Learning and Leading in Ministry: Chapter Thirteen

Don’t Hide Information

Learn openness.

On July 2, 2007 , President George W. Bush partially commuted the sentence given to Lewis “Scooter” Libby who was convicted of obstruction of justice. Mr. Bush said,

“My decision to commute his prison sentence leaves in place a harsh punishment for Mr. Libby. The reputation he gained through his years of public service and professional work in the legal community is forever damaged. His wife and young children have also suffered immensely. He will remain on probation. The significant fines imposed by the judge will remain in effect. The consequences of his felony conviction on his former life as a lawyer, public servant, and private citizen will be long-lasting.”

Mr. Libby was not convicted of “outing” an FBI agent, the original intent of his prosecutors. His crime was that he tried to keep information hidden from public view.

Our litigious society has made cowards of many people. We have become afraid of the truth because an opponent may use our truthfulness and good will to fire facts back at us as bullets. Many leaders, fearing that someone will misunderstand their use of authority or finance, try to protect themselves by hiding sensitive information. They mistakenly believe that keeping people in the dark will spare them from embarrassment or charges of wrongdoing. Those who say they have nothing to hide should not proceed to hide the details of their business.

As Scooter Libby found out, the public does have a right to know. In a church or ministry setting, those who give financial support or who place their trust in leadership also have an inherent right to know the business of the church. While they may not have decision-making power over the assets, they should have access to any data that involves their contributions or their reputations. Denial of access constitutes manipulation.

Critical information such as financial data, sudden changes in leadership or major decisions that affect the entire church needs to be fully aired. “No one needs to know,” is a statement rooted in ignorance. It is based on the immature belief that people who ask questions of their leaders don’t trust their leaders in the first place. President Ronald Reagan used to say, “Trust, but verify.” Leaders can no longer assume that people will live in blind faith. Like many plants, trust withers in the shadows, but thrives in the sunlight. If people think that you are hiding something, they may begin to distrust you.

Without trust, a church will not progress.  But, beyond that, suppressed information often escapes its imprisonment and finds the light of day.  Those sworn to secrecy may have an occasion or desire to change their minds at some future point.  Some inquiring mind may eventually stumble upon the critical question that blows the lid off the situation.  Some inadvertant slip of the tongue may reveal hidden facts.  Withholding information to protect innocent people is one thing. Hiding information to mask inappropriate actions is quite another.  Don’t do it regardless of how much you think you have to.  In the end, the cover up always creates the most damage.