| Pastors and church leaders often encounter anonymous notes, emails, voice mails, and social media postings. These communications may critique Sunday's sermon or the volume of the worship music. They typically seem innocent. Leaders often become desensitized to the messages, maybe because they seem harmless or maybe because the leaders dislike the anonymity involved. Trust me—I get it. Dating back to my days as a college newspaper editor, I've received anonymous criticisms. They're usually unfair. They can be inflammatory. Often, it becomes easier to just toss them aside. But disregarding these messages out of hand isn't always wise. Sometimes, as Richard Hammar points out in this article for members of Church Law & Tax, these messages contain concerns that require attention. For instance, what would you do with an anonymous letter accusing a staff member of misconduct? That's why church leaders shouldn't automatically dismiss anonymous messages. These situations demand careful thinking because a lot may be at stake. Hammar's article walks through the common types of messages that churches encounter, the legal and risk liability considerations associated with them, and what to consider before deciding how to proceed. Be sure to share this article with your pastors and staff—especially those who receive anonymous messages. Also this week: An Illinois court's interesting ruling regarding the application of the clergy-penitent privilege to a Bible study leader. A new study on how and why fraud happens offers insights for detecting and preventing fraud in churches. The Lord bless you and keep you, | 