In one short week, Kirk had been sucked into a quagmire involving the chairman of his board, a highly placed church leader, and two other members of the congregation. If the matter came before the board, it could polarize the church.
—David Goetz

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, ...