There are two sorts of risk in every opportunity: uncertainty about feasibility and uncertainty about the benefits.
Edward de Bono1

Identifying the nature of the issue involved, whether theological, institutional, interpersonal, or personal, is the essential first step. But once we ask what kind of risk we're facing, a second major question needs to be asked: How important is it that we make this decision?

Take, for instance, the case of one pastor in the Southeast:

"Our district superintendent put me in charge of a regional camp for six churches. He wanted to start a summer youth conference, and his plan was to have a one-week camp. I checked facilities and talked to the pastors to find out how many of their people would be interested. My research showed two things: the cost was too high and the anticipated participation too small to support a week-long camp. I reported this to the superintendent, and we decided to change to an overnight retreat.

"Then I found out the district had never held ...