One of the numerous things I find frustrating about the church is the need to gossip and pass on information that is of little relevance, other than to those who find themselves the subject and object of the conversations.   Of course it is a fault that all of us share,  for even though we may not think we gossip, sometimes we will accidentally give away information that was not meant for public consumption.

In the midst of vacancies in other churches, someone somewhere gives away that they know at least one of the candidates that the nominating committee is pursuing and it is not long before a good gossip can put together the whole short-leet – no matter how discreet the nominating committee.   When another congregation is having a tough time, you don’t need to put your ear to the ground to hear the jungle drums, for the disquiet is talked about in coffee shops and supermarkets.

While chatting with someone yesterday, it became apparent that someone knew all the details of a conversation that only 10 people to my knowledge had been party to.   Of course I know that if 10 people know the rate at which the details would travel is faster than something held by 2 or 3.

Usually when you hear something come back to you, there is the possibility to work out how the information travelled and therefore you become more careful about who you tell avoiding the potential leaky sieve in the future.   On this occasion I find myself uncertain as to whom more limited information should be passed as I cannot see a clear line of passage.

Before you worry, although I know you won’t, I’m just frustrated at the human condition to talk.   And yet I know that if people are to work together and grow together, then conversation has to happen even when it can seem ill-timed and misplaced.