John Dorhauer clarifies: He's not insane
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Just in case there was any confusion, UCC Missouri Mid-South Associate Conference Minister John Dorhauer is not insane. He clarifies this in his most recent post on Talk2Action:Really, I'm not. I've graduated with honors from two different seminaries. I've been married to the same woman for 23 years. I'm in my office every day with very smart people who affirm my gifts for ministry.I'm glad that cleared it up.
Whatever gifts Dorhauer claims to have, he is still not credible and his work is destructive to the United Church of Christ. Specifically:
- Dorhauer proudly claims ministers are calling him suspicious of visitors to their churches.
- Dorhauer boasts that one of the churches that attended his workshop mistakenly accused a woman of being part of this conspiracy.
- Dorhauer concedes that "all I have is circumstantial evidence, around which I have built a theory"
- Dorhauer's blog doesn't allow people to challenge his wild conspiracy theories and has refused to provide proof of a church stealing conspiracy within the UCC
He may not be insane, but Dorhauer has recklessly used his position in the UCC to fuel paranoia that threatens the hope of unity within our denomination.
7 Comments:
commented by 
UCCtruths, 3:16 PM
UCCtruths, 3:16 PM
You have to wonder why no one in the Conference is standing up to Dorhauer. His actions are, by his own admission, causing ministers to look at their members and visitors with suspicion. His actions also paint a broad brush over any form of dissent because all of a sudden, you are one of the bad people if you challenge the party line. It certainly explains why Dorhauer doesn't tolerate any criticisms on his blog.
James, you can see how Dorhauer uses disconnected logic just by his explanation of not being insane.
What does marriage have to do with sanity (and wouldn't this be offensive to gays)?
What does graduating with "honors" have to do with sanity?
What do gifts of ministry have to do with sanity?
The answer is none of these has anything to do with sanity. It is a simple (perhaps petty) example of his poor use of logic. His book is the same way. He doesn't go as far as connect the IRD directly to the churches that left the UCC, but he strongly suggests it by documenting OTHER activities of the IRD. It's a disconnected argument.
Intenentional? Who knows, maybe this is just how the thoughts work in his brain. It doesn't make it reality though.
What does marriage have to do with sanity (and wouldn't this be offensive to gays)?
What does graduating with "honors" have to do with sanity?
What do gifts of ministry have to do with sanity?
The answer is none of these has anything to do with sanity. It is a simple (perhaps petty) example of his poor use of logic. His book is the same way. He doesn't go as far as connect the IRD directly to the churches that left the UCC, but he strongly suggests it by documenting OTHER activities of the IRD. It's a disconnected argument.
Intenentional? Who knows, maybe this is just how the thoughts work in his brain. It doesn't make it reality though.
you have to be nuts (or un-Christian) to think it's okay for pastors to be suspcious of visitors to a church. encouraging this type of attitude on the part of ucc ministers is the the consequence of the whole "church stealing" accusations. it's spiritual mccarthyism.
It's disgusting
It's disgusting
I think one of the reasons John is not criticized in his Conference (Is this true?) is because there is more to his work than Steeplejacking and associated work. He certainly wasn't given the Shalom award from Eden seminary for fear-mongering.
I think JD is in error in seeing malice and enemies where they do not exist. I think he's been the recipient ('victim' seems too strong) of the same error. His latest defense of himself on talk2action is worth reading and considering.
I do wonder why someone who says he is so careful not to offend ends up being criticized by conservatives; but I also wonder why someone who appears so obviously errant to others is apparently well-received among his peers.
I think JD is in error in seeing malice and enemies where they do not exist. I think he's been the recipient ('victim' seems too strong) of the same error. His latest defense of himself on talk2action is worth reading and considering.
I do wonder why someone who says he is so careful not to offend ends up being criticized by conservatives; but I also wonder why someone who appears so obviously errant to others is apparently well-received among his peers.
James,
PLease put something else at the top of your blog, dorhauer is a depressing and divisive figure within the UCC. please, how long must we see his grim visage? How long? Will you hear our cries James, and free your captive viewers?
PLease put something else at the top of your blog, dorhauer is a depressing and divisive figure within the UCC. please, how long must we see his grim visage? How long? Will you hear our cries James, and free your captive viewers?
and we thought you were a dialogic moderator, James. you have NOT heard our cries.
1) I didn't graduate from seminary with honors
2) I haven't been married to the same woman 23 years (I'll hit 10 in
August)
3) No one affirms my gifts of ministry in my office (nor do I profess to have any)
I MUST BE INSANE
-James