By Ruth Gledhill
The Times
January 5, 2010
http://timescolumns.typepad.com/gledhill/2010/01/bullied-or-not-bullied-just-one-of-the-questions.html
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We report today in The TimesRachel-Maskell_667510a that a bishop is among the clergy who have sought job protection after joining the trade union Unite. He is one of four bishops in the faith workers' branch, who apparently include one prominent bishop. Rachael Maskell, the branch national officer and herself a committed Christian, told me yesterday that she believed 'evil' was at work in the Church. I asked precisely what she meant, and she cited the example of a cleric bullied by parishioners after he refused to carry out pagan blessing ceremonies.
Certainly I know not enough of the facts of any of the cases Unite is working on to judge who is at fault. I do know that when my father was alive and working in parishes he had a difficult time with some parishioners. Difficulot people are in many professions, including my own, a part of life that you just have to deal with. I suppose what makes it a 'story' in the Church is that we still, against all the evidence, expect better behaviour of Christians. When a country farmer calls a rector a 'baddie, a real rotten bugger,' then journalists know there is a story there somewhere.
We'll know more about Mark Sharpe's story when his case reaches tribunal later this year. He is suing the Church of England for failure to protect him from harassment and constructive dismissal. Dave Walker's blog explores some of the issues.
But I thought it right also to give the other side of the story. There wasn't room for much in the news story so this is one of those times when a blog comes into its own.
Bishop of Ripon and Leeds John Packer attempted to answer some of the allegations yesterday.
To the suggestion that workplace bullying of the clergy had become 'rife' he said, 'It is important to keep the scale of the issue in perspective - with over 27,000 licensed ministers active in the Church the number of cases is a very small percentage. Nevertheless, any case will involve suffering and we believe it is right to take action to raise awareness and encourage prevention. Last year in consultation with clergy and laity across the Church, and with advice from external experts including from Unite the union, we published guidance on preventing bullying and harassment. This has been circulated widely. Dioceses and parishes are using it to stimulate discussion and action to promote dignity at work.'
On the allegation that a bishop calls a priest in for a pastoral chat, to 'see how things are going' and within half an hour he's telling you he's going to fire you or take your licence away, Packer said: 'We entirely reject the suggestion that this is a common experience – we are not aware that it has happened at all. However, it is true that the way in which some clergy hold office at the moment means that technically the bishop could withdraw their licence without notice. That is why the Church has made new legislation to give them greater security and similar rights to employees. The new law has received Royal Assent and will come into force next year.'
That's the law that removes the freehold and replaces it with common tenure, by the way!
Parishioners can also carry out the bullying, according to Unite, citing the case of Mark Sharpe who claims he was driven out by a hate campaign. The union says priests are vulnerable, because they are classed as self-employed office holders, which means they are exempt from the protection offered by employment law. This means they cannot claim unfair dismissal, or seek protection under health and safety laws.
Unite is lobbying for the government to change the law to give priests greater protection.
Packer said: 'The majority of clergy tell us they regard being a priest as a calling not as a job. They do not want to be employees and regard the independence that being officeholders gives them as particularly valuable. New laws passed by the Church and Parliament this year will give clergy similar rights to employees whilst preserving their historic officeholder status.'
Bishop of Dudley David Walker, one of those called on to resign by Unite over the Sharpe case, also made a statement. 'Three weeks ago I led the service in the Teme Valley South beneffice at which the Revd Pat Harvey was installed as the new parish priest. The village church of Stoke Bliss was packed with local people, eager to welcome Pat and work with her in the worship of God and care of the people of their rural communities. It was a joyful and generous occasion, representing the real spirit of these parishes and people.
'Neither they nor I recognise the false and hurtful allegations made by the previous incumbent, the Rev Mark Sharpe. Three other clergy have served as incumbents of the parishes since 1985. Two have spoken publicly in the last week in support of the parishes and their people, the other, who died some years ago, was a personal friend of mine, and I know loved his parishes dearly and was loved in turn by them. The two priests who have, in retirement, looked after the parishes until Pat's appointment are also on record as repudiating the remarks made in the press release issued by Mr Sharpe's union last week. And whilst the office of a freehold incumbent in the Church of England does not provide such a person with "line management" I know that my colleagues and I have always done what we can as those who share with the incumbent in the cure of souls of the parishioners. I would hope that, having seen the comments of so many people in support of the parishes, Mr Sharpe and the author of the Unite press release would now apologise publicly to the people of Teme Valley South and Diocese of Worcester.
'As Mr. Sharpe has initiated proceedings in the Employment Tribunal it would be inappropriate for me to comment further except to say that his claims are wholly denied.'
Then the parishes themselves have refuted the claims. According to the diocese, they are suffering ‘intense hurt’ following the remarks that appeared in the press about their parishes being toxic, an allegation which they forcefully refute.
Bishop John of Worcester said, 'I have been greatly impressed by the gracious and dignified manner in which the people of Teme Valley South have coped with the dreadful allegations about their parishes being 'toxic'. I am delighted that all the priests who have ministered to them in the last 20 years, with the sole exception of the last Rector, have come forward to testify vigorously as to what good people they are and that it is anything but a 'toxic' place. These priests know the place and its people very well and speak with authority of their deep affection for their friends and experiences in the Teme Valley.'
Peter Thorneycroft, Parochial Church Council Secretary who has lived in Hanley Childe for over thirty five years commented 'that local people in the six villages which make up the Benefice of Teme Valley South in Worcestershire have remained silent for over three years since Mark Sharpe first made public his allegations, so far unproven, against the whole community and despite the intense hurt that this has caused to dozens of people, some of whom have never even met Mark Sharpe, they intend to make no further comment until the outstanding issues have been resolved at the conclusion of the legal process which is scheduled for May next year.'
The Rev Stephen Thomas who has been an associate priest in the area since 2007 said, ‘I have experienced nothing that would suggest that these parishes are very different to any other group of rural parishes - certainly not that they are 'toxic'! My more recent experience has found them to be friendly and supportive and if anything congregations have been increasing.'
The Rev Paul Lack, Rector between 1990 and 2001, said, ‘What I chiefly remember is the friendships we had within the churches, and the way people worked together to make things happen. We were fortunate in having very good neighbours, who are still good friends today.’
The Very Revd Richard Lewis, Associate Priest 2005 – 2006 and now Dean of Wells, who also had a letter in the Church Times last week, does not recognise Mark Sharpe’s toxic parishes either. He said, ‘These are small Christian communities with little gems of ancient churches which they love and care for. They are people who do their very best both to keep God alive and their churches as beacons of hope in a fragile world. Certainly in my time there we laughed a great deal and enjoyed each other’s company and so it should be.'
And on and on. There is no end of people willing to talk about how wonderful it is being a cleric in the CofE. We await the tribunal with interest.
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