From Canon Ian
Gaskell
Sir, - I have long admired
and been greatly helped by Canon Lynda Barley's statistical
insights, but she brought us little Easter joy in her article ("Establishing faith in
the community", Comment, 5 April). Indeed, she may have
underscored society's perception of trust in priests, as a very
recent YouGov poll concluded that only 54 per cent of respondents
trusted priests to tell the truth. That poll revealed that doctors,
teachers, judges, and BBC journalists were all held in higher
regard than priests.
In the main, I have been
privileged to serve alongside faithful, connecting, and
hard-working priests, who have been highly valued and trusted by
the communities and institutions that they have served.
Nevertheless, there is an institutional deficit - which Canon
Barley touches upon - as trust appears to break down at group and
structural levels.
Canon Barley's article was
placed alongside Canon Angela Tilby's column about leadership in
the Church. The leadership of the Church needs to establish trust
quickly with society, primarily in two ways.
First, it needs to recognise
that the clergy are an enormous resource, and by and large, they
are admired and trusted for their self-sacrifice and faithfulness.
That perception needs developing rather than putting in place by
what has turned into over-fussy and unnecessary structures and
programmes, seemingly designed to keep the clergy in order and in
their place.
Second, the Church's
leadership needs to connect with the gospel and the template of the
Good Shepherd, and do only what is consistent with those
imperatives and that style.
In football, a descent down
the league table usually results in a change of manager; but
sometimes spectacular results follow a change in how a team plays.
Changing the manager is not really an option for us; but simple
changes, such as deciding to play more attractively and
captivatingly, can produce better results and an enhanced
self-perception.
Without those changes,
aligned with more imagination and creativity, we could well
continue to spiral down the league table of trust, and be relegated
in society's value as it loses faith in the institution of the
Church.
IAN GASKELL
St James Vicarage
Chapelthorpe
Wakefield WF4 3JN