[Magdalen] Retired clergy (was Re: Epiphany)

[Raewynne Whiteley]

Hmmm...that explains even more about this place (St James, St James).  One
of the previous rectors here, after moving to a new parish out of state,
continued to function as the personal chaplain to many wealthier (now
former) parishioners.  Ans so they departed the parish - why bother to stay
involved, pledge, etc, when you can just call your personal chaplain. And
he continued to be pastorally involved with a number of other families, who
have never really connected with clergy since.

He has now been notified by the bishop's office that he may not function
clerically in this diocese without express permission.

Boundaries are so important...

On Thu, Jan 14, 2016 at 10:11 AM, Jim Guthrie <jguthrie at pipeline.com> wrote:

> From: Scott Knitter
>
> Gary+, our previous rector, came back only to attend an assisting
>> priest's funeral (a priest he had hired), and then for his own. RIP.
>>
>
> I've seen several new Rectors tenure destroyed by having former Rectors
> nearby. starting with the replacement for Mr. Mills at St James St James on
> Long Island, who moved up the road and was always "available." The new
> Rector, Peter McLean (who was a PK, father a bishop and served a couple of
> tours as a Marine Chaplain in the Jungles of Viet Nam) didn’t stand a
> chance.
>
> I think it should be a firm rule that former Rectors must stay away for
> 3-5 years under all circumstances, safe perhaps showing up in mufti for a
> wedding or funeral, maybe.
>
> But then, one of the jobs of a good Interim is to persuade the
> congregation that the former Rector was, essentially (and in a gentle,
> charitable fashion <g>) that the former Rector was a bum and a heretic and
> an incompetent, so as to pave the way for them to embrace the new Rector as
> the best cleric to come along since John the Baptist.  That gives the new
> Rector the chance to make the changes he or she feels called to do without
> much complaint.
>
> Or to put it more gently, a good interim (among other tasks) makes sure
> that the congregation won’t ever greet the new Rector with pining for
> his/her predecessor.
>
> Cheers,
> Jim Guthrie
>
>