Asking Eric: Congregant finds pastor on dating app

“Eric” responds to a congregant who says they matched with their pastor on a dating app. The reader believes the pastor is single and has not taken a vow of chastity. His profile indicates he leads a faith community. They matched, exchanged a few messages, and the conversation stayed appropriate. The reader admits they did not disclose that they know him from real life, partly because they attend church only sporadically and can’t recall having talked before. Now the pastor wants to go on a date, and the reader asks whether it’s too late to tell him. Eric says it isn’t—transparency matters.