How may NOT having the two men for dinner undermine her authentic and ongoing human relationships with them at church?

Question

Social worker Angelina Pettit enjoyed practicing in a faith-based agency, where she found deep personal meaning in her work with clients. However, the work was complicated by the agencyís integral connections with her church. Her husband, Philip, a group leader in their church, invited Jacob and Raymond, two single men in his group and the church who were also Angelinaís clients, to their home for Christmas dinner. Angelina generally felt successful in managing her dual relationships, but it seemed this situation was hitting ìtoo close to home.î Their coming to dinner could challenge her sense of professionalism regarding dual relationships. But, she felt compelled to follow her faith and belief that individuals should not be alone during the Christmas season, and that celebrating community and being loved within the church family was important.

Answer 1

Angelina grew up attending Second New Life Church of Dallas with her parents who often invited singles to their home for dinner during holidays. After she married and had children, Angelina not only adopted this as a value but also as a practice she believed was part of her faith. Congregants at CUS knew and understood these holiday invitations to occur regularly throughout the year. Not inviting Raymond and Jacob might indicate to them that she held her professional status above her faith, especially if Philip and Angelina decided to uninvite them. Her clients may not understand this decision, taking it personally and resulting in their not being a part of Philipís fellowship group or leaving CUS altogether. Also, not having them over might undermine her professional role as social worker and create a thorn in the rapport that Angelina had developed with Raymond and Jacob.