Diary Entry - 5th. June 2007
Things are getting a little depressing, jobwise, at the moment. Although I have known my for a couple of years that I had protection under The Disability Act, it was not until I received an email from my bishop 6 weeks ago, stating that he was worried about the fact I would be without money or a home at the end of August, that I thought it best to point out that I would use the Act to save my wife and myself from destitution. Unfortunately, they have responded, rather petulantly, with an "if you say you're disabled, we'll treat you as disabled" attitude which means that I now have to be assessed by psychiatrists all over again even though my past five years of parish ministry has proved that I am quite capable of doing my job within the context of my madness without any loss of service to my parishioners.
The overwhelming worry for me at the moment is that they will not tell me what their intentions are for the day after 31st. August. They wish to play their cards close to their chest.
I know most of you have to put up with this sort of behaviour from your secular employers all the time but there is an added hurtful element when it happens within the Church that makes it harder to bear. A priest spends most of their time trying to be Christ for his parishioners. When you find out that what you are doing at the local level bears no resemblance to the mindset of the church authorities, everything you are doing seems so futile.
38 comments:
MP, I am praying for you. And I have wondered what news there was.
Would it be helpful for your diocese to receive letters of support from your online congregants or would that make things worse for you?
Thanks Dennis, my insomniac friend.
The answer is yes, but not yet.
I know, for the simple reason that I do my job, that there are members of my parish who would do the same and there may come a time, far too soon, that I will rely on my friends to stand up for me. I doubt if it will have much effect on the powers that be but it will make feel better about myself and helping each other feel better about ourselves is a primary directive of Christianity as far as I'm concerned. Why else would Jesus die for our sins?
I too, have been praying for you, and I would also happily write a letter of support.
I promise, I won't even say asshat in it once!
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I've been reading your blog for a few weeks now and found it funny, touching, refreshing and quite simply not a part of my day I am willing to give up.
I've been a congregant whose priest was getting the short end of the stick far too many times. You'll be in my prayers.
They are a bunch of unconscionable ******** . I know those of whom I speak. They stiffed me without a second thought and despite vocal protest.
They will wrap it up in all the right procedure and pretend pastoral interest, but they do not really care and don't expect it from them.
Expect nothing from them mate and look to your own future and what you may do with it.
Thanks Tandaina, and I read your blog too. It's refreshingly different and extremely honest In fact, you are on my blogroll with the other heroes.
As I know your trials and tribulations, themethatisme, I accept both your interpretation of their methodology and your advice (albeit my wife's future that motivates me most - but that's ok).
I've had to put up with similar treatment from academic employers for years.
You and your wife are definitely in my prayers, and if necessary, I'll bring over an angry mob of exploited adjuncts and grad students to burn down the diocesan house for you.
I don't know what to say except to echo all of the above, and then some. Being part of your big giant international parish means a lot to me, as you know.
"A priest spends most of their time trying to be Christ for his parishioners."
MP,
I'm the silent Lurker Lady who sits in your back pew. Your work in this parish nurtures and sustains, challenges and inspires, and spreads Christ's light into faraway corners. Many, many thanks.
FWIW, you and your friends in the 'hood were with me on Sunday as I was received into TEC here in the Diocese of Newark. Thank you all for being my friends and priests in this journey.
So... I'm an academic who writes a mean letter -- let me know when and where.
Shalom,
jerseyjo
((MP,))) I'm so sorry to read your post. But, please know that everything you're doing is not futile. No work for our Lord counts for nothing. God sees your faithfulness. And, we can't control the actions of others, only our own response.
Even though we don't always agree MP, I can sense your heart. You have a sincere caring for people, and a love for the Lord.
But, why are you forced to leave your present position, MP? What prevents you from staying or from being assigned in another parish close by? I don't understand.
I will be praying for you, and your wife, MP, and like others here will do whatever I can to help. Are you able to relocate?
Grace.
Thanks jerseyjo.
The others say nice things about me because I pay them to. But yours was an unexpected email and meant a lot to me.
So you joined TEC last Sunday. Don't you think it's about time you got upset, stormed off in a huff and formed your own branch of Anglicanism?
It's all to do with the accounts, Grace. I'm in the wrong column. They are spending money paying me that should be spent on new curates. We never fill all our curacy posts, but that is beside the point. It's untidy and annoys the accountants.
Maddy, my darling,
I don't want to deliver quaint platitudes here about faith and hope, but I simply can't believe - won't believe - that Jesus has brought you this far only to drop you on your arse.
When Jesus begins to deliver all of these petitions before "Prayer Central," I suspect all the company of heaven, not to mention more than a few angels and archangels,(because, being gifted with special voices, they don't like to be mentioned in the same sentence with the regular hoi poli of heaven) are going to be mightily pissed off.
No telling what will happen next, but I think that in addition to prayers for you and your beloved, I'll send up a few prayers for your bishop.
Mostly, that you both get exactly what you deserve.
Can't hurt. Might help.
Prayers ascend, my love - prayers without ceasing.
Maddie, I too can write a fierce and well-argued letter as the circumstances require. Let us all know when and where to direct our words.
(( Hugs to MP & His Good Lady ))
Prayers going up for you and your wife, Mad Priest.
Doesn't it totally suck that in addition to having a job to do and a madness to deal with, one must further deal with administrative pharisees who honestly believe they're acting in accordance with spirit? Pompouse group, administration.
Here's praying for God's will for you and yours and also them and theirs.
I'll write a letter too. Though I'm not a member and not an Anglican. Let me know.
MP, my prayers for you and your dear wife. I wish you could come to my town and start a church here, but I wouldn't wish Texas heat, politics or Fundamentalism on anybody :)
speak the word and the letter will be written. Hell, if you want I'll write a letter to everyone at the diocesan offices. I'll be polite. but firm.
Let us know when.
hopefully we can embarrass them or cajole them into stopping this mess.
MP, add me to the list of those who will bombard your bishop with polite but firm letters.
You are in my prayers. You are a pastor to me.
Mags
MadPriest, you are on my daily prayer list, and you will continue there. Elizabeth's idea to pray for your bishop is good, too.
The cynical part of me agrees with you that you won't hear much from your bishop about starting a process of evaluation until near the deadline, but I hope that I'm wrong. By faith, I hope against hope that things will turn out right for you and your wife.
If you need letters, I can write letters, and I will be pleased to do so.
It ain't right. It just ain't right.
Under similar circumstances, my sister, who was a teacher at a "Christian" school was treated very poorly with the administrative "cards close to the chest" routine. There was nothing redemptive about the process. Feh!
For many years in my career, I worked for an HMO (health maintenance organization), where placing the employee first was paramount. Why that seems to be foreign in church and "Christian" employment is beyond me.
Prayers for MadPriest and his long-sufering bride.
When you find out that what you are doing at the local level bears no resemblance to the mindset of the church authorities, everything you are doing seems so futile.
Madpriest, I almost hate to point it out. But Jesus had that exact same problem. I know that may provide small comfort in the face of possible eviction from home and parish. But your work is emphatically not futile. You are a superb pastor to your online parish, and I suspect as well to your face-to-face parish. Your work is its own witness.
You are in my prayers. I would be happy to write a letter.
Pax, C.
arrggghhh - hate to say it but don't count on the church to be christian - have seen too much abuse of clergy and laity to think otherwise. Prayers for wherever you land - you will always be fulfilling your call to be Christ in the world. You have made a cyberchurch right here. The powers that be are nuts to do this - what kind of message does it send to people in your community and around the world? Letter at the ready -- maybe if they realize that you have worldwide support and we will "out" their pettiness - it will help.
What that Kaeton woman said goes for me, too.
Too bad that it sounds like you're not up for coming over to this side of the pond. We have an opening for a full-time clergy person at my parish right now :) And boy-oh-boy, would I put in the good word for you!
Amen to Kaeton--our funny, vulnerable, loving God didn't bring you this far to drop you."The Church is bad, the world is worse" as an old priest said to me as I was on my way out the door once again--not an apology for the crap incessantly inflicted by ecclesiastical bureaucrats on those struggling to be Christ in the world, but a reminder of just how screwed up everything is. We gave ourselves over to the suffering of the world when ordained, just didn't think it would be so close to home! Give us the address, and let us help. You keep the ironic and irreverent Spirit alive and pick us up with a broader fiercer view of this life of faith. Futile? You are just getting going, sweetie. Prayers for all of you, including the dogs.
Rebecca
MP,
Just be assured of my prayers and thoughts.
Thomas+
Maddie, have been there and back and after 3 years I am finally back in the pulpit and with a salary. But the wasteland was difficult. That I have had to find refuge among the Lutherans has made it all the more strange, but God has never told us that life or the Chuch was dependable. Only the Divine is. You continue in my prayers and thoughts.
Here's an idea...why don't we find a progressive bishop say, in North America, to elevate you to the episcopate and then you could ordain me, and we could establish ourselves as the mission outpost of the diocese of New Hampshire in England with all the alternative episcopal oversight we want...
Oh, MP, my heart goes out to you. Like all the others, I will gladly write a letter, though I am not an Anglican. You have no idea how you have become a priest for me at a difficult time in my own life and while dealing with my own fight with my church administration.
Like Elizabeth, I have no doubt, not a jot, not an iota, that Jesus is not done with you. But like some others on the list, I am all too aware that Jesus and the church powers are two entirely different entities. Even as I wait to see how God is calling me beyond the church, I pray fervently for you and for your ministry.
You are a Big Soul, friend, and an essential leader in the Beloved Community God is building. Blessing upon blessing.
Oh, MadPriest -- I am so sorry. And, like others, I am not surprised at the hard-heartedness and irrationality of the church. It is all too human. And I have seen all too much of this -- in every possible denomination and communion. (Talk about Christian unity in the wrong area.) I will join the pray-ers and of course, would be more than happy to write an eloquent and pointed but exquisitely polite letter when and if you would like one.
I am in solidarity with you more than you know.
Best to Mrs MP, for whom I pray also and to whom I send warm good wishes.
And yes, prayers for the bishop!
MP, a further echo of support from across the pond. While the local powers that are are not interested, it did take 7 people to hold your place while you were on a well deserved vacation. Taking proper care of you and Mrs. MP is much more cost effective than paying for the 7 who tried valiantly. Your ministry is Anglican-wide. Are they jealaous?
Seriously, you, Mrs MP, and your bishop are in my prayers.
Marilyn
What everyone else said, MP. I'm praying--and I'll write. My mom is in the Diocese of Reading---maybe I could get her to write too? Just let me know...
Even mad people need priests to turn to, and there isn't a life experience out there that can't be used for some kind of good. I'd say you are both a good role model for people who face their own challenges, and also more able to understand those people - a much needed characteristic, since people who have been 100% healthy in mind don't really get that mental pain and confusion are real and need to be treated as real. People with mental illness get shat on and infantilized enough by the world at large - they (we, I) need to be seen as _people_, not problems.
I have seen somewhat arrogant doctors soften up a lot and become more compassionate after they themselves have a lifethreatening illness. It should be apparent, even to bishops, that illnesses, both physical* and mental*, can teach the sufferer how to be effectively compassionate, ie, more empathetic. (* a false dichotomy in many ways).
My prayers are with you, and with the bishop for understanding. If you think letters would be a good thing, "say when" and they will be written.
NancyP
MP, after reading your desciption of what the church is dillying you with, I'm more inclined to send my weekly "offerings" to you than to the dog-collared elflords who manage the Anglican Church.
I have been a "lurker" on your extraordinary blog for quite a while and I have NEVER been as impressed by what it means to be Christian than I am by the message that you provide.
Good luck to you and yours.
Don't let the waffleheads get you down.
regards
Charles
Well, thank you, Charles. It means a lot.
As for the offering money, you better not. I'd only spend it on more cds. Mind you, you're probably right about there being better things to give it to than the Church, but don't tell anyone I said that.
Oh, MP. You are in my prayers. I don't think I can add anything to what other people said -- especially Elizabeth -- but I do want to add my name to the list of people willing to write letters.
I used to be a lawyer. I write good letters. (No, not mean ones. Really.)
You have done so much good with your silicon congregation. I can only imagine how wonderful you must be with flesh and blood parishioners.
Hang in there
*hugs*
MP, I'll pray for you---please pray for me.
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