My comment on transparent discipleship speaks to this concept. A shepherd and/or elder needs to evidence a pursuit to that which brings us into a deeper relationship with God. Paul’s concept of follow me as I follow Christ. Transparent discipleship walks the fine line between both the donatist error of perfection and the “cheap grace” error that Bonhoeffer laments.

The key is in one’s understanding of transparent discipleship. A maturing believer is one who comes to a deeper understanding of their own depravity thereby causing one to rely more upon the sustaining power of the Spirit. Following this concept, holiness becomes not a “perfected life” as understood by being sinless, but a “perfected life” as an utter and total dependence upon God.

Understanding holiness as a pursuit allows for a shepherd or elder to be viewed as having a “higher moral integrity” as you say. In my experience, the deacons, elders, and shepherds that I have desired to imitate are those in whom Christ shines forth from their person. I have thought about how they have achieved such courageous faith and have come to the conclusion that they have a deep understanding of their own depravity, which causes them to fall upon the utter grace of God. That is moral integrity – not simple white knuckled obedience to God as the Donatists thought.

Does this clarify my position? As a person who has read much about authentic community, does this resonate?

So does the minister/priest need to have a higher moral integrity or not on your view? I shudder to think that he or she would be expected to. How would you ever decide what was ‘higher’ enough? And who would do that measuring? It seems that it would only lead where Quash indicated: either empty or simply dishonest.

Maybe I misread you on that one though. Want to clarify?

The practical affect of the Donatist movement is still alive today. There is a tension within the church (and needs to be) that the shepherd should have a higher moral integrity than his or her congregation without losing the reality of the fallen nature of humanity. How does a church and a shepherd achieve a proper balance?

I believe that the answer is transparent discipleship. In transparency we find the authentic struggle of our life with Christ and our pursuit of holiness. In discipleship, parishers see and experience a life of moral integrity.

Unfortunately, discipleship gets shunted sideways from the shepherds and elders to a specific ministry or process called discipleship. In doing so, they make the same error that the Donatist’s made by creating a gap between the leadership and the parishioner.

Does this resonate with anyone?