Anyone up for a chat thread?

[Paidiske]

And you know what, there's something there that's important and valid. These folks who are difficult, they're usually difficult because they really care about the church and its life. They were there before whichever cleric is foisted on them, and they will (usually) be there afterwards. We are the ones who come in for a short time and then leave, and there's a level of humility we need to have about that.

It takes grace in both directions...

 

[Philip_B]

Priests come and Priests go and the Parish Council goes on and on and on and on and ...

 

[Paidiske]

I don't have to deal with parish council any more, at least right now.

I'm not especially sad about that.

 

[Paidiske]

I believe I promised, some time ago, that when my new role was public I would let folks know.

I can now share that I have been appointed to the dual role of healthcare chaplain, and sub-dean of the Cathedral, in Bendigo.

 

[RamiC]

I believe I promised, some time ago, that when my new role was public I would let folks know.

I can now share that I have been appointed to the dual role of healthcare chaplain, and sub-dean of the Cathedral, in Bendigo.

What is it like? Are you happy there?

 

[Paidiske]

Well, it's so very new I'm not sure what it's like, yet. The role I have hasn't existed before - the bishop has kind of pulled together some things that used to be done by different people, in a way that he hopes will work better than it has before - and so we're all feeling our way. For example, the bishop wants me to be responsible for Anglican pastoral care in the big public hospital here, but he's still negotiating with the hospital how much of an "insider" I can be from their point of view.

It's going to be a big adjustment to go from being "in charge" of a parish to a very different sort of role, and it's a whole new context and set of relationships, but so far I'm hoping that it will work out well.

 

[RamiC]

It's going to be a big adjustment to go from being "in charge" of a parish to a very different sort of role, and it's a whole new context and set of relationships, but so far I'm hoping that it will work out well.

Jesus, please be with Paidiske and help her work out her new place serving You.

 

[Shane R]

They were there before whichever cleric is foisted on them, and they will (usually) be there afterwards.

That used to be true. There's a significant segment of the American church going population that gets a new church about as often as new shoes.

 

[seeking.IAM]

Is there any data on the average tenure of clergy in Anglican parishes?

 

[Paidiske]

Is there any data on the average tenure of clergy in Anglican parishes?

I would think there would be, at least at a provincial level, but I wouldn't know where to find it.

Anecdotally I would say that average tenure is becoming shorter, at least in my part of the world, but that's at least partly because of episcopal and diocesan attitudes and decisions, as well as parish realities.