tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20471270.post7063540971474094350..comments2023-05-13T12:42:00.360+01:00Comments on PamBG's Blog: Boundaries and Clergy BurnoutPamBGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11324370506889227234noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20471270.post-57590946677100187202012-12-28T23:03:30.728+00:002012-12-28T23:03:30.728+00:00Anglilutheran - Yes, that's often difficult.
...Anglilutheran - Yes, that's often difficult. <br /><br />In my case, one of these people was well known to the police, had lots of incidences of petty theft and was actually quite clear and explicit that he thought it was my duty as a Christian to enable him.<br /><br />He also thought that "treating him equally" meant allowing him to vandalize the church even though no one else was allowed to vandalize the church. In my book, "treating him equally" meant that he could participate in the religious services just as everyone else did and that the minute he was caught pick-pocketing or flooding the men's room or stealing from the Fair Trade stall, he would be asked to leave - by the police, if necessary. <br /><br />For others, my Red Flags are: <br />- nothing else will do but money, not even the goal they say they are after (food, gasoline, train ticket)<br />- extremely complicated stories that don't make sense<br />- phone requests for relatively large sums of money and a refusal to meet.<br /><br />I don't actually mind giving someone a one "donation" of money, even if I think they are bogus. I *do* mind establishing an enabling relationship where the con-artist calls the shots.PamBGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11324370506889227234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20471270.post-20107756564529056332012-12-28T21:59:09.824+00:002012-12-28T21:59:09.824+00:00The difficulty for me is telling the difference be...The difficulty for me is telling the difference between the con artist and the person in need. So many times one learns this only in retrospect. Anglilutheranhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08529542463647126871noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20471270.post-87187985718104897822011-12-07T21:51:59.882+00:002011-12-07T21:51:59.882+00:00I am glad I've read your post. It helped me.I am glad I've read your post. It helped me.Akumhttp://www.celebritys4africa.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20471270.post-16848688958554623792011-11-03T12:28:53.570+00:002011-11-03T12:28:53.570+00:00Thank you for your mention of giving to the neighb...Thank you for your mention of giving to the neighborhood con artist. I've been accused of being a bad christian/pastor because I've refused to give money to con artists. I am not showing love to my neighbor nor am I practicing good stewardship by being an enabler.God_Guurrlllhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18184002827799859297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20471270.post-20958566727804975412011-11-02T16:16:47.065+00:002011-11-02T16:16:47.065+00:00Pam you are so right about the difference between ...Pam you are so right about the difference between ministry and enabling! Edwin Friedman was right - we don't have an "apartness" problem in our culture, we have a "togetherness" problem. Too much enmeshment and projection of failings onto others and not enough taking responsibility for one's own functioning. Thanks for posting!Snarky Anglicanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12447943386562605651noreply@blogger.com