I don't personally know The Revd Paul Nicolson but I admire his work and words in defence of the poor. He has written to The Guardian about some of the issues raised by the work and words of The Revd Prebendary The Lord Stephen Green. In his letter he says "The Rev Stephen Green’s chairmanship of HSBC while legal tax avoidance and illegal tax evasion were taking place raises important questions for the Church of England about the role of all clergy in secular employment.".
I for one would welcome such questions, though I regret them being triggered by what is essentially a negative reason. The fact is that the church-as-institution has very little interest in those clergy who in obedience to their perceived vocation and reading of the Gospel seek to become priests in secular employment - worker-priests. I have been ordained into such a vocation now for the past 25 years and I have never been asked by any bishop or archdeacon or director of ministry or CMD why that was, how I understand it, what it has meant or the successes or failures of such a calling. In an email to me one bishop complained that such clergy 'bleat' about how they are ignored and sidelined. I wonder why that impression might arise?
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