tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7132206171945839649.post2917500024420819515..comments2024-02-13T11:11:28.246+00:00Comments on Bishop Alan’s Blog: Clergy stress and wellbeing at workBishop Alan Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13879516755776951638noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7132206171945839649.post-60445437839134636972008-12-31T14:02:00.000+00:002008-12-31T14:02:00.000+00:00Thanks, Judith. I'm sure the feeling of entrapment...Thanks, Judith. I'm sure the feeling of entrapment in your own home (but it isn't) really intensifies difficulties. Some colleagues have holiday cottages and the like. We don't own a house, and I don't suppose ever will however crunched the credit gets! What I do try to carve out is other places I don't own that have a real feeling of sanctuary about them — St Wandrille and Alton for a start. It’s not a family thing, though. With kids at school the best we can say is that we try to get out on days off; that sounds a bit lame, and sometimes it is exactly the problem you describe.<BR/><BR/>The diversity of mixed charges is a real challenge to anyone's versatility. Some personalities can do it, some just can't. What I do observe is that where colleagues try a "one size fits all" solution it's increasingly difficult to make it stick in this day and age.<BR/><BR/>I do understand the cover thing. I once had to phone round 33 other clergy to get a weekend away, when I was in Reading. 33! I probably put more time into it than I got free time out of the break. A part of me says this is the sort of problem that ought to be amenable to an administrative solution — doesn't mean it is, though, and there are parts of the country far, far shorter of clergy than round here where this must be a really oppressive load.<BR/><BR/>Many thanks; all duly noted.Bishop Alan Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13879516755776951638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7132206171945839649.post-74276602984465774622008-12-31T09:52:00.000+00:002008-12-31T09:52:00.000+00:00I would add to your list the difficulty you can ha...I would add to your list the difficulty you can have with a linked charge when they are very diverse. I remember driving from one church to the other and almost having to change personality to 'fit'. And later realising that I may be the right priest for one charge but was not right for the other.<BR/><BR/>And also in rural parishes it is very difficult to get cover. Retired or NSM priests just don't want to travel 20 minutes out of the city to cover when it is holiday time. So you end up not taking all your time off. And don't get me started on cover when you are sick.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7132206171945839649.post-51016215665751482522008-12-30T23:30:00.000+00:002008-12-30T23:30:00.000+00:00If I may just comment - one of the stresses for me...If I may just comment - one of the stresses for me as a minister of 24yrs is not being able to have a holdiay at home. Sometimes the vicarge or quarters as we say in The SA has been on a main road so all your parishioner pass your home everyday, near to the church, parishioners living in the same road or nearby and even though they know we are holiday! still there is the call at the door 'I Know you're on holiday but....' having said that - here in Barking we haven't encountered that. Maybe we are just older and wiser!!Judithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04216978672594822130noreply@blogger.com