[PeterG]

Nell,
like you have experienced the fallibility of authority, I have experienced the fallibility of mystical listening to “God’s Voice.” Very problematic if we are honest. Others said: Only the written word is spiritual reality. Hm... I was not far from giving up Christianity completely and the only thing I still could do, was praying: “Lord, save my faith!” Then I slowly began to understand that God prepared a “third way” for us. His not perfect but authentic ekklesia.