Every now and then, I'm surprised to learn that someone is a regular reader of this blog. Sometimes they leave a comment; at others they say something which shows a knowledge of what I've been thinking about. However it comes about, each one adds to the experience of blogging, because when you know you have a readership it's bound to have an effect on what you write. I've said this before, in a post about self-conscious bloggers, but it's weighing on me right now, and for reasons not unconnected with yesterday's post.
Suppose in the next year we end up with a bishop of whom I heartily disapprove, whose whole life is lived contrary to what I think is right. (OK - it might be less extreme than that, but let's go the whole hog). Let's imagine a homophobic bishop. Am I going to blog about how distasteful, how plain wrong, I think he is (for such a bishop would surely be male)? After all, I'm not employed by the church, and am under no constraints other than the usual ones of libel.
The last time I was particularly ruffled by a situation in the local church, it proved quite difficult to make my voice heard. Now I have this powerful tool, and I have a readership. And I'm inviting that readership to say what they think, now. Before the situation arises. Speak!
Honesty is required - tempered with mercy where appropriate of course (i.e. for me!)
ReplyDeleteOnce it's out there it's done - but what is there to lose?
ReplyDeleteThe gold standard of Piskie blogging is that you are free to criticize any idea or argument as thoroughly as you like, but not to attack the person.
ReplyDeleteI would think this distinction is important to maintain if you are in a leadership role in the congregation. It also allows lots of scope for you to say what you have to say honesty, but without cruelty.
Now, if you're worried about the election because the panel was chosen without election, I think that would be fare game.
(or even 'fair game'.)
ReplyDeleteOf course, here in the US of A, we learn fom early on there are two things one never discusses.....
ReplyDelete1. religion
2. politics
heheheheheheehehheeh
Yessirreeee!
Keep on blogging!
ReplyDeleteI find the blogs that I read to be a great source of stimulation to my own thinking. Sometimes a blogger will put into words something that I have struggled with. Sometimes a blogger will provoke me and get me thinking about something I hadn't considered before.
I was taught theology by a women who held that one of the best strategies for dealing with tyrants is to make mock of them.
ReplyDeleteThe is an absence of kindness in this view that troubles me, though it is one with which I also have many sympathies.
Of course you could become a "Bishop-Maker" and have a man after your own tastes in the end. I hesitate to say woman, as maybe A & the I isn't quite ready for that yet........
ReplyDeletebut keep bloggin' sister!
I'm probably one of those lurking readers on the fringe. I have found blogging a very powerful way to get my point across about things at the children's school - much better than being on the school board, where I served for amny years! There are times when I feel there's something I really can't write about, but these are relatively few. I think that as long as I'm not rude or personal about someone, but just expressing my own opinion, I'm generally OK, whether the school likes it or not! And anyhow, while I'm never entirely sure that the powers that be at the school actually read what I say, I know there are some in the council who do.
ReplyDeleteSo I'm sure you can say what you feel, so long as you're not insulting anyone - which, of course, you wouldn't.
I'm definitely one of those lurkers!
ReplyDeleteMy rule of thumb is never write anything that I wouldn't write on a postcard and therefore have our postie reading. That might go some way to explaining my mundane posts.
Or maybe it says something about your postie!
ReplyDelete;-)