A choirister with learning difficulties, but who has a nice singing voice, has been asked to leave our local church choir. She has been a member for 20 years. The new choir master and his wife have now asked her to leave because she is not good enough to sing some of the more complicated pieces they have introduced. The choir only has 8 members. The choir master and his wife may leave if their wishes are not granted. The other choiristors are siding with the new choir master and the vicar. Surely this is not a Christian thing to do. Is this discrimination?
2006-10-08 08:20:53 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Youd think with diminishing congregations and little interest in Henry VIII's breakaway faction in the 21st century that they would count their blessings. These people are clearly only interested in themselves and their own reputations. If God is a God worthy of the title (which I believe he is) then compassion, understanding and rewarding commitment and perseverance are things he would cherish above arrogance, pride and saving reputations. As a former Altar boy and choir member for the local Catholic Church and my school, I am appalled by your revelations.
2006-10-08 08:52:14 · answer #1 · answered by Josef H 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
this is a sad situation but I suspect the lady may have been a thorn in the side of the other choristers for many years. I am a chorister myself and have sometimes encountered choristers who really should have been asked to leave the choir; two who used to talk all the way through the entire service, sometimes making comments about members of the congregation, another who always sang a quarter tone sharper than anyone else, another who "hooted" high notes and also sang off-key but the choirmaster was too kind-hearted to get rid of her, although we did hope the bellringers might take her off our hands! Your choir is very small and must be a very good one for the choirmaster to be asking you to learn complicated pieces. I think the choirmaster is entitled to decide if he doesn't think someone is good enough for his choir, but it should be done as nicely as possible. He and the vicar should let the lady know that her years of service have been greatly appreciated but that the choir is now changing direction and as it appears the music will be beyond her ability, unfortunately she will no longer be able to be a member of the choir. Being a church choir is a public service and of course, the choir is in God's service. It has a duty to excel.
I wonder if it might be possible to start an additional, rather different choir in your church, which might welcome this lady? At my last church (before I moved away, sadly) there was the usual choir, plus a gospel choir. I am certain that if this lady had lived in our town, the gospel choir would have made her very welcome. Are all your services the same, or do you have different kinds? Myself, I prefer fairly "high church" services, but some churches hold different kinds of services on different Sundays - e.g. the usual C of E service most Sundays but All Age Worship once a month. It seems to me there could still be a place for your friend to help lead worship in your church.
2006-10-08 08:49:41 · answer #2 · answered by Specsy 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
the function of a church choir is to sing well and lead the congregation. Any useless singer brings down the work of all the others and ruins the choir. So, yes, sadly, she has to go.
As usual, it creates difficulties with people in the congregation who don't understand the purpose of a choir but then, the congregation aren't the choir because they don't have the ability. neither dioes your friend.
I'm sure she would realise that if her technique isn't up to it, she can't continue without upsetting everybody else.
2006-10-08 10:03:34 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is a disgusting thing to do and all involved should be thoroughly ashamed of their actions, surely some way of overcoming her learning problems could be found if an effort were to be made. Unfortunately a choir has no legal status and who belongs is a matter for the vicar. It may well be worth writing a letter the Parish Council with as many signatures as you can get and if that fails an application to your local Bishop.
2006-10-08 08:56:55 · answer #4 · answered by U.K.Export 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
1
2017-02-15 22:58:48 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its like the break up of the spice girls all over again eh?
2006-10-08 08:31:07 · answer #6 · answered by mainwoolly 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋