A while ago I posted about how we were going to put a bid in to The Youth Opportunities Fund and Youth Capital Fund which had something in the region of £60,000-70,000 available. I received a phone call last night saying that both our groups that applied have been successful. While some funding was knocked off from their bid they have still received a considerable amount. We should hear the confirmation of the figure on Monday, so I won’t post the precise figure till then.
Good for you, Chris! It cheers me enormously to read what you have written and know I am not alone. What you say is common sense and ordinary good manners according to you and me both. Would it shock you to know that I was told off for saying thank-you to someone for what they were doing for the church on the grounds that since I was not God it was not for me to thank them?
I see the reasons for saying this – up to a point – but I doubt that the person whose eyes lit up at this unusual recognition of their efforts thought I was claiming to be the Almighty.
At the time I took my rebuke (from one of the clergy) meekly, and thought I had obviously got it wrong. But the more I think about it, the more I think it is the Church (if indeed it is official doctrine) who is wrong on this point.
We are having a discussion at the Lay Anglicana website on ‘clericalism and laicism’ (http://bit.ly/kgJphX) where some clergy have said it is difficult to recruit lay helpers. I do think one of the reasons may be the universal need for appreciation if the clergy really feel prohibited from offering it.