Friday, April 17, 2009

Disruptive English Parishioners

From News Biscuit:
Rural parishes unable to find permanent members of the clergy have been forced to bring in supply vicars whose inexperience and lack of authority has made them vulnerable to disruptive parishioners, says a new report.

One temporary priest was reduced to tears with heckling and catcalling during his sermon, and when he looked up he saw that all the church-goers had turned their pews round to face the opposite direction. ‘These young supply vicars do not have the experience to be able to hold the attention of wayward Christians,’ admitted the Archbishop of Canterbury. ‘The moment they turn their back they are pelted with screwed up service sheets and Alpha Course leaflets made into paper planes, and many of them just don’t know what to do.’
Read the rest. How long before the bad behavior jumps the pond? How long before the the unruliness moves beyond supply vicars and priests to vicars and rectors? Soon and very soon, I'm guessing.

Thanks to Saintly Ramblings.

12 comments:

  1. LOL!!

    I don't think you could just pick up a pew (screwed into the floor) as easily as that, with no one noticing?!?

    Sounds like a Fox news story!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Good heavens. Most Episcopalians I know either too apathetic to even come to church or too polite. Do you really think this will "jump the pond"?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Should have read News Biscuit before I commented. It's pretty funny and I fell for it.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I almost did, and then I saw, "The news before it happens..."

    ReplyDelete
  5. I was going to remark that at least a practical use has been found for Alpha Course leaflets, but I caught on in time. Have saved the lower of the two NewsBiscuit scans for future use. Have no doubt but it will have its uses.

    ReplyDelete
  6. you should post this one to OCICBOV - LOL

    ReplyDelete
  7. Oh, that would never happen at St. Pat's!

    Two of our supply priests are members of the congregation, and the others consist of a stern grandmother, a lawyer, a former high school football coach, and a teaching nun.

    Pranks would be more than our lives are worth!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Promises, ..Promises!!

    80's Holy Sanctioning....Sad affair.

    ReplyDelete

Anonymous commenters, please sign a name, any name, to distinguish one anonymous commenter from another. Thank you.