Exceptions
A long time ago, and in a land far away, I remember The Rev Rosemary Nixon saying something significant to me which I still think true today. (Just once, mind).
She said, in the course of a conversation about my progress through the Scottish Episcopal Church’s exemplary education system, “The trouble is, Kelvin, everyone in Scotland thinks they are an exception”.
Now, by Scotland, I think she meant the SEC. And it is true. It doesn’t matter whether it is financial regulation, charity law, health and safety at work, food safety, child protection or what colour shoes you are expected to wear in the sanctuary. Whatever the norm, law or expectation someone is trying to enforce, the first thing that comes to the Episcopalian mind is, “Oh, I’m sure that does not apply to me”.
It is to do with our history. I blame Bonnie Prince Charlie.
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Posted: June 21st, 2007 under Blog.
Tags: Scottish Episcopal Church
Comments
Comment from David Campbell
Time 21 June 2007 at 4:16 pm
A rare moment of Nixon-wisdom indeed. I think this thing about exceptions has also made the SEC the great, wee, comfortable and diverse yet bizarrely quite united church it is today Kelvin!
Comment from Elizabeth
Time 21 June 2007 at 8:19 pm
Wait? You mean . . . we’re not?
Comment from Kenneth Macaulay
Time 22 June 2007 at 3:08 pm
Bonnie Prince Charlie gets a lot of stick. I hear he was a good guy who would fit in well in the West End today!
Comment from kelvin
Time 22 June 2007 at 4:04 pm
BPC’s mistress was a member of the congregation that became St Mary’s Cathedral.
Comment from Kenneth Macaulay
Time 22 June 2007 at 5:16 pm
So there! He wasn’t a bad guy after all! His choice of Mistresses was obviously to be commended!
Comment from MadPriest
Time 21 June 2007 at 10:59 am
My brother in Christ; believe me, this is not a Scottish thing. I doubt if it is even an Anglican thing. It may be a “chosen people” thing.