Healthy Disclosure: Solving Communication Quandaries in Congregations / Edition 1

by Kibbie Simmons Ruth, Karen A. McClintock author of Shame-Less Lives, Grace-Full Congregations

Overview

Knowledge is power, and the way knowledge is shared in a congregation can build up or break down community. When congregational leaders are sensitive to the ways that information should be shared, the congregation can become safe and strong. Unfortunately, congregations can easily fall into patterns of communication that lead to disastrous interpersonal and organizational outcomes. Even in times of crisis, however, congregations can learn and practice new skills and healthy communication management. Congregational consultants Kibbie Ruth and Karen McClintock show clergy and laity how to appropriately handle information. From proper ways to respond to rumors to relating information about a staff firing to the congregation, Healthy Disclosure is filled with step-by-step ideas for handling different types of sensitive material. It helps clergy and other congregational leaders understand levels of disclosure, including how and when to reveal information, the difference between privacy and secrecy, legal issues related to public knowledge, and the power of secrets from a congregation's past. What we don't know can hurt us. The more conscious congregational leaders are of the information they have and how they pass it along to others, the better off the congregation will be. Information management is both a technical process and a spiritual undertaking. Leaders need the ability to spiritually discern, not just intellectually decide, the solutions to congregational dilemmas. Ruth and McClintock guide readers in developing the skills needed to create a congregational environment of healthy disclosure.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781566993463
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	10/08/2007
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	184
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

For two decades, Kibbie Ruth has taught abuse prevention and intervention strategies, and consulted on cases throughout the country. She works with judicatories and congregations to establish safe relationships and prevent child abuse, domestic violence, elder abuse, sexual harassment, professional misconduct and other abuses of power. Karen A. McClintock is a clinical psychologist and clergy person in the United Methodist Church. A nationally known lecturer and consultant on sexuality issues in the church, she is the author of Preventing Sexual Abuse in Congregations: A Resource for Leaders.

Table of Contents

Foreword Speed B. Leas vii

Acknowledgments xi

Introduction 1

1 Why Do We Talk Too Much or Talk Too Little? 7

2 Concealing Information 31

3 Consequences of Secrets in Congregations 57

4 Disclosure Patterns and Consequences 71

5 Levels of Information Disclosure 93

6 Appropriate Access to Information 113

7 Legal Issues 127

8 Leaders "In the Know" 149

9 A Decision-Making Process 159

10 Correcting Poor Communication 185

11 Special Circumstances 205

12 Speaking the Truth in Love 229

Appendix 239

Notes 243