[CS-FSLUG] OT: The Hidden Dangers of Peacemakers

[Eduardo Sanchez]

On Saturday 09 January 2010 15:03:08 Timothy Butler wrote:
>  From an article I just published:
> 
> Once a person enters into informed consent under this “biblical”
> system, the person not only is unable to seek protection through the
> courts if the leadership decides to publicly air whatever “concerns”
> they feel ought to be broadcast about a person, the victim is also
> unable to resign from the church until the leadership wishes to permit
> it.
> 
> Let's just say I have some personal experience with the program and am
> hoping to use that experience to warn others...
> 
> 	-Tim
> 

I have read the article, and I can say that what Tim is explaining is a real 
and concrete danger affecting the church right now. I am a witness to it; my 
local church is run more like a corporation than like a family. And there are 
countless vices that were pointed out by Tim, Marco, and Ed. The abuse done by 
the leadership is very real, and just too much unaccountable.

It is just very easy to develop a feel-good program like Peacemakers, that can 
be later used to force people to align in conformity with assorted abuse from 
an unaccountable leadership, and as far as the story goes, Peacemakers may be 
full of good intentions, but I do not see that leaders at the church are being 
hold MORE accountable than regular members, and I do not se how members can 
have some kind of a ombudsman to be heard. Everyone needs to be treated fairly 
and in good faith, and I don't see that in so many churches around the world.

Finally, this quote is priceless:

«Churches were never meant to be modern corporations, but spiritual  
families. Any compromise with that principle brings trouble; the degree of  
compromise predicts the degree of trouble.» (Ed Hurst)

Blessings,


Eduardo


-- 
Eduardo Sanchez, B. Th.
Traductor Público Inglés-Español
http://shadow.sombragris.org
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 For in the Market-place, one Dusk of Day,
 I watch'd the Potter thumping his wet Clay:
   And with its all obliterated Tongue
 It murmur'd--"Gently, Brother, gently, pray!"

	-- The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam
	   

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