Thursday
Nov042004
Unionized clergy
Thursday, November 4, 2004 at 9:09PM
From Thunder Bay's Source:
Some members of the clergy with the United Church of Canada are looking to unionize over four thousand pastors across the country. Their compliant, bad working conditions and sweatshop wages.Can't wait to see the first picket.
Reader Comments (6)
That has to be one of the most absurdly redundant things I've heard in some time. What do they think ordination is in the first place?
Yeah, are they unhappy with the benefit package as well?
A more detailed article was in the Globe and Mail. Not sure if you have to be registered to see it though. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20041104.wclergy04/BNStory/Front/?query=united+clergy+union" rel="nofollow">http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20041104.wclergy04/BNStory/Front/?query=united+clergy+union Rather than pointing a finger at the clergy, I think this story is more a commentary on the state of church leadership boards, and the members who walk all over their pastors.
Good point, Andrew, and I would have to agree with you. Don't take my tongue-in-cheek comments too seriously though. My sense of humour is notoriously warped....just ask Darryl.
We have an internal system in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). It's called the presbytery minimum package. Wanna call a pastor in our denomination? Better be able to pay the piper first. My comment above is based on personal experience after I offered to serve my first presbytery gratis and met with phenomenal resistance. Since then I have referred to the clergy/priesthood as the world's oldest labor union.
Today's article in a Toronto newspaper seems to back up Andrew's contention that the clergy feel abandoned by their leadership and abused by their parishioners. Sad. Very sad. Darryl, I may have to rethink becoming involved in an institutional church. I think I am better off out of it.