tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7132206171945839649.post2768604191724054979..comments2024-02-13T11:11:28.246+00:00Comments on Bishop Alan’s Blog: Get real! Kill George Herbert!Bishop Alan Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13879516755776951638noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7132206171945839649.post-19018816073861728092012-07-10T14:48:03.940+01:002012-07-10T14:48:03.940+01:00I suspect George Herbert's dirty work was done...I suspect George Herbert's dirty work was done by his wife and maid! I think he ran a tight ship at home.Chris Fewingshttp://www.chris.fewin.gsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7132206171945839649.post-36291040407008292212009-11-05T16:42:34.882+00:002009-11-05T16:42:34.882+00:00Thank you, Alan. I caught your tweet on this book...Thank you, Alan. I caught your tweet on this book just after emailing my bishop's pa to enquire about a meeting with him. Got the book that evening (my wife is a bookseller!). Gave up on the meeting with the bishop, began to read the book instead. After three chapters... BRILLIANT.<br /><br />Robin / SpideogAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7132206171945839649.post-48289163322450422892009-11-04T09:51:47.715+00:002009-11-04T09:51:47.715+00:00I'm incumbent of five parishes and we've j...I'm incumbent of five parishes and we've just agreed that I DO NOT NEED TO BE IN THE CHAIR at most PCC meetings (how many headteachers Chair their governors!). I'm in Wales and the C in Wales Constitution makes that easier but it feels so releasing!<br />Adrian CoppingAdrian Cnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7132206171945839649.post-18159055959515712772009-11-04T08:07:09.703+00:002009-11-04T08:07:09.703+00:00Emerging weary from taking 12 funerals in 14 worki...Emerging weary from taking 12 funerals in 14 working days, while spending what felt like ALL the rest of the time at the bedside of a dear soul who took "an unconscionable time a-dyin" I guess this is the book to open on my long planned reading day on Monday. Justin learned the hard way, I know...it will be wonderful if the rest of us can benefit from his wisdom and experience, to do the things that our reason tells us that we should, even if our hearts suggest otherwise.<br />In other words, thank you for helping me decide which of my "longing to reads" I should actually engage withKathrynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09171138485811816831noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7132206171945839649.post-752614539413787002009-11-03T20:01:34.172+00:002009-11-03T20:01:34.172+00:00Well, this is an interesting comment for me, espec...Well, this is an interesting comment for me, especially as I was brought up in the kind of church that had no formal ministers in the sense the C of E has, so I have always found it curious that the clergy seemed to want to keep the people at arms length when it comes to helping out in church. Of course this may simply be my own perspective.....even after more than 20 years attending C of E churches.....Perhaps you can tell me what steps I am allowed to take to change this......thank youFlying Fantastichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05883559512641307720noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7132206171945839649.post-27061344527112146402009-11-03T18:21:08.842+00:002009-11-03T18:21:08.842+00:00Hi Alan, I have passed this along to the clergy in...Hi Alan, I have passed this along to the clergy in my Diocese--looks great and thanks for bringing it to my attention!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7132206171945839649.post-52610190921853313192009-11-03T17:16:56.402+00:002009-11-03T17:16:56.402+00:00To a large extent it is the unrealistic expectatio...To a large extent it is the unrealistic expectations of many in congregations for their pastors to be not just superpeople but sinless Christians as well that put me off seeking ordination after I got my BA in Theology.Alistair Reecehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15929927359428659775noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7132206171945839649.post-3843581171412404062009-11-03T15:32:57.986+00:002009-11-03T15:32:57.986+00:00I'm not a priest, but I found the online epito...I'm not a priest, but I found the online epitome thrilling reading. It's something I may buy in the future for beloved spiritual parents.Caeliushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15490717245066578132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7132206171945839649.post-81301256494427251302009-11-03T09:39:10.292+00:002009-11-03T09:39:10.292+00:00I look forward to reading it. Being on the verge o...I look forward to reading it. Being on the verge of a breakdown myself, I think I attribute much of the stress of the job to two things:<br /><br />i) the culture of omnicompetence. Reading the list of key competencies produced by MinDiv for new curates just makes me despair. Since when was administrative ability (as just one example) in the ordinal. Yet the hierarchy seem hellbent on pandering to congregations' desires for clergy to be Superpeople;<br /><br />ii) clusterisation and the cult of the building. Adding more and more parishes to single priests, with no structures encouraging them to work together or on their own initiatives simply leads to worn-out clergy doing paper-and-string ministry. If congregations and communtieis cannot - or will not - sustain churches then churches have to close. Instead, we waste hundreds of thousands of pounds trying to sustain the unsustainable and stressing clergy to breaking point. It is madness.Jimhttp://plymouth.theoffside.comnoreply@blogger.com