Theological reflection begins “in the middle of things.”15 The minister approaches a ministry opportunity situated firmly in the middle of multiple realities, in the middle of a specific congregation, a larger community, family relationships, ministry relationships, (chronologically) an increasingly complex problem or situation that began and developed before the minister arrived, and (theologically) a situation that lands in the middle of multiple doctrines. Ministers must take into account all these “middles” as they begin responding well.
