Open Letter To This List

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Anthony D Barnett wrote:
> 
> On Tue, 4 Nov 1997 08:43:50 -0500 (EST) Harrell01@Aol.com writes:
> >It should be that the congregation as enough faith in their leader
> >that he can properly counsel a member of the opposite gender without
> being led
> >into temptation. It's his job as a pastor.
> 
> I don't believe it has any thing to do with faith in the leader.  It is
> more a lack of faith in the world.  When my husband and I first began
> working with young people, we were told that my husband should not
> *counsel* a young girl, nor be alone with her in a car/church van/etc.
> This was not done for the girl's protection, but my husband's.  After
> all, they knew they could trust him, they had *faith* in him.  We know of
> a situation in a local church, where one family's life has been
> irreversibly affected, because of an accusation of *sexual molestation*
> by a young girl.........though no formal charges were ever made, and no
> wrong was ever done.
> 
> Kathy Barnett
> kathrynsbarnett@juno.com

I agree, it is not about faith in the leader it is about wisdom. One (a
male) should never put himself in the postition for a stray gossip or a
wrong alligation to cause problems. I did some counseling (as part of
ACTS) I do youth bible studies, am a youth Sunday School teacher and
even do tutoring if the need arises, but I never placec myself one on
one with a young lady. I had an experience in college and lost my place
in the tutoring pool and almost was expelled for a false alligation.

I recently had helped a young lady through some issues in her
relationship with her parents and one night after church she offered me
a hug. I denied it and told her that I couldnt because of the "thoughts
others might have". She replied that "that is stupid" I agreed but told
her that "that is life". 

We must be careful, the enemy is just lurking for ammo to attack the
saints and the church. We need wisdom not to give him that ammo.

Lord Bless,
Bill (I try to give him a box of duds) Clifton
woodrow_@geocities.com
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Plains/1226/index.html