“The Dallas-Fort Worth region is home to more than 6,500 houses of worship, the highest concentration in the top 10 largest urban regions in the country, according to the 2020 U.S. religion census. Four of the 20 largest churches in the country are in the area.”
Fire in the loins alert: Ruth Graham’s article highlights an outbreak of confessed pastorial sinning in the DFW area.
Some evangelicals have proposed a revival of “the Billy Graham rule,” or the principle that a man should never be alone with a woman who is not his wife. Critics point out that it effectively prevents women from advancing in organizations led by men. The “rule” was one of several guidelines developed by Mr. Graham’s team in the 1940s, as the evangelist’s profile was rising — a fortress against the temptations of pride, lust and frequent travel.
(When I read the article, the mention of “fortress” triggered a memory. With sincere nostalgia I recalled from my church-going youth what was perhaps my favorite hymn: “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.” The lyric and tune stood head and shoulders above the others. I could hear it with pleasure even today.)
Larry Ross, a PR executive who represented Mr. Graham for decades, urges perspective:
A faithful, clean-living pastor is like an airplane taking off or landing successfully at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, Mr. Ross said, recalling a similar insight from Mr. Graham. It happens thousands of times a day, and no one notices. “But if any one of them crashes, it’s going to be on the news,” he said.
[Mary] DeMuth, [an evangelical author], sees the exposures [of pastor misconduct] as a positive thing, a downstream effect of the #MeToo movement and a rising appetite for transparency in church circles. It’s “God cleaning house and saying, ‘Enough of this tomfoolery,’” she said.
(Ruth Graham, “Around Dallas, the Church Scandals Seem to Have No End,” New York Times, 10-3-24)
I live in Texas and devote much of my time to easel painting on an amateur basis. I stream a lot of music, mostly jazz, throughout the day. I like to read and memorize poetry.
EthicalDative 
‘Enough of This Tomfoolery!’ (God)
Fire in the loins alert: Ruth Graham’s article highlights an outbreak of confessed pastorial sinning in the DFW area.
Some evangelicals have proposed a revival of “the Billy Graham rule,” or the principle that a man should never be alone with a woman who is not his wife. Critics point out that it effectively prevents women from advancing in organizations led by men. The “rule” was one of several guidelines developed by Mr. Graham’s team in the 1940s, as the evangelist’s profile was rising — a fortress against the temptations of pride, lust and frequent travel.
(When I read the article, the mention of “fortress” triggered a memory. With sincere nostalgia I recalled from my church-going youth what was perhaps my favorite hymn: “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.” The lyric and tune stood head and shoulders above the others. I could hear it with pleasure even today.)
Larry Ross, a PR executive who represented Mr. Graham for decades, urges perspective:
A faithful, clean-living pastor is like an airplane taking off or landing successfully at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, Mr. Ross said, recalling a similar insight from Mr. Graham. It happens thousands of times a day, and no one notices. “But if any one of them crashes, it’s going to be on the news,” he said.
[Mary] DeMuth, [an evangelical author], sees the exposures [of pastor misconduct] as a positive thing, a downstream effect of the #MeToo movement and a rising appetite for transparency in church circles. It’s “God cleaning house and saying, ‘Enough of this tomfoolery,’” she said.
(Ruth Graham, “Around Dallas, the Church Scandals Seem to Have No End,” New York Times, 10-3-24)
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I live in Texas and devote much of my time to easel painting on an amateur basis. I stream a lot of music, mostly jazz, throughout the day. I like to read and memorize poetry.