tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8299409348701300460.post2292941963254024138..comments2023-05-25T09:14:35.702+01:00Comments on The Vernacular Vicar: Church and The Value of TimeAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08268991293847325315noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8299409348701300460.post-19747555112232574092012-01-05T09:48:28.351+00:002012-01-05T09:48:28.351+00:00you are absolutely right.you are absolutely right.John Adamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16835208144731784910noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8299409348701300460.post-53277992388272418172011-11-19T13:11:34.178+00:002011-11-19T13:11:34.178+00:00While it is probably true to say that many/most ch...While it is probably true to say that many/most churches would not survive without their armies of volunteers, it also is worth remembering that volunteering is a two-way street.<br />Most of the people who do any form of voluntary work in the church (myself included), gain at least as much as they give, in social interaction, the self esteem benefits of 'doing something useful' and balm for spiritual unrest.Ray Barneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09209429097744326143noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8299409348701300460.post-17939623305318645632011-11-17T17:09:50.012+00:002011-11-17T17:09:50.012+00:00I think that part of the problem is that we pastor...I think that part of the problem is that we pastors/vicars/priests/ministers - call us what you will - do not value our own time enough and so we undervalue the time that others willingly give.Radical Believerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13300295316861209409noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8299409348701300460.post-30357683489510894972011-11-17T16:30:08.337+00:002011-11-17T16:30:08.337+00:00I suspect that volunteers are taken a bit for gran...I suspect that volunteers are taken a bit for granted in some churches. I know that our Vicar always thanks those who have prepared the church for services, in public, during a worship service.<br /><br />It makes a difference for it being done this way, despite the embarrassment to those involved. And you are quite right, if we had to pay for these services, the church would not be viable.<br /><br />The pressure of parish share is a great worry to many PCC's, and sometimes I wonder at the costs that we are contributing to. My diocese having made several redundancies from diocesan house, have appointed different people into new, paid roles. We are told cost cuts are being made, but than see them negated by more people being taken on.<br /><br />Doing everything on a shoestring in parish churches is eventually self-defeating. Parishioners want to worship, not to be continually hearing the PCC and Clergy begging for more. <br /><br />Vision statements always seem to include stuff about resources, meaning more giving by hard pushed parishioners. I am amazed at the continuing generosity of people, who give regularly, despite being hard pressed. <br /><br />The other disheartening thing is the costs of major repairs and the energy expended on fund raising initiatives, I sometimes think lock up the church and meet in the Village Hall, which has a commercial income to sustain and maintain it.UKViewerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18114944341930758335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8299409348701300460.post-12444209402331744562011-11-17T16:20:11.040+00:002011-11-17T16:20:11.040+00:00Absolutely, David, and thanks for expressing it so...Absolutely, David, and thanks for expressing it so clearly. We would be sunk without the time freely given to us by countless volunteers and the Church as an organisation too often fails to value their contribution.Perpetuahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01214396019726161983noreply@blogger.com