congregation that filed out into the sunshine.
MONDAY'S SCRABBLE evening with George Mitchell had to be put off. The Parochial Church Council met at the rectory to appoint the new treasurer. It was the first full attendance in a long time. After the usual opening prayer, Otis Joy said, "A problem, ladies and gentlemen. Two names have been put forward, one from Geoff Elliott, the other from me. If I vacate the chair, as I wish to in this case, Geoff, your vice-chairman, should take over, but..." He smiled.
Norman Gregor, the churchwarden who farmed the fields below the village, took over the chair. He invited Elliott to speak first, and a fine case he made for Burton Sands. "This young man is extremely keen to take up the post and there's no question as to his competence, accountancy being his profession. He's a regular attender at services. True, he hasn't been confirmed yet, but he's been attending the rector's confirmation group, and I don't see that anyone could object if we invited him to become our treasurer. A more able and committed candidate would be hard to find."
Gregor said with a twinkle in his eye, "But the rector believes he has found one. Over to you, Rector."
The meeting was treated to a tour de force in the art of persuasion. Like a beaten man Joy sighed and spread his hands. "These decisions are tough, aren't they? You've heard the case for Burton. Who could top it? Rachel Jansen isn't an accountant. She's less keen than Burton to take the job. Less confident. I had to sell the idea to her. So what are her qualifications? Like Burton, she's in church every Sunday. She's active in charity work and well known in the village for house-to-house collections and the support she gives to all our social events. A calm, intelligent woman unlikely to ruffle feathers."
"Why isn't she on the PCC already?" someone interrupted.
"Fair point. Rachel is one of those people who don't push themselves forward. She's not pushy. I've discovered in my short career in the church that it's worth making the effort to persuade such people to get involved. The reason we're having this discussion is that none of you wants to be treasurer. We're forced to look outside the PCC. Now that Rachel and I have talked, she'd like to be considered for the post."
"You fancy yourself as a talent-spotter, Rector," commented Peggy Winner, the third churchwarden.
"I just believe she could do the job."
The chairman said with a smile, "Let's have the sub-text, Rector. What's your objection to Mr. Sands?"
"No objection at all. I know Burton well from the confirmation group. You have to admire his persistence. He's a stickler for detail."
"Isn't that what you want in a treasurer?"
"Yes, it's essential."
Peggy said, "It's a question of how it's done, isn't it? Maybe the rector thinks Burton doesn't have the delicate touch a woman has."
"That's unfair," said Elliott.
"The rector didn't say it," the chairman pointed out, "and I don't think he's finished yet."
Joy nodded. "I wouldn't suggest we give the job to Rachel because she's a woman. After all, our last treasurer was a man and he was a model of tact. You only had to watch Stanley being gently diplomatic when some old dear got her sums wrong."
"But we don't want a doormat for treasurer," Elliott couldn't resist pointing out.
"Rachel is no doormat, Geoff," said Joy.
"I wasn't speaking personally."
"Right." He played his trump card. "There's just one thing I would add. Whoever takes on the post automatically becomes a member of this council. I (may be speaking out of turn, but I think we'll find meetings going on rather longer if Burton is here than they do at present. He likes the sound of his voice and he's strong on points of order."
"Oh, Christ," said Gregor and spoke for so many others that the blasphemy passed without comment.
There were looks all round the table. No question: the rector had won the day. There wasn't even a vote. Elliott withdrew his nomination and Rachel was
MONDAY'S SCRABBLE evening with George Mitchell had to be put off. The Parochial Church Council met at the rectory to appoint the new treasurer. It was the first full attendance in a long time. After the usual opening prayer, Otis Joy said, "A problem, ladies and gentlemen. Two names have been put forward, one from Geoff Elliott, the other from me. If I vacate the chair, as I wish to in this case, Geoff, your vice-chairman, should take over, but..." He smiled.
Norman Gregor, the churchwarden who farmed the fields below the village, took over the chair. He invited Elliott to speak first, and a fine case he made for Burton Sands. "This young man is extremely keen to take up the post and there's no question as to his competence, accountancy being his profession. He's a regular attender at services. True, he hasn't been confirmed yet, but he's been attending the rector's confirmation group, and I don't see that anyone could object if we invited him to become our treasurer. A more able and committed candidate would be hard to find."
Gregor said with a twinkle in his eye, "But the rector believes he has found one. Over to you, Rector."
The meeting was treated to a tour de force in the art of persuasion. Like a beaten man Joy sighed and spread his hands. "These decisions are tough, aren't they? You've heard the case for Burton. Who could top it? Rachel Jansen isn't an accountant. She's less keen than Burton to take the job. Less confident. I had to sell the idea to her. So what are her qualifications? Like Burton, she's in church every Sunday. She's active in charity work and well known in the village for house-to-house collections and the support she gives to all our social events. A calm, intelligent woman unlikely to ruffle feathers."
"Why isn't she on the PCC already?" someone interrupted.
"Fair point. Rachel is one of those people who don't push themselves forward. She's not pushy. I've discovered in my short career in the church that it's worth making the effort to persuade such people to get involved. The reason we're having this discussion is that none of you wants to be treasurer. We're forced to look outside the PCC. Now that Rachel and I have talked, she'd like to be considered for the post."
"You fancy yourself as a talent-spotter, Rector," commented Peggy Winner, the third churchwarden.
"I just believe she could do the job."
The chairman said with a smile, "Let's have the sub-text, Rector. What's your objection to Mr. Sands?"
"No objection at all. I know Burton well from the confirmation group. You have to admire his persistence. He's a stickler for detail."
"Isn't that what you want in a treasurer?"
"Yes, it's essential."
Peggy said, "It's a question of how it's done, isn't it? Maybe the rector thinks Burton doesn't have the delicate touch a woman has."
"That's unfair," said Elliott.
"The rector didn't say it," the chairman pointed out, "and I don't think he's finished yet."
Joy nodded. "I wouldn't suggest we give the job to Rachel because she's a woman. After all, our last treasurer was a man and he was a model of tact. You only had to watch Stanley being gently diplomatic when some old dear got her sums wrong."
"But we don't want a doormat for treasurer," Elliott couldn't resist pointing out.
"Rachel is no doormat, Geoff," said Joy.
"I wasn't speaking personally."
"Right." He played his trump card. "There's just one thing I would add. Whoever takes on the post automatically becomes a member of this council. I (may be speaking out of turn, but I think we'll find meetings going on rather longer if Burton is here than they do at present. He likes the sound of his voice and he's strong on points of order."
"Oh, Christ," said Gregor and spoke for so many others that the blasphemy passed without comment.
There were looks all round the table. No question: the rector had won the day. There wasn't even a vote. Elliott withdrew his nomination and Rachel was
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