The Llandaff Diocese of the Church in Wales is embarking on an 'ambitious' Year of Pilgrimage to 'reinvigorate its work and worship' as part of the Church’s 2020 centenary celebrations.
The 2019 clergy school is being held during Christian Aid Week in Santiago de Compostela, the location of the shrine of St James the Apostle, to 'train and equip priests to teach and lead pilgrimages in their own communities'.
In a novel twist the school suggests a cunning plan designed to demonstrate how not to organise a pilgrimage, even by plane, when the main attraction, the pilgrimage Cathedral, is closed for renovation. Brilliant!
As a bonus the 'misunderstood' Archdeacon of Llandaff may provide her personal insight on how not to do things after her failed attempt to hoodwink the Governing Body into believing that female ordinands in the Church in Wales are persecuted by the few surviving traditionalists.
All eyes on those of the diocese of Llandaff who actually do the work. If all ticks over nicely on the home front whilst those on Jolly June’s jolly are having a good time at the expense of the loyal pew sitters, it begs the question ‘Are so many full time paid clergy and senior management actually required?’
ReplyDeleteAlso odd that clergy of a reformed protestant church who sign up to the 39 Articles should go on pilgrimage to a major ‘Romanish’ shrine which is only open during its rebuilding work for pilgrims to venerate the relics of St James? Is that not contrary to Article XXII?
Berty.
Can anyone be looking forward to being tutored in Pilgrimage after they return, and does Juno really expect us all to believe this is more than just a jaunt? A spendthrift outing of little value to clergy and none to the pewsitters who should now suspend all giving for the next 6 months.
ReplyDeleteLostwithiel
Dear Pew Sitters of the Diocese of Llandaff, look how our hard working clergy and bishop are spending our money! Live Twitter feeds all the way just to rub our noses in it can be found here @LlandaffDio - someone’s been on a course to learn the use of effective social media to keep us all up to date. Meanwhile away from the cosy exclusive Llandaff clergy enclave in Compostela here is some reality for Christian Aid week https://www.christianaid.org.uk with a Twitter feed to real frontline Christian work @christian_aid Compare and contrast the two media feeds this week. One is a total, disgraceful outrage. The other is heartbreaking!
ReplyDelete1549
Can't we all just wish our clergy a really wonderful time away together. They don't actually get paid a great deal and many of them (with families especially) struggle on their stipends and have to cut corners. I don't hear them complaining about their pay, but it bothers mean that so many of the comments on this blog are mean-spirited towards them. I've seen some great pictures on twitter and facebook of the clergy enjoying their first day together. I hope they come back totally refreshed.
DeletePilgrimprogress. I find this mildly amusing - in seeking to defend them you agree this is no more than a holiday for clergy! I remind you that it is billed as 'clergy training' and 'pilgrimage'. Clergy get more time off than most and many would ask what do they do all day every day - and the Bishop is wealthy by the way. Look at the Twitter feeds again and decide if you wish to keep funding them.
DeleteLW
Did they take their families with them?
DeleteThey had every opportunity to do so when offered the spare seats on the Bishopettes private charter.
Happy to support them and hope they make it an annual event. I note that Michael Sadgrove is leading them in teaching - he's an amazing speaker and they are sure to receive some great input. I recommend his writings.
DeleteWhat has he to say about taking Teddy bears on tour?
Deletehttps://pbs.twimg.com/media/D6h4EUjXsAAF4qW.jpg:large
Pilgrimprogress is so obviously one of the gay cabal in Llandaff.
DeleteProbably Mr Toad...
Ignore.
They could receive the wisdom of Sadgrove in Llandaff at any time at a fraction of the cost to the few remaining gullible pew sitters.
DeleteSt. Michelle's in Llandaff would be cheap as chips.
The Butcher's Arms or the Black Lion would be even cheaper.
PP. A true indication of sacrificial giving and lavish spending. Let's fiddle while Rome burns, seems fitting words. No parish purse for a year should reward the pew sitters.
ReplyDeleteI totally disagree. Clergy school is once every three years. The majority of us, as professionals, would expect more regular CPD than that. And I wonder, how many of you have been to a course - say in London - perhaps costing £200+ and then spent the night in a hotel (probably another £100) and thought nothing of it. I bet many of us have cause to do that quite regularly in our professional lives. Get a grip. The clergy are professionals and ought to be treated as such. As for what they do each day, I can only speak for the clergy I know - the best of them are working hard each and every day and many of them work 6 days a week (some 7). They need this rest, prayer and teaching so that they can come back renewed in God's spirit.
DeletePigrimprogress. They are not 'professionals' they are distinct and different from that - they are ministers of religion, and as such they should be setting a Christian example to us all. Instead they are holidaying at our expense and posting selfies on Twitter. Don't stupidly compare them with people in industry. and commerce.
DeleteLW
Agreed LW.
DeleteHow many of the people of Wales have CPD in London costing £200+ a day plus a hotel room? How many of the teachers, the supermarket workers, the farm workers or those in the tourist industry? The unemployed or single mothers? Students, pensioners? Presumably they are not worth considering - only "professionals" on the gravy train at someone else's expense!
The Clergy were professionals 40 or 50 years ago when they had a 1st in their chosen subject with another 1st in their second as a Bachelor of Divinity often followed by an Masters and/or a Phd.
DeleteAs was pointed out rather succinctly a few years ago, Canon John Rowlands had more letters after his name than most of the current crop of crap has in their names!
Indeed Mr Pickles https://ancientbritonpetros.blogspot.com/2019/01/2018-top-ten.html
DeleteI agree most clergy work hard and deserve a break..... however ministry areas mean that churches now pay the same to share clergy often between many churches....... therefore why not easyJet if you must deprive the Welsh economy of this opportunity? I also think CPD is dated like much in the CiW, and could be done so much better. My own professional training can now be mostly online with tests to prove you have passed, at a fraction of the cost. A range of styles and types of training could be on offer with clergy choosing ones that suit their setting and needs.....then a log kept proving so many hours per year.....and no renewal of license if not......as in most professions now. The current system is very expensive and one product suits all, plus no penalty for those not doing CPD other than a slap on the wrist.
DeleteMichael Sadgrove's presence at this pilgrimage will indeed ensure that there is substance to balance the spin. Significant that June had to go outside the Church in Wales to find someone of such holiness, stature and learning. Interestingly, Michael's second address (entitled 'Pilgrimage and truth-Seeking') addressed some immediate concerns to observers of the cult of Llandaff:
ReplyDelete"We shouldn’t miss the hint here that organised religion, represented by the temple, carries as many threats to spiritual integrity as every other temptation by putting the Lord our God to the test...Every priest must ask himself or herself from time to time how organised religion must try the patience of our good and loving God!"
But, more telling is a comment he made in his first address, that highlights the sheer incompetence of those who organised this jolly without checking a basic fact that was crucial to the whole expedition:
"It would have been lovely if we could, so to speak, have recaptured our own childhood as we walked up the steps and entered the Basilica of Saint James through the Portico of Glory for the first time. I don’t know of any other church with such a marvellous sense of arrival. I was in tears the first time I came here. It was as if this mighty pilgrimage church was welcoming me home with its doors wide open, like the father’s arms open to his prodigal son, and inviting me to find my true self in God once again. I say 'it would have been lovely', because alas much of the Cathedral is under scaffolding at present and we can’t get inside through this great entrance. We’ll have to imagine it from the photos we’ve seen."
That the clergy of the Diocese are receiving such rare wisdom is the only consoling factor of this misguided project.
Think of how much money could have been saved, and potentially given to the world's most disadvantaged during this Christian Aid week, if the clergy of the Diocese had indeed gathered somewhere more convenient and less costly, and looked at the photographs!
After all, 'the church' is the impressive building, right? Not the people.
DeleteThat's great to hear, Athanasius - glad you're appreciating Michael's wisdom. I first encountered his writing when he was based in Coventry Cathedral and have followed his work ever since. A prayerful and wise man - why he was never a Bishop I don't know (perhaps he turned it down). Can I just ask one thing, Athanasius? Might you be prepared to use this pilgrimage to pray kindly for your Bishop and allow God to work his grace within you in relation to the negative thoughts/feelings you appear to hold towards her and those who work in her leadership team. Just let it go. Let it go.
ReplyDeleteMay St. James make you 'happy in hope' as the old Camino prayers put it.
I gave up on the Bishopette as soon as I had discovered she was making false accusations whilst stating "I am the accuser".
DeleteIf you don't believe me, ask her Chaplain.
The ears in the walls report that the Spanish waiters don't know how to mix Rum Pansies so Gerwhine has opted to demonstrate.
Delete��
Is there a lecture this week on humility and asking for forgiveness?
DeleteI appreciate your concern for the Bishop, Prilgrimprogress; but one of the characteristics of a serial bully is the belief that they are unchallengeable, and that they can steam-roller their way through other peoples' convictions, cultural heritage, language, and insights, all in the name of 'my leadership.' You probably haven't been on the receiving end of one her early morning 'phone calls, and been left reeling for the rest of the day, as some of my colleagues have been, after she has demolished their perfectly legitimate concerns. Emotional illiteracy, coupled to an arrogant disregard for others, is hardly a quality of 'leadership.' Michael Sadgrove says so in his 'Wisdom & Ministery' (SPCK 2008) which you've no doubt read.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, you could talk to people like Mwgabe, Putin and Assad, and they would tell you that, if only people would 'let it go' there would be no need to oppress, control and unleash chemical weapons on the people over whom they exercise 'leadership.'
Please don't ask any of us to be THAT servile.
I'm sure Michael Sadgrove would have agreed to speak in other venues apart from Compostela de Santiago. Having a world class speaker does nothing to excuse the folly of choice of venue.
ReplyDeleteForgive what may seem a trivial comment from a recently retired CinW cleric BUT (a)I know of at least one colleague in 'another diocese' who has deliberately chosen to avoid flying because of his 'green' proclivities … how would he have fared in Llandaff? (b)I, like many others, are flying-phobic … surely there must be at least ONE cleric in Llandaff who shares my fear … what happened? Or did they all swallow their fears along with free GandT on the flight?
ReplyDelete(Ain'tGoneYet)
Your readers may like to know that several clergy are there because they felt they had no option as attendance at clergy school was being made a compulsory part of their terms and conditions,that is put on the same level attendance at Diocesan Conference. But whereas some clerics have always managed to evade Diocesan Conference the current bullying tactics do not make it a risk worth taking for the majority of Llandaff clergy to not participate in the Clergy School. John Bunyan
ReplyDeleteI wonder if Caiaphas has opened a tab at the bar for Rum Pansies and Pink Gins?
ReplyDeleteHow about a St. TEILO'S Tipple?
DeleteFor the church Caiaphas has gutted?
After the abysmal take-up of Jolly June's offer to retired clergy to pay over £300 for the privilege of being second class citizens in Compostela (as a cynical way to bail-out her overspend on this charabanc) you will hardly be surprised to learn that the three-line whip was extended to ordinands. They're doing as they're told and tweeting sycophantic sentiments around the reel. Such compliance. I wonder what threats they were subjected to?
ReplyDeleteFrom Twitter RR: "The magnificent @LlandaffDio ordinands introducing themselves at clergy school in Santiago de Compostela." https://twitter.com/JordanHillebert/status/1128195351339573249
DeletePP. While the diocese runs without its clergy the interesting but serious news on poverty is that Wales' level of children living in poverty has risen again. If you analyse the figures per location as the BBC has done this morning, it is easy to plot the diocesan figures. The upshot being more live in abject poverty in Llandaff than anywhere else.
ReplyDeleteSury this Jolly clergy school could ha e been better spent on a Church Army mission campaign or similar. What a waste of precious resources while the pew sitters gather crumbs.
One odd thing the news media has not to date covered this excessive spend, which would look so bad set alongside these figures.
If you want to read the report on poverty the links are on BBC Wales Web pages. Perhaps a comparison report with this clergy school and these figures may be interesting.
Not content with a closed cathedral, Jolly June has invited a convicted sex offender from the senior staff of Bangor Diocese to address the band of (un)happy pilgrims in Santiago de Compostela. No prizes for guessing which pilgrim routes he knows best!
ReplyDeleteWhat a contrast to the holiness and wisdom of Michael Sadgrove, to be then subjected to the verbal diarrhoea of the Lavatory Attendant. Now wonder the details of the programme were kept firmly under wraps until after take-off.
Seems we have a neutered church, intellectually enfeebled, with one of its Bishops presenting a teddy bear at the altar. At least no rainbow flags as yet. Just cancel your giving would be my advice, perhaps then they would think twice about charter flights to Spain in CA week.
ReplyDeleteStoppit
Utterly hypocritical. Have been to an organ recital in Llandaff cathedral tonight. One of the canon's houses was decorated with Christian Aid Week banners as were the railings on the steps down to the cathedral. There were also posters advertising a lunch to support Christian Aid week. And our bishop and her full time clergy are nowhere to be seen because they are enjoying a jolly in Spain, that is costing a fortune. What an absolute disgrace.
ReplyDeleteI'm afraid it gets worse MO.
DeleteThe ears in the walls report the new Diocesan Director of Communications, appointed on an annual salary circa £42k, started work on Monday and has also gone along on Juno's jolly.
Nice work if you can get it.
Caiaphas is certainly not MY bishop and I stopped giving to the Cathedral and Diocese of Llandaff years ago.
DeleteI strongly recommend a lot more follow Loosemore's advice below and do likewise.
Cant and hypocrisy writ large. This best describes the situation and the freebie to Compostela. STOP GIVING - BEGINNING SUNDAY.
ReplyDeleteLoosemore
The peoples of Santiago and Llandaff are in a state of total shock.
ReplyDeleteRumours of the dud in the Llandaff deanery actually doing some work on a Wednesday have been confirmed.
https://mobile.twitter.com/LlandaffDio/status/1128642341705801728/photo/2
Caiaphas must be keeping a very close eye on him else he'd have sloped off to the nearest antiques emporium for the day!
Au contraire It's a miracle. The bishop can be seen in the background, hand in pocket, apparently oblivious to what is going on during the celebration of the Eucharist.
DeleteDon't you believe it Ancient Briton, I have eyes in the back of my arse and the controls are in my pockets.
DeleteWell haven't the jolly old few remaining gullible pew-sitters had value for their money.
Deletehttps://mobile.twitter.com/Gould2Jan/status/1129007793414057984/photo/1