Dictation

My sister Maureen trained to be a private secretary.  She learned shorthand.  Her executive boss would call her into his office and dictate to her a letter or memo.  Maureen would do shorthand to get the wording.  Longhand she would not be able to keep up with the spoken word of her boss.  He, and it was a he, did not care what Maureen thought about what he said.  He did not seek her opinion.  She had no say in the content.  She took dictation.  She obeyed.  Today, a lot of religious authority figures want the laity to simply take dictation.  They are not interested in what the laity think, nor do they want input, or opinion.  Just obey.  I am not very good at taking "dictation" in this way.  No say? No obey.  I may burn.