I am telling the truth. I am not lying. Believe me. It seems every newscast contains a story about truth telling these days. We are in the throes of the election season and talk of “fact checking” abounds. Politifact has the “Truth-O-Meter” (a term that they have trademarked, by the way) that ranks candidates’ statements anywhere from true to half-truth to pants on fire. There is talk of “transparency” ad nauseam, not only in the government but in the church. The Presbyterian Mission Agency Board just wrapped up their meeting in Louisville and part of their time together was devoted to a “generative discussion” on the “purpose of transparency.” I am telling the truth, I am not lying.

Discussions about telling the truth and transparency bubble up when trust has been breached,  or has  been   …