TY - JOUR

T1 - The sacrificial embrace

T2 - exploring contemporary English parish clergy lives

AU - Peyton, Nigel

AU - Gatrell, Caroline

PY - 2015/5

Y1 - 2015/5

N2 - Describing clergy experiences ‘in their own words’, this paper reflects on the findings of a qualitative study (by the authors) on the lives of contemporary Church of England parish clergy.1 From the data, themes of obedience, sacrifice and intimacy emerge to provide an explanatory framework for clergy lives. In applying theological, social science and occupational management perspectives, the research counters the literature about clergy failures. While acknowledging a range of clergy views about the nature of faith and commitment, it nevertheless reveals an enduring and authentic vocational steadfastness among priests across the years.

AB - Describing clergy experiences ‘in their own words’, this paper reflects on the findings of a qualitative study (by the authors) on the lives of contemporary Church of England parish clergy.1 From the data, themes of obedience, sacrifice and intimacy emerge to provide an explanatory framework for clergy lives. In applying theological, social science and occupational management perspectives, the research counters the literature about clergy failures. While acknowledging a range of clergy views about the nature of faith and commitment, it nevertheless reveals an enduring and authentic vocational steadfastness among priests across the years.

KW - obedience

KW - Michael Foucault

KW - panopticon

KW - sacrifice

KW - Nikolas Rose

KW - governing the soul

KW - Peter Berger

KW - Chris Schilling

KW - corporate realism

KW - intimacy

KW - work/home balance

KW - Arlie Hochschild

KW - emotional labour

KW - authenticity

KW - congruency

U2 - 10.1177/0014524614540563

DO - 10.1177/0014524614540563

M3 - Journal article

VL - 126

SP - 378

EP - 388

JO - Expository Times

JF - Expository Times

SN - 1745-5308

IS - 8

ER -