christians over the years, and I might.
I could say a lot about the ACNA, and I might.
I have enough thoughts and observations to pen a novella. If I did, it would be one twinned with gratefulness for all Rez has been and heartache at much of what it has become.
It would be one that grieves over the loss of variety over the years in favor of ever-increasing homogenization. It would be one that expresses concern over camping on pet issues that ought to be tertiary (at the very most) and missing the forest for the trees in the meantime.
It would be one that, in true charity, says, "Rez, you have become too comfortable and too accustomed to surrounding yourself with Yes Men and it. is. making. you. sick".
"Most institutional corruption isn't about wicked people actively seeking to do evil. It's about nice people who were overconfident in their judgment, made foolish choices, & covered for each other because they all knew they meant well." @hlgriffin
"No one likes to hold someone that they like- who they know is not malicious- who they know meant well, with whom they relate to & identify & empathize accountable." @hlgriffin
Friends still at Rez, if you've not yet read beyond the letters that have come directly from Bishop Stewart, Father Steve, and Archbishop Foley, please take the time to read the survivors accounts as well.
Their accounts and screenshots help flesh out more of the picture, though it still remains incomplete until an independent investigation is completed. It's crucially important as Christians to not close our ears to listening to the truth, even when it stings.
Even when we don't know how the story will end, we can trust the One who is holding it and redeeming it.
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