I said this time last year that my
annual report for 2007 would be my last, but in the event, no-one stepped
forward to take over as Secretary. However, having now completed five
years in the post, I am definitely giving up at the forthcoming AGM.
I can only repeat what I said last year that if members are not prepared
to take on the officers’ jobs, the organisation cannot function. I do
hope that someone out there will volunteer to become Secretary. It’s not
a particularly onerous task and it’s a very interesting one. Since this
time last year (30 January at time of writing), I have sent out 26
information packs, and answered a variety of queries, mostly received via
the website but a few by telephone as a result of our advertisements in
the Church press. So there is still clearly a need for Broken Rites to be
there to support clergy wives when their marriages break down. Three of
the enquiries came from as far a field as South Africa and the United
States.
Personally, I have found my
involvement with Broken Rites to have been a most rewarding experience.
Broken Rites didn’t exist when my marriage broke up 32 years ago, and it
would have made an enormous difference to me if it had. At the time, I
thought I was the only clergy wife in the country to whom this was
happening, and I felt the shame and humiliation keenly. I well remember
going to my first London Group meeting eight years later and thinking “Do
I really want to go through all that painful stuff again?”, but the group
was friendly and welcoming, and I have made lasting friendships, which I
value greatly, as a result.
As I mentioned last year, I have been
fortunate to work with three different Chairs: Christine, Cilla and now Rosie . All have brought their different skills
and talents to the post and worked with dedication and vision for the good
of the organisation. In particular, Rosie has put a great deal of energy
into renewing and extending our contacts in Northern Ireland and the
Republic of Ireland, which are already bearing fruit.
In addition, Rosie is in contact with
the Visitor for the Diocese in Europe (which is part of the Church of
England), who thinks Broken Rites could be helpful in her area of
responsibility. This is something the Committee will be looking into.
As well as the vacancy for a
Secretary, we also need a Fundraiser to help raise our profile as well as
funds. Pat did a wonderful job with the Parish Appeal for several
years, and we need to nurture our regular donors as well as look for new
ones. Please consider whether you could give some time to undertaking
this essential task. Computers have made it far less time-consuming than
it was when Pat wrote to every parish by hand, and responded to donations
in a like manner!
