Relationships and Care in Church Life
MARY didn’t respond. This had happened so frequently before. Once again she felt singled out and humiliated, in public, while she was doing things voluntarily for her church. And any attempt she made to set the record straight was only going to bring further sarcastic and hurtful remarks. She knew others felt the same but no one wanted to stand out from the crowd. They were volunteers and life was too short and they had too many other things to do without taking on that one as well! Eventually someone was going to be scarred by the constant bullying, but the rector probably didn’t even realise the impact he was having.
* Full article available in printed copies.
Adrian Clements
is secretary general and chief officer of the Representative Church Body of the Church of Ireland.