Living a life which truly reflects the faith we profess is no new problem. We all relate to the Apostle Paul when he says… I have the desire to do good, but I cannot carry it out… the evil I do not want to do – this I keep on doing… when I want to do good, evil is right there with me. (Romans 7: 14 ff.) No doubt the problem seems even more pronounced for paid church workers and their families who feel constantly watched and assessed by parishioners and congregation members.
Any book which truly struggles with this issue is always worth a read. Hard to be Holy comes out of PhD research which involved detailed interviewing of sixty male clergy from five denominations (including Anglicans) in southern NSW. Over two lengthy sessions the clergy were asked about their feelings and attitudes towards their ministry. The stories of pressure, stress, loneliness and poor relationships with other people and even God will surely ring a chord with some.
More disturbing, however, is the chapter on Abusing Power to Fulfil Personal Needs. Reliable US studies regularly reveal self-confessed ‘sexually inappropriate behaviour’ by 20 to 30 percent of clergy. There is no reason to believe that the situation in Australia is significantly different, given the strain under which our clergy operate. The book acknowledges the necessary place of formal Codes of Conduct and Protocols for reporting and dealing with sexual misconduct. However the authors, who appear to be committed Christians, argue in effect that these only deal with the symptoms. What is needed, they say, is a close look at systems which place clergy on a pedestal and then solely blames them when they fall off!
The chapter headings in the book’s conclusion gives a clue to the suggested ways forward: Dare to be Human, Journeying Together and The Place of Training. The book’s appendix has a handy checklist for congregations and denominational bodies of possible steps to support clergy by enhancing their relationships.
Hard to be Holy will interest and stimulate. It may annoy some readers. But it will certainly help us consider how to support clergy and church workers in their roles.
