Yet, I understand the motivation behind the Billy Graham Rule: a healthy and honest fear of falling into adultery, a sin as massively destructive as it is common. (But even if we weren’t, we’d likely need to meet with the opposite sex to do any job well). And my husband and I are priests so we need to meet with the opposite sex often to do our job well. My husband has female friends as well and, for that, I am glad. My life has been enriched by male friends, mentors, coworkers, and collaborators. I, for one, give thanks for the many men I know who broke the Billy Graham Rule. And it bars men from meaningful mentorship or pastoral care of women and vice-versa. However unintentionally, it communicates to women that they are fundamentally dangerous. This rule, in its most pristine form, renders male-female friendships impossible. If you are married, never be alone with someone of the opposite sex who is not your spouse. Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary president Danny Akin tweeted, “A valuable lesson we all can learn from this tragic situation: follow the rule. With recent allegations of indiscretion against a prominent megachurch pastor, some Christian leaders have doubled down on the so-called Billy Graham Rule, which dictates that men and women should never meet alone.
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