Prudence in a Time of Crisis

As a volunteer church leader responsible for pastoral care (in part), I’ve been wondering about the most appropriate way for churches to care for others during the Covid-19 pandemic? The crisis has made me feel responsible in ways that are hard to carry. Church leaders tend to be conscientious and have a strong desire to honour God, but sometimes it is not always clear how to do this. We know that the good can so often be the enemy of the best and it is often easier to stick with established patterns of communal life than to innovate. There is always the fear than in striving for the best we might fail and sacrifice the good. In addition there is always the question of knowing the difference between the good and the best. Often the impacts of different courses of action are impossible to measure, evaluate and compare with any degree of objectivity.

Take the example of setting up a pastoral care phone line. Within days of the Covid-19 situation, the Oasis church network had advertised their ‘friendship line phone service’ and made announcements through national media channels. What are the options for local churches? Do they: (a) generate resources to replicate a public telephone friendship service; (b) provide a formal, yet cut down service, for their own members and people on their fringe; (c) rely upon existing informal interpersonal networks to reach those who need social connection? Objectors to (a) and (b) argue that it would be important for a church to fully comply with the law (i.e. GDPR) and therefore there is insufficient time and resource to establish a friendship line phone service. Objectors also argue that (c) is meeting the need and they may be correct. Each option is certainly good, but there is no way of establishing what is best with any certainty. To complicate matters, context will determine that different options are best in different church settings.

Another issue that local churches face is around resources. The tension always exists between two types of prudence. In version one, we look to our existing resources and ‘cut our coat to fit our cloth’, acting prudently within what God has provided. In version two we trust to future resources to ‘build the road as we travel’, acting prudently and relying upon God to provide. Most church leaders would agree that money ought to follow mission, not the other way around. There is a danger in both types of prudence that mission begins to be shaped by the potential that is perceived in our balance sheets. More conservative church leaders will be suspicious of entrepreneurial initiatives and visa-versa. Yet in each case prudence requires the same methods of evaluation. Proverbs helps us here:

1:1-7	The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel: To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight, to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity; to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth— Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance…	Leaders must be able to: ¾  Act with wisdom: ultimately revealed in the life of Jesus Christ and his teaching. ¾  Listen and understand others who have greater insight. ¾  Learn and be instructed in decision making. ¾  Evaluate decisions in relation to righteousness, justice and equity. ¾  Teach prudence knowledge and discretion to those who lack it, especially young people. ¾  Guide others through their understanding.
8:12	I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion.	¾  Be discrete. Behave and speak in such a way as to avoid causing offence or revealing confidential information.
12:15-17	The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice. The vexation of a fool is known at once, but the prudent ignores an insult. Whoever speaks the truth gives honest evidence, but a false witness utters deceit.	¾  Patient. Withholding speech and ignoring insults. ¾  Truthful and Honest
13:16	In everything the prudent acts with knowledge, but a fool flaunts his folly.	¾  Acquire and utilise knowledge.
14:15	The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps.	¾  Critically reflect on actions, behaviour and the direction of travel.
15:5	A fool despises his father's instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is prudent.	¾  Repent ¾  Accept correction
27:12	The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it.	¾  Monitor risks ¾  Avoid danger ¾  Prevent suffering

Whether continuing with a tried and tested pattern of church worship or embarking on an innovative new pattern, it is important to act with prudence. As we reflect upon our own leadership within our sphere of influence, it is worth reflecting upon the criteria of prudence.