Parson to Person
#14 - An ongoing 'imaginative/non-fictional' series.
Before the Gerry’s children awoke Sarah came and joined me. Also, Jessica called from the hospital to tell us that Jesse was okay. They were waiting for the results of a couple tests, but doctors were optimistic that the situation was not serious. Jessica was able to give Sarah some directions on getting the children ready for the school bus, so I went home to get Dani and Abbey breakfast and off to school.
“Dani, do you have plans after school today?”
“Just homework, Dad. Why?”
“I have to go to Home Depot. I thought you might come along and we could get the paint you want mixed for your room.”
I was totally caving in on the room. Both Sarah and Dani are hooked on those home makeover shows on television. They’d come up with some scheme for Dani’s bedroom. I wasn’t a fan of their plan or Dani’s chosen color scheme, but at least this would give us another opportunity to talk.
Awaiting me at the office was District Superintendent Dan Hiles.
“Dan! What brings you out this way?”
“Good morning, Brian. I’m making my way out to Resnick Covenant this morning and thought I’d stop to chat for a minute. I suppose I should ask; do you have a minute?”
As Lois prepared us both a cup of coffee, Dan disclosed the real reason for his visit.
“Brian, a man named Jay Dukes called me last week. He’s lodged a complaint with the denomination against you. He’s seeking a hearing. The specifics of his complaints are hard to nail down; he’s kind of all over the place. Unfortunately, I think he’s included enough inflammatory language as to raise some eyebrows on the Committee.”
We talked for a half hour or so. I gave Dan my take on the Dukes, carefully measuring my words so as not to let my emotions show.
“The truth is, Dan, I’ve grown tired of Jay and Evelyn and this whole matter. I had assumed that their leaving Covenant was the end of all this.”
“It’s not looking that way. Brian, if they do manage to get a hearing scheduled, you’ll want to take this seriously. I’ve seen a number of Pastor/Congregation relationships go down in flames over just this kind of disagreement.”
Before the Gerry’s children awoke Sarah came and joined me. Also, Jessica called from the hospital to tell us that Jesse was okay. They were waiting for the results of a couple tests, but doctors were optimistic that the situation was not serious. Jessica was able to give Sarah some directions on getting the children ready for the school bus, so I went home to get Dani and Abbey breakfast and off to school.
“Dani, do you have plans after school today?”
“Just homework, Dad. Why?”
“I have to go to Home Depot. I thought you might come along and we could get the paint you want mixed for your room.”
I was totally caving in on the room. Both Sarah and Dani are hooked on those home makeover shows on television. They’d come up with some scheme for Dani’s bedroom. I wasn’t a fan of their plan or Dani’s chosen color scheme, but at least this would give us another opportunity to talk.
Awaiting me at the office was District Superintendent Dan Hiles.
“Dan! What brings you out this way?”
“Good morning, Brian. I’m making my way out to Resnick Covenant this morning and thought I’d stop to chat for a minute. I suppose I should ask; do you have a minute?”
As Lois prepared us both a cup of coffee, Dan disclosed the real reason for his visit.
“Brian, a man named Jay Dukes called me last week. He’s lodged a complaint with the denomination against you. He’s seeking a hearing. The specifics of his complaints are hard to nail down; he’s kind of all over the place. Unfortunately, I think he’s included enough inflammatory language as to raise some eyebrows on the Committee.”
We talked for a half hour or so. I gave Dan my take on the Dukes, carefully measuring my words so as not to let my emotions show.
“The truth is, Dan, I’ve grown tired of Jay and Evelyn and this whole matter. I had assumed that their leaving Covenant was the end of all this.”
“It’s not looking that way. Brian, if they do manage to get a hearing scheduled, you’ll want to take this seriously. I’ve seen a number of Pastor/Congregation relationships go down in flames over just this kind of disagreement.”
2 Comments:
uh oh...
By amanda, at 1/30/2006 10:06 PM
...
OH...
"D-- we know there's sin in your life. We don't know where it is, but since you won't tell us where it is, we have to assume you're hiding it, so that's your sin we're accusing you of... hiding your sin."
Yup, this rings real true.
D--
By Higher Up, Further In, at 1/30/2006 10:54 PM
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