Comments on: Skills for Criticism

By: Andrew Phillips

Andrew Phillips — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 13:47:34 +0000

I agree – Jerrie is a talented minister who does a lot for other ministers, and this is one of his “specialties.” One thing rule #2 does is move the discussion from a written note or quick comment to an actual conversation. It is so easy today to try to communicate so much about complicated issues by e-mail or texting that we forget the value of face to face communication. If it is important enough to discuss, then it is valuable enough to spend time in a one on one setting. Good stuff.

By: Jerrie Barber

Jerrie Barber — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 22:52:30 +0000

Thank you for the compliments.

Leaders are lightening rods — not throw rugs. Lightening rods stand high above a house and invite the lightening to strike them to save the house. They handle the charge, carry it to the ground and protect the house. The strikes are part of the job description of leadership.

I do not invite, enjoy, or accept slander.

Recently I asked a man who has criticized me repeatedly, “I just wonder — if you ever catch me doing anything right, would you tell me that?” He assures me he will. I have invited him to lunch and look forward to talking more with him and have thanked him for sharing this thoughts and observations.

By: K. Rex Butts

K. Rex Butts — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 18:56:25 +0000

Good advice! I once angered a passive-aggressive critic who told me that there was a “bunch of other people” who were saying this and that. I angered him when I told him that I could care less what someone thinks when they do not have the courage to directly speak to me. But the truth is, I don’t care unless the person(s) take their time to come directly to me and speak to me in the same respectful manner that they wish to be spoken too. Then I will listen and care.

I will say this though…just as we know that the pithy saying “Sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me” is a myth when it comes to children being harrassed and insulted by their peers, it is pretty hurtful when as a preacher I discover that someone is saying untrue statements about me behind my back which seek to undermine my character and integrity. I know I am not the only preacher or elder (or other Christian leader) to experience this. What is sad is that these “someone(s)” are Christians engaging in such maligning behavior.

Grace and peace,

Rex

By: Twitter Trackbacks for Skills for Criticism | Musings on Spiritual Matters [matthewmorine.com] on Topsy.com

Tue, 08 Sep 2009 16:30:05 +0000

[...] Skills for Criticism | Musings on Spiritual Matters http://www.matthewmorine.com/?p=867 – view page – cached Someone who I highly respect as a minister is Jerrie Barber. I ate lunch with him once and I learned more from him in one hour than I have in a whole class at — From the page [...]

By: Matthew

Matthew — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 16:11:46 +0000

Here is the link, it should work. http://www.barberclippings.com/23914.html