Merry Christmas
from the Center for the Restoration of Impaired Clergy (CRIC)
How do Christians make cheerful Christmas greetings when so much of our world is so deeply troubled and so many individuals including clergy, face trials and some even face deep troubles?
We Christians differ from many other philosophies and faiths. Our God is not a magician who makes troubles disappear. Our God walks with us through the troubles of this world and of individual lives, then grants us ultimate victory over them.
Our God calls each of us to play our part, however small, in our own lives, the lives of others and the world around us. CRIC plays its small part. We see a vision of every Christian community using the best practices to support recovery in behaviorally impaired clergy while protecting the people those clergy serve. We are only beginning this journey, with many years before this vision is completely fulfilled. Yet, even today, we experience our lively God walking with us, trusting in the ultimate victory
In truth, there are many ways to interpret the message of Christmas. You may see the Christ as an innocent babe; an astounding teacher; a person filled with love, suffering for us; a living person today, victorious over death. The CRIC Team experiences all of these and more.
Sure, we know trouble in our lives and in our world. We dearly know trouble among our clergy. Yes. CRIC faces a daunting challenge. Yet, like other Christians we strive forward knowing that the mightiest Power of all the universes walks with us, moves quietly among us, and in our troubled lives and world, He even cleverly surprises us with joy.
And for all these reasons, the CRIC Team sings, Joy to the world. The Lord is come.
We are yours, because we are His,
Rev. Dr. Matthew DuVall, Atlanta GA
Mr. Chad Harmon, Indianapolis, IN
Fr. Stephen E. Lane, Buffalo, NY
Rev. Wendy Miller Olapade, Boston MA
Rev. Dr. Andrew Scanlan-Holmes, Indianapolis IN
Rev. Otto B. Schultz, M.Div. Lincoln, NE
Mr. David Shellenberger, Downingtown, PA
Rt. Rev. Brian Seage, M. Div., Tiburon, CA
Rev. Anna Terman-White, MA, Omaha, NE
Rev. Dr. Harold Dean Trulear, Washington DC
Dr. James Yankech, Lincoln, NE
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 [email protected].