tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35594660.post2883312642880930839..comments2023-12-24T20:48:11.634+00:00Comments on Opinionated Vicar: Clergy Bullying 'rife'?David Keenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11872644403415655350noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35594660.post-30517115664961378522010-01-07T08:32:38.891+00:002010-01-07T08:32:38.891+00:00As someone who moved to Worcester diocese (where t...As someone who moved to Worcester diocese (where the current allegations are of bullying are being made) from elsewhere, I have to say that my experience of the senior clergy and bishops in this Diocese has been wholly positive.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35594660.post-3331016070395120012010-01-05T18:33:48.877+00:002010-01-05T18:33:48.877+00:00Anonymous - I'm very sorry to hear of what you...Anonymous - I'm very sorry to hear of what you'e been through, and it sounds like you've been let down badly by the structures which are supposed to support you. <br /><br />The instances of bullying/power trips that come to mind do seem to be more concentrated in 'prestige' churches where the Rector (it's often a Rector - dreadful title, means 'ruler') is a bit David Keenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11872644403415655350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35594660.post-18020449727984511342010-01-05T09:07:33.651+00:002010-01-05T09:07:33.651+00:00Sadly this is all too familiar. It's not just ...Sadly this is all too familiar. It's not just Bishps and congregations who bully - it's vicars too. For the last few years I've been an assistant ordained member of staff in a reasonably large church, and I'm by no means the first member of staff (lay or ordained) to have a complete breakdown of relationships with the incumbent. <br />I've been off work since September with Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35594660.post-22716787229608113002010-01-04T21:18:23.573+00:002010-01-04T21:18:23.573+00:00hmm this warrants a more general blog on the topic...hmm this warrants a more general blog on the topic but I would want to argue that a bollocking doesn't amount to bullying. The flat structure of the C of E means that there is virtually no recourse to a dispute with an incumbent without it becoming very serious and the breadth of job description means that congregations can get immensely frustrated and find it very difficult to bring clergy JohnGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00523464876239153536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35594660.post-67265706856016754002010-01-04T20:41:21.495+00:002010-01-04T20:41:21.495+00:00And some clergy treat their congregations very bad...And some clergy treat their congregations very badly - power trips, the lot! Still none of us is perfect, and I would be so bad at it. I can preach, but not pastor.Mrs Redboots (Annabel Smyth)https://www.blogger.com/profile/11270027663691257254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35594660.post-35409622685626169162010-01-04T18:53:56.959+00:002010-01-04T18:53:56.959+00:00Unite have been on this one for a while. I suspec...Unite have been on this one for a while. I suspect this was a pre-Christmas story that got relegated by the BBC. http://www.unitetheunion.com/news__events/latest_news/unite_calls_for_two_bishops_to.aspx<br /><br />I have absolutely no doubt that many clergy are treated absolutely terribly by members of their congregations (and have seen this first hand). But I don't think trade unionism isThe Church Mousehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10533337543955611592noreply@blogger.com