Doing the right thing

Thank you for your closing statement in the July/August edition of the Record. We as a society have selected to remember the one bad thing someone does, not the many good things.
Much has been said about Dr. Robert Fourney waiving his right to a church trial. I am sure he researched the cost involved in an appeal. After having spent thousands of dollars preparing a defense for a trial that never occurred, he would now face another year of stress and excessive dollars to defend himself. I believe Dr. Fourney looked at the stress and additional cost that Glenview, Toronto, had undergone during his suspension and decided that another year or so was not fair to them.
In today's society if someone answers the media with “no comment” or chooses to not appeal, we say he's guilty. Consider the cost and the stress and the fact that once accused you can never clear your name to 100 per cent of the people.
You state that neither a wrongful dismissal suit nor slander suits against the complainants has been filed. I would suggest that Fourney is the type of minister who does not want to put people in jeopardy. They have not publicly accused him and he wants to protect their privacy despite the fact he has been publicly destroyed.
What is the bottom line? Continued stress, exorbitant legal costs, the impossible task of clearing one's name. You did the right thing Dr. Fourney; you retired and will now get on with your life serving our Lord in another way that He has chosen.