A Woman Scorned - Emmerdale and Clergy Discipline

Emmerdale and Clergy Discipline - How not to do it.
Subtitled: Unite the Union Faith Workers Branch offer pastoral care when its needed.


A cameo from Emmerdale - Yorkshire Television - Friday 20th January, 2010.

Context:
The Church of England country vicar of Emmerdale is called Ashley. He has been accused of having an affair with Sally, someone whom he knew a long time ago, and had wormed her way into his life again due to his naivete, and his ignoring his wife. He had invited Sally to share his home, which made his wife unhappy. There was nothing going on between them, but she wanted there to be.
Bishop George has suspended ashley from his parish.

This episode of Emmerdale illustrates a number of mistakes that clergy can make when dealing with those in authority, especially when they are feeling vulnerable because of a complaint or allegation against them. It also illustrates a number of other things: that clergy are vulnerable to false allegations, that people believe and spread malicious gossip, and that bishops function in a quasi-juridical role rather than in a pastoral role as far as discipline is concerned.

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The landlady of the pub to the vicar
'Just be aware that when this comes out people are gong to start talking'.
Ashley: 'Surely a man is innocent until proven guilty'
'Round here...' she shakes her head

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Village gossip: 'They don't suspend vicars for nothing'

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'The point is Ashley, where does it go from here?'
Ashley: 'That remains to be seen'
Ashley: 'I suppose that things can't get any worse'........

A dark blue Jaguar glides up. Bishop George and a man in a dark suit, both wearing black trilbies get out.

Neighbour: 'Ever seen the Great Escape, I think the Gestapo just arrived'.

Bishop George knocks at the door, Ashley opens it, his heart and face sink
'Bishop George'
'Ashley'

MISTAKE 1: Ashley lets them enter his home without an appointment, he is not prepared, and they have the element of surprise and are prepared, they deliberately catch him unawares.

The bishop and the other man enter.
'You remember Alexander of course'.

Ashley to his friend who asks what their presence means 'It means that I have been granted the gift of irony - things just got worse'

Ashley's friend to the Bishop: 'Look you know this is all nonsense don't you? Ashley is not the sort of man... it takes one to know one'

'I am sure we can sort it all out' says Bishop George

Rodney, Ashley's friend: 'maybe I should be making a move... I'll call you'

MISTAKES 2 and 3: Ashley lets his only witness leave him at the mercy of the Bishop and the registrar. Ashley allows the bishop and registrar to investigate his case, he should have reminded the Bishop of his duty to remain impartial and that he was acting inappropriately.

'Right then' says the Bishop
'I suggest we get comfortable' says the Registrar, 'and then I think we better go over everything that has happened' and the bishop and registrar sit themselves down at Ashley's table.

MISTAKE 4: Ashley has not agreed the date, time or purpose of this meeting. He allows himself to be railroaded. He has no one there to take notes as a record of the meeting. For example a representative of the Faith Workers Branch of Unite the Union.

Bishop George and Alexander Deeley the diocesan registrar question Ashley about the allegations 'from the beginning''
Bishop:'it's probably fair at the outset to warn you that we've been to see Sally'

MISTAKES 5 and 6: Ashley volunteers anwsers their questions without anyone present to advise him and keep notes, such as a Union Rep, who drive long distances to be with union members such as Ashley.

'So you never told her that you wanted to be honest about it, and you never wanted to sneak around' says the registrar

'Well, yes, no... you have to understand the context'.

MISTAKE 7: Ashley is flustered and unprepared, he does not know the allegations before he meets the bishop and registrar.

'I told you that the only reason that I went to see her was that she needed to know that it's over, finished with, I never want anything more to do with her' said Ashley
'There's an implication' says the man in suit 'You said finished with - that rather indicates that that something had started in the first place'
'That's not what I meant' says Ashley
'I think that that will do for the time being' says the registrar.

Ashley: 'What happens now?'

'There are one or more people to speak to then I will submit my report.'

Bishop George: 'Chin up, eh. As it happens, I am inclined to believe you.
Ashley: 'Am I going to lose my job?'

Diocesan Registrar: 'Be assured the outcome will be what's best... for all concerned.'

Conclusion: Ashley is very silly to let himself be put in this position. He had three opportunities to avoid this happening - he let the bishop and registrar in, he allowed his friend to leave, and he spoke to them when he was surprised rather than prepared for the encounter. Only one thing is certain - the outcome will not be what's best for Ashley who is currently suspended from his parish. How did he get suspended by the way? Was due process followed? Why didn't Ashley get his union rep in to help him?

Clergy may naively expect a father in God to act pastorally rather than juridically, and to be fair and to be supportive. That disappointment can be hard to deal with, but the consequences of ignorance and naivety are worse. Discipline may well be an episcopal role, but your average cleric may not expect the bishop to act juridically rather than pastorally. In any case who is acting pastorally towards Ashley? The bishop should have delegated his pastoral role to a third party who should be offering pastoral support. In the absence of pastoral support from the hierarchy suitable pastoral support is available from the Faith Workers Branch of Unite the Union.

Fellow clergy may be able to help in such a situation, but deanery or diocesan clergy might not be approachable. There is help out there - and it is well worth seeking out.A good place to start is on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=43479620991 where you can get a flavour of the union and its views and activities or here .
Email me or send me a message to find out who can help when your world is collapsing.

ps 'God' is not the right answer in this context, as the church hierarchy may well arrogate divine purpose to their own actions - and not yours.