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The experience of reading the Ethicist’s columns is like what happens to the famous pebble once dropped into the pond. By the time you finish reading, you’ve been exposed to perspectives that far exceed what the question may seem to have warranted. In his response to the query about the plagiarizing preacher, Dr. Appiah points out to the letter writer that the compassion tempering her desire to “out” the preacher may exist in part as a result of the same plagiarized sermons she’s heard from this preacher over the years! Though he acknowledges how this preacher’s plagiarism strayed into more nefarious realms, sad is the reader who won’t benefit from the breadth of what he points out, to see that most black-and-white answers are not only just too narrow but are also often deeply flawed. I recently heard Henry Louis Gates Jr. refer to his old friend Kwame as having one of the most brilliant minds he’d come across. I was frankly delighted to have confirmation of my impression that in general, Dr. Appiah’s columns are a great gift to those willing to keep unwrapping beyond the top layer. In today’s world, we are in terrible need of being reminded of the value of doing that. — Ellen
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This is tricky. As a minister myself, I also rely on published anecdotes to amplify and explain doctrine. Typical homily training tells us to have a newspaper in one hand and the Bible in another. While the retired minister may have overreached and paid poor attention to the boundaries of the subjects, I would suggest that his excellent preaching was still good ministry and the borrowing possibly from fatigue at the end of his career. — Anne
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It’s a sad day when a pastor’s authenticity is found to be fraudulent, because authenticity is the only coin of the realm for a pastor these days. After more than 30 years as a pastor and preacher, I abhorred the practice of plagiarizing sermons, but it was sadly not uncommon. Then again, those same pastors may have paid twice as many hospital calls as I ever did. Parish ministry is extraordinarily challenging, requiring the skills of a counselor, orator, executive director, fund-raiser, politician, volunteer coordinator, handyman, teacher, hospice chaplain, liturgist and writer — while never losing your temper or falling in love or appearing imperfect. No one is good at all of it. I needed two days to write a decent sermon, while others would devote an hour or so, skimming the internet or using sample sermons they subscribed to. Their priorities were elsewhere. I can understand how the stress of the job — combined with people-pleasing neuroses, unmet narcissistic needs and whatever else — drives someone to rationalize this crime against authenticity. — Matthew
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As a pastor, I offer that, in my experience, clergy all too often lack clear guidance about intellectual integrity, never mind training in what that looks like in a homiletic setting (which the Ethicist rightly notes is distinct from an academic one). Absent clear policies and training, pastors are left to their own judgment, which only invites situations such as this no matter their intentions. This presents an opportunity to help develop resources in this area — whether that’s best practices within an individual church, or even volunteering to help establish policies and training at the denominational level. While that may not resolve the immediate question, hopefully such resources could aid future ministers who want to do the right thing but simply lack the resources to know what that looks like. — John