(In the following true story, names and some identifying details have been changed.)

Kirk Thullin expected Rob to grunt his way through the hour of marital counseling. Last week's session had seemed futile.

But on this day, Rob, without his wife Jennifer, was eager to chat about his stormy marriage. The hour breezed by. As he stood up to leave, he said, "I probably shouldn't be telling you this, but Jennifer has been in sex therapy for the past year."

Pastor Kirk leaned back in his chair and swiveled a half turn toward Rob. I should never have agreed to see this couple, Kirk thought. I'm really not a marriage counselor.

It was a favor to Ken Hutchenson, chairman of the church board. Ken had helped Kirk get his legs under him when he arrived at Harrison Flats Community Church ten years ago. Ken, a corporate lawyer close to retirement, was among his most trusted church allies. A month earlier, Ken had asked him to see his daughter and son-in-law, who had recently separated after six years of ...