Published: Thursday, 16th October, 2008 7:30am
‘Nonsense’ for force youth worker to quit
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A YOUTH worker appointed by local churches had to quit her office at the Bridge Centre after only 10 days – allegedly because she refused to make a vow of religious silence.
It is understood that Linda Greig lost her office space because the centre’s management committee decided her work was not compatible with the facility’s aims and ethos.
Although Miss Greig agreed that she shouldn’t use the centre to promote Christianity, she refused to promise that she would never to talk about faith issues to anyone there, if asked.
The recently-qualified youth worker, who was formerly a craft and design teacher at Dunbar Grammar School, was appointed by all Haddington’s main churches – Church of Scotland, Roman Catholic and Episcopalian, and the Garvald and Morham Church of Scotland congregation – to set up youth cafes, work in schools and do outreach work.
Her 12-month contract officially started on September 1, and she moved into her office at the Bridge Centre five days later.
But in only her second week, she was told she had to vacate the premises.
The crisis was discussed at a meeting of church leaders on the Haddington, Garvald and Morham Youth Worker Committee.
Speaking after the meeting on behalf of the committee, West Church minister, Rev Cammy MacKenzie, confirmed: “The situation regarding our youth worker at the Bridge Centre was discussed by the committee.
“We we were informed there is a line in the Bridge Centre constitution, which says that the building cannot be used for religious purposes by groups or individuals.
“Linda was only there for 10 days. She had hardly put her feet under the table, so I was surprised when I heard about this.
“It’s a piece of nonsense, but that’s life.
“Although we have given Linda an initial 12-month contract, we’ve got funding available for two years.We see this as a very important post, and are confident it will have a very positive impact on local youngsters.”
The youth worker committee subsequently came up with two alternative office locations for Miss Greig – at the West Church vestry and at the Trinity Centre.
“We decided on the Trinity Centre, because there is a fully functional office there already,” Mr MacKenzie said.
“Miss Greig is now settled in happily in her new office at the Trinity Centre and as far as I am concerned, the matter is now closed.”
Neither Bridge Centre manager, Doug Haig, nor Miss Greig could be reached for comment.
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Oct 19 08 23:04
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So, “Linda Greig lost her office space (at the Bridge Centre) because the centre’s management committee decided her work was not compatible with the facility’s aims and ethos” (Courier 17th October)
It continues: “Although Miss Greig agreed that she shouldn’t use the centre to promote Christianity, she refused to promise that she would never to talk about faith issues to anyone there, if asked”.
I thought I would take a look at some other users of the Bridge Centre and see if they felt bound by this draconian stricture, or indeed had been challenged about their world view.
I first looked at Dr Ulrich Loening. He runs a course at the Bridge called “Biology as though life matters” Dr Loening is a former director of the controversial Centre for Human Ecology. The CHE is a radical liberal centre, much heralded by the left, which describes itself as
“a network for ecological and social transformation”
“Spiritual activism is a core rubric of my work” (Alastair McIntosh, a current CHE lecturer and husband of a current director)
One of its core aims is:
“to spread our influence by inspiring and supporting people through courses and training”
Dr Loening himself makes no apologies for being biased.
Then I looked at
Christine Meacock’s entry for the group called “Current Affairs”. Subjects under discussion include “the wearing of the veil by Muslim women, (and) the Roman Catholic Church’s decision with regard to same sex couples and adoption” These are faith issues I believe. Is Ms Meacock aware of the policy or is her own agenda acceptable to the committee? Can they mention Catholicism without reference to Christianity? I wish her well if she can skirt the issue with that degree of censorial alacrity.
Then I looked at “Exploring Philosophy” with Liz Read. She engagingly offers “Discussion without proselytisation” – exactly what Ms Greig seemed to be suggesting if the report is correct.
The Centre is used by many groups. What goes on in them must either be closely monitored without bias or not at all.
I challenge the management committee of the Bridge to publicly give the reasons for their decision to exclude Ms Greig and to explain why this is not discrimination against Christianity, when those with other world views and activist agendas are allowed to do so. What is the motive behind this decision which has been made in secret and obfuscated in public?
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