Why do people so often think Deans are in charge of parish clergy? Where are the Archdeacons? What does the Times think Suffragan Bishops do all day? And, crucially, have they even heard of lay people? - ThreadSky

mthrjo.bsky.social • 72 days ago

Why do people so often think Deans are in charge of parish clergy? Where are the Archdeacons? What does the Times think Suffragan Bishops do all day?

And, crucially, have they even heard of lay people?

Reposted from Sam Wilson

Also laughing at this in the article. If only it were so simple

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mthrjo.bsky.social•72 days ago

Not sure if I’d be insulted or relived to be left out of this chart, if I were an Archdeacon (a job I’d be very bad at, for the record)

(Bluesky has no gifs of archdeacons, so have Nigel Hawthorne in the wrong part)

redcosmonaut.bsky.social•71 days ago

I've known 2 Archdeacons...one was married to an ex SOE agent. The other had had a model railway running all around his cottage/flat, including a sub-floorboards underground - so on that qualification alone Reverend, you'd be a shoe-in

seraphism.bsky.social•72 days ago

An excellent choice, although this is the archdeacon that covers to mind for me these days.

mthrjo.bsky.social•72 days ago

I couldn’t find a gif of him either! I did look…

clarkefrench.bsky.social•72 days ago

I asked AI to make an image of an English archdeacon and this is what it gave me

padrewill.wales•72 days ago

should’ve given him a fez. love a fez.

margueritek.bsky.social•72 days ago

I'm sorry, Clarke, but this matches my mental image of archdeacons.

clarkefrench.bsky.social•72 days ago

It certainly matches my EXPERIENCE of archdeacons, at least in the Canadian experience.

padrefreeman.bsky.social•72 days ago

@mcclatch.bsky.social has entered the chat.

mcclatch.bsky.social•72 days ago

Ahem…

mthrjo.bsky.social•72 days ago

It is not accurate in the slightest…

sensiblearchie.bsky.social•72 days ago

This is so alien to me. It seems like weird religious hierarchy stuff is normalised in England? It really is a foreign country.

mthrjo.bsky.social•71 days ago

Archdeacon is an administrative role in the Church of England. Other Episcopalian churches have them. They do not have any special mode of dress. English people who are not Anglican probably don’t know they exist.

Please stop projecting stuff onto a country you clearly don’t know.

sensiblearchie.bsky.social•71 days ago

Hi Jo. I'm Scots. I know England pretty well. The comment was made very much tongue in cheek. No offence intended.

stpaulswesthackney.bsky.social•72 days ago

Is that in ordinary time?

martinsmith.bsky.social•72 days ago

Pinterest has you covered.

joshharris.bsky.social•72 days ago

No ordinands in the chart either

mthrjo.bsky.social•72 days ago

I hate to break it to you, but they’re still lay people

samwilson.bsky.social•72 days ago

Haha I wasn’t gonna say it

godwelcomesall.bsky.social•72 days ago

(in Canada they are - something between a suffragan bishop and a TEC Canon to the Ordinary)

mthrjo.bsky.social•71 days ago

I think Canada might follow Scotland in that, but I’d be surprised if the Telegraph knows anything about either SEC or the ACC’s governance…

jeremyp.bsky.social•72 days ago

Never mind the Times - I genuinely have no idea what our suffragan bishop does on any day.

mthrjo.bsky.social•72 days ago

Ours is very good and frequently seen around the area (and the same went for Bishop Tony when I was in the Wakefield area).

djgrieser.bsky.social•72 days ago

For some reason (perhaps only because “deacon” is in the title) in Wisconsin Archdeacons, who are themselves deacons, seem to be responsible only for other deacons.

mthrjo.bsky.social•72 days ago

That’s very fourth century!

christophernwest.bsky.social•72 days ago

Very well put! It also neglects the fact that most authority is often a sign rather than an actuality, and that so many clergy spin several of these plates.

fr-tony.bsky.social•72 days ago

Can confirm I am not even in charge of my cats…

colpen.bsky.social•72 days ago

And as for the BBC describing Area Dean as a senior post.... I speak as an ex :)

mthrjo.bsky.social•72 days ago

I mean, I think it does convey that the Bishop has a degree of trust in you, and it wasn’t at all appropriate for him to hold that position- but equally, it’s not senior post in the sense people normally mean.

dean90815dean.bsky.social•72 days ago

Might it be that church-people use words differently around the Anglican Communion?
Communion might involve learning how to listen.

mthrjo.bsky.social•71 days ago

The Times is, in this instance, the Times (of London), not the New York Times, is specifically talking about the Church of England, not the Anglican Communion, so in this instance I don’t think the variation of usage around the globe is at all relevant, no.

iainbking.bsky.social•72 days ago

Is he hierarchy for deciding appointments, salaries etc exactly the same as the hierarchy for interpreting scripture?

akma.bsky.social•72 days ago

I’m not sure what direction you’re taking this, but if I understand you correctly, then as a biblical studies lecturer, I can assure you the answer is No.

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