By Philippe Morin
The debate over a proposed union of United Church ministers has found its way to at least one church in Centretown.
Pastors at the Dominion-Chalmers United Church on Cooper Street say a ministers’ trade union might improve working conditions.
Rev. Martin Garniss, senior pastor at Dominion-Chalmers, says the church is facing an “epidemic of clergy abuse.”
He says pastors in the United Church are often overworked and harassed by parishioners. This can mean incessant or intrusive phone calls, hounding, or unreasonable demands.
“The United Church manual says the elders of the church are to protect their clergy,” he says. “If the church were courageous enough to stand by the rules, then the clergy would not be abused.”
Though the United Church has the power to expel unruly parishioners, Garniss says this is rarely done.
Garniss says a union “shouldn’t be necessary.” However, he says pastors must see conditions improved.
The United Church’s magazine, The Observer, recently published an editorial stating 60 per cent of ministers experience “high levels of conflict” within congregations.
80 per cent of ministers were said to feel “no peer support.”
Garniss says these statistics indicate widespread problems in the United Church. He says eight of 10 clergy leave the church within five years of their ordainment.
He also says the average stay of a minister in a United Church congregation is 2.3 years.
“I think they should pursue it further, but I’m not sure if they should follow through all the way,” Garniss says of the union activists.
“I hope that our church at the local, regional and national level will actually do something about this epidemic of clergy abuse.”
The United Church has historically supported trade unions. Ministers from the church are currently in talks with the United Auto Workers to explore the benefits of unionization.
Andrew Jennings, co-ordinator of the Dominion-Chalmers’ outreach program, says a union would damage the clergy’s image.
“I don’t think it’s the right way to change things,” he says. “It goes against the nature of the ministry. It’s not a nine to five job, it’s a 24-hour vocation.”
Lori Jennings, Sunday school co-ordinator at Dominion-Chalmers, says ministers are underappreciated. She says a union might result in a “better understanding” between church officials and clergy.
“Being a minister is harder than any other job.” she says. “Ministers deserve all they can get. I think they should get the same benefits as psychologists.”
Jim Rennicks attends services at Dominion-Chalmers. A former pastor of Ottawa’s Vineyard Christian Church, he says a union would be inappropriate for vocational work.
“I’ve been in churches where you get nothing but grief, but are expected to do the job anyway,” says Rennicks. “A union would create an outside governing body, with no link to the church.”
He also wonders whether clergy might ever go on strike.
“It’s bizarre,” says Rennicks. “It doesn’t seem to match.”
Oscar Boloko, assistant pastor at Dominion-Chalmers, says he agrees with the idea of a ministers’ union. Though he doesn’t speak for any official group, Boloko says a “corporate body” of ministers might lead to better wages and conditions.
“Ministers work under great stress from society, the congregation and government,” Boloko says.
“We are one in Christ, and that is why we should unite together and move forward.”