Clerical troubles
Laity often have a different set of expectations for clergy than they do for anyone else. Now, usually, I would make the argument that this ought not be the case - that clergy are just ordinary people with a specific job. And I do believe that to be true. However ...
Our specific job is in a position of trust, and I am indeed more disappointed when I hear about the very public and especially egregious shortcomings of a particular member of the clergy (like yesterday's story about the Lutheran pastor in North Carolina). I am not trying to say that we should be able to avoid such temptations because we are of a better moral character than the average public (which anyone who has followed the news releases about clergy in recent years knows to be untrue). I would, however, argue that the public nature of our position makes such public failings doubly hurtful.
I have no doubt that Pastor Graff was a decent pastor, and I do feel sympathy for his family. However, my prayers today go out to the community he served and those whose faith will falter because of this betrayal of trust.
And I wonder - where was any sort of accountability? It is imperative for clergy to be able to turn to a spiritual director, a counselor, or have some sort of accountable relationship to help prevent such incidents. A pastor who does not take care of his or her own spiritual health is simply unable to take care of the spiritual health of others.
4 comments:
I'm new here - so I don't want to offend. I hope I don't say something that can be taken the wrong way.
For starters, I am a Catholic and our church has no shortage of issues around this. The central authority and hierarchal nature of Roman Catholicism is tailor made for misplaced and/or inappropriate expectations around clergy in the first place.
Add to that the strain of clergy due to less of them and it is a recipe for disaster. "What do you mean Father is not available 24/7?" is the outcry.
That said, when it comes to sexuality, the hue and cry is worse. Your story underscores that this is the case for ALL clergy. It is sad to me. You are as human as me - I know that and I don't even know you. It is just true.
So here we are all a bunch of Peter's struggling with how that 70 times 7 business works. It doesn't always make sense. "But he was a priest/minister/rabbi, he should have known better!"
Oh we should all know better.
Anyway, what caught my eye from the news story that you linked to was this...
"Graff is facing misdemeanor charges of soliciting a crime against nature. He was released without bond.
Crime against nature???? Holy crap. That is what I didn't want' to offend anyone with, but it is no wonder that we are so sexually wounded here in our puritanland country, when it has to be referred to like that!
Sorry for the rant!
Peace to all.
ouch, this hurts. Not because I think we are supposed to be perfect. But because, as you said, it is such a public trust. I think pastors need to know where their temptations are. We are often overworked, and don't seek or have access to the support we need.
I agree that a different set of expectations ought not be the case. Even here.
Any commited Christian who was caught doing what this pastor is accused of has fallen and has serious issues to deal with.
@ Fran - No doubt, the wording of the charge should raise some eyebrows (theologically, if nature is fallen, wouldn't a crime against a fallen nature be a virtue?). The deal for me is the position of trust thing. We (clergy) absolutely are a bunch of Peters, just like everyone else, and just as prone to our foibles and failings as everyone else. However, any member of the clergy knows that theirs is a position of trust, and to have this sort of public failing piles the betrayal of trust on top of an already tragic situation.
@ Art & Diane, Exactly, anyone in this situation needs help. I would expect a member of the clergy to have had a support system in place prior to this, one that could foresee it and cut it off at the pass.
Of course, it does point to a two edged problem - (a) some (many?) clergy don't see a need for such a support system, and (b) most congregations don't see the need to make such a support system integrated into a pastor's ministry.
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