Accomplish Quote by Christian Smith
“The clergy profession is fundamentally self-defeating. Its stated purpose is to nurture spiritual maturity in the church - a valuable goal. In actuality, however; it accomplishes the opposite by nurturing a permanent dependence of the laity on the clergy. Clergy become to their congregations like parents whose children never grow up, like therapists whose clients never become healed, like teachers whose students never graduate.”
About This Quote
The clergy, intended to nurture spiritual maturity, instead creates dependency, preventing congregants from growing independently.
In simple terms: Clergy can unintentionally foster dependence rather than maturity.
Key Takeaway
Promote autonomy alongside spiritual guidance.
Themes
religion
leadership
dependency
Mood
critical
thought‑provoking
Type
analytical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- church counseling
- faith education
- community leadership
- mentorship programs
Key Concepts
spiritual maturity
institutional critique
power dynamics
Questions to Reflect On
- How can religious institutions encourage independence?
- What safeguards prevent dependency in spiritual guidance?
A Different Perspective
Changing deep‑rooted institutional cultures is challenging.
![“[The Community's] crosses and trials give me confidence. But I derive my hope above all, and most especially, from our utter incapacity, for it is always upon nothingness that God is pleased to rear His works. If at any day we accomplish some good here, the glory will certainly be His alone, since…” quote by Theodore Guerin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/2b8/theodore-guerin-54729_accomplish_the-community-s-crosses-and-trials-give_7176.jpg)
