Slow Growth – Steady Progress
Alcoholics and addicts often want instant solutions to the challenges we face. That’s why we used fast acting drugs like alcohol to bring us relief or excitement. As a treatment chaplain, I would often scrawl the words, slow growth across a client’s treatment plan to counter their misplaced hope for instant solutions.
All of us involved with CRIC would like to see Compassionate Accountability programming unfolding across scores of church governing bodies right now. We know, however, that making systems change in church governing bodies is a long-term process. So we experience slow growth or steady progress.
First Class Website
The big news is that we have a first-class website thanks largely to the work of Wendy Miller Olapade and Tom Hathaway (Small Steeple.com). One reviewer wrote, “Holy Cow! It’s fabulous! Organized, informative, easy to navigate…it’s really great, Otto. Huge kudos to your team.” Additional contributors were Anna Terman-White and David Shellenberger. Check it out @ restoreimpairedclergy.
“What do You Say” Tool Kit?
What do you say when you see behaviors of concern with a clergy person? The new “What Do You Say?” booklets provide practical guidance for family members, congregants and colleagues on that very topic. It is up to us who are concerned, to say what we need to say, not to get that other person to change. These new additions to CRIC programming represent STEADY PROGRESS.
Comprehensive Programming
Program development is still in progress. Yet today, Compassionate Accountability offers the most comprehensive tool set for church governing authorities. These model policies, training experiences and guidelines enable them to address problems with clergy behavioral health in the most thorough way possible. All the while, it safeguards the people they serve. If you know of someone who has a more thorough approach, we want to learn from them. Brief descriptions of the 15 program elements are available at otto.schultz@restoreimpairedclergy.com. STEADY PROGRESS.
CRIC is a non-profit whose sole purpose is to influence church governing authorities to use the best practices with clergy behavioral health issues. To learn how you can help, contact the editor, Otto Schultz, at 402-770-1974. Otto.Schultz@restoreimpairedclergy.com
Just Say “No Thanks”
Compassionate Accountability is the newsletter of The Center for the Restoration of Impaired Clergy. You receive it since you indicated an interest in the Center’s work. To stop it, just say “No Thanks.” The newsletter is assembled by Otto Schultz so address your complaints and questions to OttoBSchultz@outlook.com.