Poll: What form of church discipline do I deserve?

[MikeWaters]

Originally Posted by BarbaraGordon

I don't know if this post is real or hypothetical, but it makes me very sad. The reaction that Guest received was pretty far down among the ranking of helpful, edifying ones. Why would anyone turn to a clergy for help if he were running the risk of being "turned over" to the authorities. Good gracious.

This is why I made a rule of never telling anyone when I screwed up (literally or figuratively).

Well, when you think about it, this can keep the Bishop from being too busy. People are scared to talk to him. And heaven knows most of them are busy enough with their jobs and family that full-time counseling would be almost impossible.

It's probably harder to confess to a long-time friend acting as a "judge in Israel" than it would to a professional clergyman who doesn't even know what the word "excommunication" means. Oh well, that is the system we have. We excommunicate, we disfellowship, we make it so members will be shamed in public when they are called on to pray and have to tell everyone that they cannot (because the Bishop doesn't allow it). I didn't know this before: but apparently a Bishop can also have a person not participate in any discussions (for example Sunday School). Which makes it every awkward when the Sunday School teacher asks that person a question.

I don't have the answer. It's a system. We muddle through it. Some bishops handle it one way, some another. God help us all.