Sample Do Activity #1
The purpose of the course I’m developing is to teach volunteer church office assistants the importance of maintaining confidentiality of sensitive information.
This activity aligns with Terminal Objective #2: Create a list of at least four principles to guide your sharing of any information, and Enabling Objective C: Based on scenarios of various church office situations, formulate (list) at least 4 principles to guide your sharing of any information.
In this “Do” activity, I’ve chosen three scenarios that a volunteer church office assistant might face. This activity will help them think about right and wrong responses and then formulate principles based on what they learn by reading feedback. I didn’t want to give them the principles first and then simply have them “put them into practice.” I want them to really think about the scenarios and what they would most likely do and what they think they should do, without the benefit of having the “answers” before they start. I think this will lead to a deeper level of thought and grappling with the situations in the scenarios. There are no grades in this activity, just an opportunity to learn by reading the feedback for various responses. Feedback will pop up immediately, as soon as the learner clicks on the check-box. Scroll to bottom of page for example of possible Flash build for this activity.
[For a description of "absorb, do and connect" activities, be sure to read the main activities page.]
This activity aligns with Terminal Objective #2: Create a list of at least four principles to guide your sharing of any information, and Enabling Objective C: Based on scenarios of various church office situations, formulate (list) at least 4 principles to guide your sharing of any information.
In this “Do” activity, I’ve chosen three scenarios that a volunteer church office assistant might face. This activity will help them think about right and wrong responses and then formulate principles based on what they learn by reading feedback. I didn’t want to give them the principles first and then simply have them “put them into practice.” I want them to really think about the scenarios and what they would most likely do and what they think they should do, without the benefit of having the “answers” before they start. I think this will lead to a deeper level of thought and grappling with the situations in the scenarios. There are no grades in this activity, just an opportunity to learn by reading the feedback for various responses. Feedback will pop up immediately, as soon as the learner clicks on the check-box. Scroll to bottom of page for example of possible Flash build for this activity.
[For a description of "absorb, do and connect" activities, be sure to read the main activities page.]
What Should You do?
Read each of the scenarios below and determine which would be the best course of action from the suggestions given. Check the box next to your answer and read the feedback to see how wise a decision you made. Note: Checking alternatives will give you additional insights.
Scenario #1
You are working in the church office when the treasurer calls. He tells you he noticed that someone gave a special gift of $5,000 toward the building fund on Sunday, and he would like you to give him the person’s name so he could send a personal note of thanks. You happen to know who the anonymous donor is because she had stopped in a couple weeks ago to ask where the money was most needed. What should you do?
o Tell the treasurer the donor preferred to remain anonymous, but you would be happy to be sure he/she received his note. [Feedback: This is probably the best answer. It allows the treasurer to express his thanks to the donor while maintaining her privacy.]
o Give him the information he requested, since he is the treasurer and any donor would naturally assume he would know of their contribution, anonymous or not. [Feedback: This might not be the best answer, since you can’t be sure of the donor’s assumptions.]
o Tell him thanking the donor is not his responsibility and the pastor would make sure the donor was thanked. [Feedback: This statement could be perceived by the treasurer as being defensive and rude. It is probably not the best choice, even if it is customary in your church for the pastor to send thank you notes for large donations. No one should be made to feel bad simply because they want to express their thanks.]
o Tell him you can’t divulge confidential information and if he has a problem with it, he should talk to the pastor. [Feedback: This is definitely a way to initiate a conflict! You would be unnecessarily using a positive event to stir up trouble. The treasurer would definitely be offended.]
o Tell the treasurer the donor preferred to remain anonymous, but you would be happy to be sure he/she received his note. [Feedback: This is probably the best answer. It allows the treasurer to express his thanks to the donor while maintaining her privacy.]
o Give him the information he requested, since he is the treasurer and any donor would naturally assume he would know of their contribution, anonymous or not. [Feedback: This might not be the best answer, since you can’t be sure of the donor’s assumptions.]
o Tell him thanking the donor is not his responsibility and the pastor would make sure the donor was thanked. [Feedback: This statement could be perceived by the treasurer as being defensive and rude. It is probably not the best choice, even if it is customary in your church for the pastor to send thank you notes for large donations. No one should be made to feel bad simply because they want to express their thanks.]
o Tell him you can’t divulge confidential information and if he has a problem with it, he should talk to the pastor. [Feedback: This is definitely a way to initiate a conflict! You would be unnecessarily using a positive event to stir up trouble. The treasurer would definitely be offended.]
Scenario #2
At your small group meeting, a church member complains about not having been able to reach the youth pastor last week. You know that he was not in the office because he had several doctor appointments and scheduled medical tests. What should you do?
o Protect the youth pastor’s reputation by telling the member about the situation and asking for prayer. [Feedback: While this might seem compassionate, it’s a sure way of eventually leaking personal information to the entire congregation. Probably not the best choice.]
o Say nothing, but let the youth pastor know about the member’s concern. [Feedback: It’s hard to resist the urge to jump in and defend someone, but by saying nothing and letting the youth pastor handle it, you ensure his sensitive information remains private and that he is in control of when and to whom his personal information is made known. This is often the best thing to do.]
o Tell the member that there’s a very good reason for the lack of response, but you are not at liberty to divulge the information. Suggest he call the youth pastor this week. [Feedback: This might not be the best answer because it invites speculation and may cause others in the group to prod you for more information. It makes it appear that you are “in the know” but they are not, which could cause hard feelings.]
o Make up a plausible excuse for the youth pastor or simply say, “Oh, you know how youth pastors are!” [Feedback: This definitely is not a good response. Lying is never appropriate, and making a comment about youth pastors in general is a sure way to make people think less of your youth pastor.]
o Protect the youth pastor’s reputation by telling the member about the situation and asking for prayer. [Feedback: While this might seem compassionate, it’s a sure way of eventually leaking personal information to the entire congregation. Probably not the best choice.]
o Say nothing, but let the youth pastor know about the member’s concern. [Feedback: It’s hard to resist the urge to jump in and defend someone, but by saying nothing and letting the youth pastor handle it, you ensure his sensitive information remains private and that he is in control of when and to whom his personal information is made known. This is often the best thing to do.]
o Tell the member that there’s a very good reason for the lack of response, but you are not at liberty to divulge the information. Suggest he call the youth pastor this week. [Feedback: This might not be the best answer because it invites speculation and may cause others in the group to prod you for more information. It makes it appear that you are “in the know” but they are not, which could cause hard feelings.]
o Make up a plausible excuse for the youth pastor or simply say, “Oh, you know how youth pastors are!” [Feedback: This definitely is not a good response. Lying is never appropriate, and making a comment about youth pastors in general is a sure way to make people think less of your youth pastor.]
Scenario #3
During the weekly staff meeting conducted in the conference room next to the main church office, you overhear the pastor and worship leader loudly disagreeing over the direction of the music ministry. Several weeks later the worship leader announces his resignation. At lunch after church, your friend (a church member) asks if you know why the worship leader resigned. What should you do?
o Tell her you’re not sure, but you did hear him having an argument with the pastor a few weeks ago. [Feedback: This might not be the best answer. While it is true, it makes the assumption that the argument was the cause of the resignation, and you don’t know that as a fact.]
o Remind her that gossip is sinful and tell her to call the worship leader and ask him personally. [Feedback: There are two problems with this answer. First, it is unduly harsh toward your friend, who may have just been curious and wasn’t thinking about gossip. Second, it can cause possible division in the church by inviting a he-said/she-she said scenario between the worship leader and pastor.]
o Tell her you’re not really sure, but if she feels she needs to know, she should probably ask the pastor. [Feedback: This may be your best option. It doesn’t assume the recent disagreement was the cause of the resignation and it acknowledges the pastor as the leader of the church and the one who has the answers your friend is seeking. This also subtly reminds your friend that it isn’t really necessary for her to know the details.]
o Tell her you have no idea and then change the subject. [Feedback: This isn’t a bad answer. But, depending on how you do it, your friend might infer that there is a real problem, you DO know, but you just don’t want to talk about it. If she feels you are hiding something, she may assume there was something improper that took place.]
o Tell her you’re not sure, but you did hear him having an argument with the pastor a few weeks ago. [Feedback: This might not be the best answer. While it is true, it makes the assumption that the argument was the cause of the resignation, and you don’t know that as a fact.]
o Remind her that gossip is sinful and tell her to call the worship leader and ask him personally. [Feedback: There are two problems with this answer. First, it is unduly harsh toward your friend, who may have just been curious and wasn’t thinking about gossip. Second, it can cause possible division in the church by inviting a he-said/she-she said scenario between the worship leader and pastor.]
o Tell her you’re not really sure, but if she feels she needs to know, she should probably ask the pastor. [Feedback: This may be your best option. It doesn’t assume the recent disagreement was the cause of the resignation and it acknowledges the pastor as the leader of the church and the one who has the answers your friend is seeking. This also subtly reminds your friend that it isn’t really necessary for her to know the details.]
o Tell her you have no idea and then change the subject. [Feedback: This isn’t a bad answer. But, depending on how you do it, your friend might infer that there is a real problem, you DO know, but you just don’t want to talk about it. If she feels you are hiding something, she may assume there was something improper that took place.]
Created in PowerPoint and converted to Flash with a free trial version of PowerFlashPoint. Because the free version included a watermark with hyperlink in the lower right-hand corner, I had to move some of my navigation buttons to the left instead of the right. Otherwise, they would not work.