Hot Button Issues #5: Too Much Grace?

A divorcee in your church with three children volunteers to teach a class of third-grade girls. She proves to be a good teacher and has excellent rapport with the girls. Several months later you learn that she has become pregnant out of wedlock. “It would be best if you step aside from your leadership role,” you tell her. “Your pregnancy is not a good example for the girls in your class.” She agrees to resign.

At her last class, her assistant teacher leads the class in a farewell gesture, which includes small gifts for the unborn baby. One of the girls’ mothers calls to complain. “Not only have you condoned her behavior,” she says, “but now you have celebrated it.”

After listening to the mother’s concerns, you try to provide some context for the assistant’s good intentions. “If we’re going to err one way or the other,” you say, “I hope we can err on the side of grace.”

“Well, as far as I’m concerned,” the mother bristles, “there’s entirely too much grace around here.” How do you respond?