News from Sheffield

[DracoM]

Yes. A series of observations to value.

[oddoneout]

I think this is worth reading: https://unherd.com/2020/07/church-ph...ure-all-wrong/

He makes some useful points but for me has a less than felicitous way of expressing them which put my back up. I may share share his evident dislike of the happy clappy side of the fence, but I wouldn't choose on a public platform to express that the way he does.

[Barbirollians]

Just seen this - complaints that musical staff have been bullied by cathedral official .

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/jul/24/sheffield-cathedral-to-investigate-bullying-and-harassment-claims

Extraordinary that the Cathedral Chapter can do this and it seems that the Bishop of Sheffield has no role.

[PeterboroughDiapason]

He makes some useful points but for me has a less than felicitous way of expressing them which put my back up. I may share share his evident dislike of the happy clappy side of the fence, but I wouldn't choose on a public platform to express that the way he does.

I think it's quite balanced, to be honest, and he's only giving his own view. He certainly doesn't use the pejorative phrase "Happy Clappy". And he wrote, for example: "No, the musical, visual and theatrical culture of the church must bend to one aim only: promoting the message of the Gospel. And if gospel music, or worship songs inspired by popular music does that better, then so be it."

[DracoM]

BUT is the Dean speaking for ALL - including the bishop? Or can he talk out loud and is the ultimate authority?

[Barbirollians]

It seems so - the Bishop is on twitter and it seems posts a great deal but nothing about this.

[Miles Coverdale]

I suspect that there is rather more to this sorry tale than meets the eye and, given the ongoing investigation referred to in the Guardian article, there are things that the Dean simply cannot address in public at the moment. What has been said so far does seem to have been done rather ineptly and the words 'own' and 'goal' seem intent on collision. This is not a diocesan matter and so the bishop will have no involvement, in public at least. I imagine the truth will eventually emerge, but it probably won't be for a while yet.

[Wolsey]

Just seen this - complaints that musical staff have been bullied by cathedral official .

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/jul/24/sheffield-cathedral-to-investigate-bullying-and-harassment-claims

Extraordinary that the Cathedral Chapter can do this and it seems that the Bishop of Sheffield has no role.

The Dean, together with the governing body or Chapter is responsible for the Cathedral. The Bishop has ecclesiastical oversight of the Diocese.

BUT is the Dean [...] the ultimate authority?

Yes.

[teamsaint]

It seems so - the Bishop is on twitter and it seems posts a great deal but nothing about this.

Would you really want the bishop tweeting about this ?!

[mw963]

Well they seem to feel that they can tweet on a whole load of other things that have nothing to do with them, so yes, why not? Let's hear what the Bishop thinks!

(I am being mischievous in case any one is in any doubt).

Ultimately though if the Dean loses the confidence of the cathedral then the Bishop will probably have to step in, as happened not so long ago at another cathedral. I wonder how the Dean would feel if this ends in a Visitation?

[Pulcinella]

The bishop is fairly new to the diocese:

The Rt Revd Dr Pete Wilcox was installed as the Eighth Bishop of Sheffield on 23 September 2017 at Sheffield Cathedral.

You might remember that he was chosen as a replacement, after the previously nominated bishop-elect, Philip North, stepped down, following reaction to his views about the ordination of women:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/09/bishop-turns-down-promotion-after-protests-over-stance-on-women

They're really not doing very well at Sheffield, are they?

[oddoneout]

I think it's quite balanced, to be honest, and he's only giving his own view. He certainly doesn't use the pejorative phrase "Happy Clappy". And he wrote, for example: "No, the musical, visual and theatrical culture of the church must bend to one aim only: promoting the message of the Gospel. And if gospel music, or worship songs inspired by popular music does that better, then so be it."

No he doesn't use that phrase, and the sentence you quote I don't have a problem with. This

Popular culture has no such origins because its primary purpose is entertainment. For many evangelical Christians, that’s all that we need from culture. The trick is to fuse the gospel message with a popular contemporary idiom — it doesn’t really matter which, just one that will reach as many as possible.

I didn't think was the best way to express the point, it seemed more than a little dismissive/judgemental, and I didn't think the rest of the paragraph was much better, but that's just my personal reaction to it, and I accept that others won't see it that way.

[DracoM]

Deeper and deeper he digs!

[mw963]

Just four votes to go until the petition gets to 5000. Bravo to all concerned.

[cat]

According to the Save Sheffield Cathedral Choir campaign, the lay clerks were told a half day before the media, and the choristers only found out on the news which is a shameful way for the Dean and Chapter to behave.