Silence Isn’t Golden

Silence Isn’t Golden

Confronted by headlines about truly questionable practices at a few dozen charities, the response of too many nonprofit leaders has been to bury their heads in the sand and try to pull the hole in after them. What these leaders fail to appreciate is that silence in response to scandalous behavior is neither golden nor in their best interests….

Declining confidence in charities isn't in anyone's interests. Unfortunately, it's likely to become a fact of life if national and local nonprofit leaders refuse to speak up. Trying to sidestep the issue instead of condemning selfish and uncharitable behavior is an abdication of both public responsibility and private organizational stewardship.

…. We need nonprofit leaders willing to work to restore Americans' confidence in the sector’s ability to serve the common good and to embrace the fact that a principal function of charity is to connect us to each other and our communities. Expanding and strengthening such connections surely will increase the level and effectiveness of charitable giving.

It's critical that nonprofit leaders find their voice on this issue, and not simply because the silence of good people serves to encourage the bad actors. In the current environment, public officials, be they tax authorities or attorneys general, lack the resources and/or legal power to prosecute malefactors; they need our help. Speaking out against sleazy practices and shameless operators is the least we can do. The interests of the sector, and the public, demand it.

Mark Rosenman

(Mark Rosenman is an emeritus professor at the Union Institute & University and directs Caring to Change, an initiative that seeks to improve how foundations serve the public. He urges readers to assess how they value the things they value.)

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Silence is a primary tool of concealment, and is usually implemented by whatever means are available, no matter how unethical they might be.

The most immediate lesson is that the phrase, “Silence is golden,” is most often spoken by people who have ugly things to hide, attitudes and behaviors that they want neither exposed or changed. Silence is the golden goal of abusers, liars and criminals.

The reason is simple. They don’t like having their corruption brought to any kind of accountability.

Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God. (John 3:20-21)

Any time a leader preaches that silence is golden, there is likely something sinister to hide.

Speaking out helps to prevent further abuse.

In contrast to the effects of silence, speaking out can accomplish much. Pressure brought to bear by public opinion is usually an effective deterrent to abuse. Once abuses become common knowledge, leaders have an opportunity to repent and change. If they repent, their ministries will be stronger for it. If they do not, at least many others will be warned. This is the reason for Paul’s admonition to Timothy:

“But those elders who are sinning you are to reprove before everyone, so that the others may take warning.” (1 Timothy 5:20)

The case could be made that when we have the freedom to speak, then we have an obligation:

“But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people and the sword comes and takes someone’s life, that person’s life will be taken because of their sin, but I will hold the watchman accountable for their blood.” (Ezekiel 33:6)

Bonhoeffer had it right. Silence is not a virtue. Silence when corruption is affecting the lives of other people is evil. Not everyone can speak. Those under the pressure of oppression may not have the freedom to speak or to use their voice, but if you do, then use it. 

It turns out that truth is golden. At best, silence is fool’s gold.