pastorate: truth-telling can make this awkward. Early in my ministry I had to face a situation that existed in a women’s Bible study. Under the guise of prayer requests, some women were telling stories about the failings of their husbands (or husbands of their friends). Not only was there potential for embarrassing individuals, relationships and careers could have been severely damaged. Though several women felt uncomfortable and vowed never to return to such a study, the practice went on for several