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The ethos of trusting informality that so often characterizes churches is another factor. Who can be against trust? Sadly, it looks like Ronald Reagan's dictum of "trust but verify" is the better approach. Human nature is what it is. We are not yet fully redeemed, not even in the church (imagine that!). The open doors and open hearts of the church also leave us wide open to sharks, predators, and temptation. It may seem counterintuitive, but creating policies to encourage just treatment can actually build trust. When such policies require financial transparency and limit one-on-one pastoral contact to visible spaces, they speak of our willingness to be open about our activities. And that willingness feeds trust.

Finally, we have an underdeveloped approach to justice. We too often wait for something to go wrong before we try to fix it. Thus, we tend to equate justice with punishment. But a better understanding of justice sees the importance of prevention: establishing a context in which right relationships and fairness can grow, be maintained, and be restored among sinful people—especially those sinners who are attempting to live for Jesus Christ. Love, trust, and good will are not enough.

So bring on those policy manuals, and the commitment to justice that goes with them.

Copyright © 2007 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

David Gushee's recent columns include:

Jesus and the Sinner's Prayer | What Jesus says doesn't match what we usually say. (March 6, 2007)

Dethroned | Jesus puts the all-important self in its place. (January 8, 2007)

Children of a Lesser Hope | What happens when we lose confidence in the church. (November 1, 2006)

How to Create Cynics | Everybody knows when we're covering up our confusion with God-talk. (September 1, 2006)

What's Right About Patriotism | The nation is not our highest love, but it still deserves our affection. (July 1, 2006)

Gushee's webpage has a biography and information on his books and articles.

CT editorial "Entrepreneurs R Us" addressed the strengths and weaknesses of the evangelical model of leadership.

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April 2007, Vol. 51, No. 4