Following the raft of recent public apologies (see: Brown, Chris; Rod, A; Phelps, Michael) United Methodist News Service surveys ethicists to find out what a real apology sounds like.

Bishop Kenneth Carder, professor of the practice of Christian ministry at United Methodist-related Duke Divinity School, says: “apologies have become techniques for diminishing the consequences of behaviors that are destructive and damaging.”

The church is partly to blame for that, says Carder, because prayers of confession have been removed from many worship services. “When we, as a church, no longer practice confession, forgiveness and accountability, we should not be surprised if the broader culture substitutes for genuine confession a political spin or superficial healing of wounds.”

The Rev. J. Philip Wogamon, who, as President Clinton’s former pastor, knows from public apologies, says: “We have not made it a habit to say I’m sorry and we have not cultivated within ourselves the capacity, the grace or readiness to say I’m sorry.”