Lives Entrusted: An Ethic of Trust for Ministry (Prisms)

Behind all the issues of ministerial conduct and character lies a simple reality. The heart of ministerial ethics and integrity argues Barbara Blodgett is trust - trust expected trust earned trust practiced. In Lives Entrusted Blodgett shows how trust is not an emotion or intention but a transaction. People entrust each other with things they value and that interaction endows a relationship which in turn helps to create community. Trust however is undermined by a number of trust-busters common in the church including secrecy auditing gossip and b.s. By focusing on crucial practices of trust-identified in terms of risk vulnerability and power-Blodgett shows us how we may practice better trust and thus create a unique new framework for ministerial identity and ethics.