Published: Thursday, 16th October, 2008 7:30am

"Nonsense" for force youth worker to quit

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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