Dit gebeur dat gemeentes soms besluite moet neem oor hoogs omstrede of emosionele sake. Kerkrade wil nie sulke besluite neem sonder om die gemeente te ken nie, en besluit dan om ‘n gemeentevergadering te hou. Dis nie ‘n goeie idee nie!
Alban Institute skryf die volgende in hulle nuusbrief:
Q: Our congregation is struggling with several difficult decisions, some of which have caused quite a bit of controversy and emotional responses among some members. We are considering having a congregational meeting to see what the members think, “clear the air,” and make the decisions. What advice do you have?
A:
Short answer: You could be asking for a lot of grief and much foggier air.
Longer answer: Nearly every congregation I work with has a story in their history about a congregational meeting “gone bad.” Remember watching political town hall meetings on such controversial topics as health care? Those experiences offer a pretty clear picture of why this particular format does not work well when emotions are running high.
Verskeie redes word in die artikel genoem waarom ‘n gemeentevergadering nie sinvol is in sulke omstandighede nie. Die artikel gaan dan verder en gee advies oor hoe om sulke sake te hanteer. Dit kom daarop neer dat ‘n proses van geloofsonderskeiding gevolg moet word waarby lidmate betrek moet word.
Lees die volledige artikel by http://www.alban.org/conversation.aspx?id=9858.
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