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Three rogue elders walk into a Session meeting and slap a folder down. “We have concerns.” They leave it to Session to deal with it.

Time passes, and they grow impatient. They escalate their “concerns” to a higher authority and call in reinforcements.

They enlist the Presbytery to do something about it. The Presbytery nominates a few guys with good “intentions.”

Those intentions take on a life of their own. They grow an ill-will, and the next thing you know, those intentions birth bullies.

It all goes nuclear.

What do you do with bullies who call you a bully? What do you do with abusers who claim you’re the abuser?

According to Joe Rigney, you fight them. Tooth and nail. Like a real elder.

Elders aren’t fragile.

Elders aren’t afraid of drama.

Elders are quick to point out that “I’m hurt, therefore, you sinned” isn’t a syllogism.

Elders brush the progressive gaze off their shoulder and put up “no admittance” signs.

Elders redirect the soft hearted who are afraid to lose people and tell them to not be like Lot’s wife.

Elders are not afraid to drive a bus with only a few passengers on it if it keeps the church on mission.

Listen to our Session’s conversation with Joe Rigney on what it takes to be a church and lead in Negative World

(Previously unreleased: Recorded on June 27, 2024).

https://theparrhesians.com/