“Happy Vicar; Happy Church” – Save the Vicar to Save
the Parish
There are several clarifications and qualifications we
could make to this generalisation.
What do we mean here by “happy”, and is this our highest
goal? Make it “joyful”, if you prefer.
Of course there are many other factors. This tag isn’t
meant to pile more pressure on the Vicar because one of the problems is that
she probably already feels too many competing, even contradictory demands and
expectations. If the goal is pleasing all the people all the time, we know that’s
a fool’s errand.
Churches can sometimes flourish despite their clergy who
can be, as was once rather unfortunately said, “a bottle neck”. Imagine the
perfectionist control freak Vicar: “my way or the highway”, perhaps.
But consider the opposite “sad, grumpy Vicar;
dissatisfied, gloomy church”. No one wants a Vicar who is hurried, frazzled,
tired, empty, bored, jittery, dreaming of nothing but a lottery win,
retirement, or the alternative career he could have had for which it now seems
too late.
That there is a problem is clear. Many clergy apparently
show some signs of at least borderline mild depression. Retirements and resignations
abound. Vocations are a challenge.
The causes of Vicar discontent can be complex. Compare
his lot to that of the privileged 19th Century incumbent (not the
unbeneficed perpetual curate!). He had a big house, plenty of money, servants, social
respect, one church, no emails, WhatsApp, social media. Today there are several
churches, no money, the church is at war with itself and treated like a supermarket
by some (“I’d like to book a baptism slot on Wednesday 21st at 8pm,
please”) and as irrelevant or malevolent by others. His kindly parishioners
send his clippings from their newspaper of choice about how the church is woke
or insufficiently woke. And the Diocese wants to reorganise him into a
Missional Hub with people from the other ends of the candle stick. He may even
like these people, but how they would minister together…. He could be forgiven
for being rather distracted and confused, and pouring what energy he has into
replacing the boiler or running the homeless shelter. So many good and worthy
things can be done, but what about joyful Vicaring?
So what might the Vicar do if he is to seek happiness for
the sake of Jesus and his church?
It may sound pious, but in the end, the Vicar has to seek
Jesus the LORD. He has to find joy and satisfaction in him. His circumstances
are not always going to be sufficient.
How might he do that? He should pray and read the Bible
each day. And try to do so in a way that is unhurried and open. He needs some
space to think each week and from time to time. He should really prepare his
sermon such that he engages afresh with God and the text and his own soul. He
must not rush too quickly to what he already knows or fall back on the first
things which come to mind which he knows he could preach. He must seek
encounter with Jesus. What he needs is the same Good News that everyone else
needs. And he must feel that Jesus really is glad tidings of great joy that
meet his predicament and that of all people. Then he will have something to
preach with enthusiasm.
And having been spiritual for a moment, he would do well
to remember his humanity. E.g.
·
Go outside and have a walk
·
Take your days off and your annual leave
·
Cultivate friendships
·
Have some kind of hobby or hinterland
And how might the institution help him or her?
Many of the Save the Parish proposals seem sensible to me
here. Maximum independence, maximum training and support. Prize theological training
and depth. Encourage him to pray and work with others if that seems helpful,
but don’t force him into some scheme or initiative. Value his vocation and him
doing his job: prayer, Bible, sacraments, pastoral care, evangelism. Reasonable
job security. No stupid tyrannical targets. Celebrate Vicars who Vicar.
May God grant us happy clergy who can spread the joy!
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