Clergy malaise is due to unrealistic expectations of them.Dear editor, Your article on clergy dissatisfaction, discontent, almost despair, raises an important issue (Clergy struggling with identity and feelings of loneliness, exhaustion Exhaustion Situation in which a majority of participants trading in the same asset are either long or short, leaving few investors to take the other side of the transaction when participants wish to close their positions. , December Journal). Although I spent only a fraction of my full-time ministry in parish work, I consulted with and observed numerous parishes and clergy over decades, and I believe the survey has missed the main cause of the malaise malaise /mal·aise/ (mal-az´) a vague feeling of discomfort. mal·aise n. A vague feeling of bodily discomfort, as at the beginning of an illness. : multiple and utterly unrealistic expectations of the clergy. Most clerics are in solo situations, sometimes with more than one congregation to care for. Even in the cases of lay ministry, the cleric is, more often than not, the only person paid to be there full time (and then some). The solo cleric is expected to be a superb preacher, good with youth and sensitive to the increasing number of elderly; the cleric must be a good counsellor and listener, comfortable in situations ranging from birth to death, marriage to divorce. In addition, the cleric should be a fine enabler of lay people in their ministry, as well as having skills in administration and the inevitable fundraising
A number of dioceses have taken on human resources The fancy word for "people." The human resources department within an organization, years ago known as the "personnel department," manages the administrative aspects of the employees. officers in the past few years. Are these people there to assist the clergy with their multitudinous responsibilities? Don't make me laugh. They are in place to protect the institution from any who might think taking mother church to court, which has been done. General Synod The General Synod is the title of the governing body of some church organizations. Church of England In the Church of England, General Synod was instituted in 1970 and is the culmination of a process of rediscovering self-government for the Church of England that had however, has put a stop to such litigation An action brought in court to enforce a particular right. The act or process of bringing a lawsuit in and of itself; a judicial contest; any dispute. When a person begins a civil lawsuit, the person enters into a process called litigation. with Canon XVII; as a letter in the Journal (September 1998) attests: "Power corrupts; absolute power is nicer." Colin Proudman Toronto |
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