Authority Imbalances, Complaints and Christian Leadership – with Jenni Woodhouse

What happens when someone has been hurt in a Christian organisation, and the person they need to complain about has authority over them?

Does Christian conflict resolution sometimes assume an equality that simply isn’t there? What changes when the other person is your senior pastor, CEO, bishop or ministry boss — someone who holds not only organisational authority, but perhaps pastoral and spiritual authority as well?

So why is saying “I’m sorry” so difficult? Why do organisations become defensive? Can fear of legal liability or reputational damage cause us to respond legally rather than pastorally? And can refusing to apologise ultimately cause more damage than the original mistake?

Jenni Woodhouse says Christian leaders and organisations can be far too reluctant to apologise. 

For more than a decade Jenni served as chaplain to the Sydney Anglican Professional Standards Unit.