What sets us apart is that we say we want to be accountable for our commitments. Accountability helps us remember our commitments, helps us clarify our growth agendas, and gives us feedback for reflection. So, I've got a second question for your reflection. I want to lift up one last angle on this subject for your reflection. It is particularly a question for anyone who is feeling mad at me for raising these questions, mad at Seekers for having stewardship standards, mad about having to move, on any of the feeling of shame, or fear, or jealousy, or competitiveness, that you identified in response to the first question.
Alienation is serious business.
If that is what we have discovered this morning then we probably need to do something about it. I don't think that telling me to shut up will do the trick. I don't think that sliding back into tactful avoidance of these questions as a community will do the trick either. Covering up alienation with silence surely clogs the wellsprings of individual and community spiritual growth. So, let's close with some silent prayer.