My friend Ray Pritchard has a post on anonymous criticism that is worth reading. Here is a part of it:
Anonymous criticism is cowardly. If you don’t have the courage to put your name to what you say, then don’t say it.
When I was a pastor, I told the office staff not to show me unsigned letters or notes because I wouldn’t read them. For that matter, I told the staff never to bring anonymous criticism to a staff meeting. We had a simple rule that no one could say things like . . .
“Some people don’t like this idea.”
“I’ve been getting some negative feedback.”
“I can’t say who told me this.”
“I promised not to mention any names.”Anonymous criticism is unfair because opinions should be weighed, not counted. Negative statements and strong disagreements are fine, but you need to know the context. It’s unfair because there is no way to dialogue with your critics. And in really rough times, anonymous criticism is a Gestapo tactic, a way to intimidate people with vague, unsourced gossip and slander.
You can read the full post here
I LOVE LISTENING TO YOUR MESSAGES….. SUCH A BLESSING..
PRAISE THE LORD.. “GOD AND GOD ALONE”
OH SO TRUE, GOOD ARTICLE….
IF YOU REALLY CARE ABOUT SOMEONE, YOUR COMPLAINT SHOULD BE STATED DIRECTLY TO THAT PERSON AFTER PRAYER FOR UNDERSTANDING AND LOVE.
MANY TIMES IN THE MINISTRY PEOPLE HAVE COME TO ME AS THE PASTOR’S WIFE AND COMPLAIN ABOUT THINGS AND WHEN I REALIZED THEY WERE INSINUATING THAT I SHOULD TALK TO THE PASTOR ABOUT SOMETHING I HAD TO LEARN THE HARD WAY TO SAY AS KINDLY AS POSSIBLE, ” YOU REALLY NEED TO TALK TO THE PASTOR ABOUT THAT.”
OF COURSE I AM NOT TALKING ABOUT DAY TO DAY ANNOUNCEMENTS, PRAYER REQUESTS, ETC. BUT HEARSAY AND CRITICISM OR GOSSIP.
MOM
Thanks, Mom.
Ken, thanks for your kind words and for the link. Hope you are doing well. Blessings, Ray
OK. This is a big day. Ray Pritchard is a big-hitter. Now I’m famous. Thanks for commenting.