Scott Bouldin wrote in message ...
First of all, the idea of a having to be a professionally licensed
counselor
to be able to answer a child's question of 'what does the Bible say
about....' or 'how does God want us to respond to...' is simply ludicrous.
Nothing short of it. Many of those professionally licensed counselors are
the ones telling parents to not discipline children, and to not 'force God
and the Bible down their throats', which usually leads to a youth getting
into a situation that would merit coming to his/her youth minister. I will
never turn away a youth with a question about God's direction for our lives
because I'm not professionally licensed to answer that question. Our small
rural churches like mine cannot afford $40,000-$50,000 a year to hire
someone with tons of degrees and licenses. So, we seek God's direction.
Man, what's your beef with me? I was just trying to point out some things
that I hoped would help you in this decision.
I never said anything was wrong with teaching kids about God! That's your
job after all, and you don't have to be professionally licensed to instruct
other people in spiritual matters. Otherwise, 99% of Sunday School teachers
would be at risk. Yeah, it's ludicrous. I never implied it was the case.
However, if you think that's the only type of topic kids are going to bring
to you in a private "counseling" session, you're wrong, pure and simple. Two
examples that you could get into trouble for counseling privately: "My dad
hits my mother. What should I do to make him stop?" or "I hate my parents. I
mean, I really wish they were dead."
Of course, I'm not advocating standing by and doing nothing when situations
like that exist, I'm just saying those aren't the type of topics that you
can discuss IN PRIVATE with a minor.
And the entire point of my earlier post was quite clear. I was not saying
that I was going to buck our ridiculous culture and get myself into any
situations. I understand that bad things have happened to good people, and
even more rumors occur than actual events.
My response to your post was also quite clear.
I specifically referred to you as a church employee being "alone with
minors." I never said you couldn't answer their questions about God, nor did
I imply in the slightest that you have to be a professional counselor to
answer such questions. In fact, questions about God was never mentioned at
all. You yourself said the original intent of the meetings you were
considering was so "youth members could come by my office and discuss *any*
problems or questions that they needed to talk about."
I specifically said that I am
limiting and restricting my ministry because of the idea of such situations
like you suggested that enter into 'Christians' heads, and in my opinion,
that's very, very sad, because those who are ministered to in a limited
setting are the ones who suffer our simple-mindedness.
If you want to nit pick every thing that was said "specifically," that's
fine.
I know that you're already taking some precautions. I can read, after all. I
was just trying to point out that gossip is not the only thing to worry
about with such a scenario. I know that you already know this. You seem like
a fairly intelligent guy.
I have a very difficult time understanding what it was I said that set you
off like this, Scott, unless you just totally mis-read the intent behind my
post.
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Scott Bouldin, You did specifically imply. Quote: "Scott, unless you are a professional licensed counselor, you should not be