Priest Idol

I’m sure that much wordage in the blogosphere shall be used to describe, discuss and dissect this piece of Channel 4 progamming.

The blurb reads: “A church in Yorkshire is in crisis. If the new vicar is to fill the pews, he’ll need all the help he can get.” He's a young American priest moving to Barnsley, say not much more... The show started its three-week series last night.

But I can’t resist putting up my two words here… patronising crap. For everyone involved, but especially directed by the programme makers (and editors) at the people of Lundwood, where it was filmed.

Really Channel 4 – I’ve come to expect better of you.

(sigh)

11 comments:

android said...

How can you make that judgement before seeing the programme? I heard an interview on Radio 4 with the priest involved, and he spoke very intelligently.

Half the time it's our unquestioning knee-jerk reaction to anything populist or to do with reality TV that we are dealing with, rather than an accurate appraisal of a specific programme. How do you know there will be nothing to learn from this programme in terms of where the church is found lacking, and where its ministry can be improved?

LauraHD said...

Thanks for the comments, newfred. I agree that the “Jerry Springer, the Opera” phenomenon is the sort of uninformed reaction thing that we should guard against. I really do have a lot of time for Channel 4’s “reality” programming – Wife Swap, Faking It, Brat Camp - and the things that it mirrors back to us about our generation’s culture and society.

The stuff that I wrote this morning was based on the entirety of last night's episode. If you didn’t see it, my main problems were that it was presenting a “numbers game” approach as to whether this priest would be “successful”. It was also slyly laughing at the fact that he couldn’t understand the Barnsley accent all that well and was an American coming into that kind of economically deprived area… Oh and that the Anglican church might consider using a modern marketing campaign (shock horror!)… The producer was also obviously pitting him against the more traditional high-church priest that had previously been the incumbent.

I’m not knocking the new priest, the community or the making of a programme about the process – more the style in which the programme was written, formatted and edited (eg the inane voice-over, the views it was putting across about the church making this parish “viable” again). I have honestly come to expect more of Channel 4…

I’ll be watching the other two episodes mind, just to see how it all pans out… Maybe I’ll post again after these as well.

Intranet Team said...

I put my thoughts up on my blog this morning.

I did find it irritating, but possibly not for the same reasons as you. I didn't find it particularly patronising. The 'numbers game' approach seemed to come from the archdeacon more than the programme makers. My frustration was entirely at the CofE - I thought it highlighted very well not just the challenges faced by the church, but its incompetence at understanding those problems, how it's been complicit in the creation of those problems and its lack of imagination in tackling them now.

LauraHD said...

Here, here Dan. And as ever, out much more eloquently than me!

android said...

Thanks, your explanation makes more sense, and I would largely agree! I did see it, but meant that I think we should wait until the end of the series to judge. I've no doubt that there is massive cynicism in most production studios. I'm just interested in watching what actually happens to the people in the programme, rather than any Channel 4 slant that may come through. Hopefully I can learn something from what happens! Peace out,

Anonymous said...

I watched the second episode of 'Priest Idol' tonight as I am Christian and was interested in what the programme might contain.

To be honest i was very disappointed in the programme as it conveys a very backward and silly view of Christianity. The show is aimed at trying to get bums on seats in a dying Church. Bums on seats is not the mark of a good church. The mark of a good church is its sending capacity not its seating capacity.

Christianity is a radical faith and its disciples are here to learn and be challenged by God. So in relation is a cult TV show honouring to God? Does the show really provoke its followers to learn about God or does it just provide interesting viewing?

As Christians we should strive to know Christ and make Him Known. Does 'Priest Idol' make Him known or does it mock Him?

As mentioned previous i also agree that the word idol is not appropriate. Deuteronomy 4 v 16a says "Don't make idols of ANYTHING..." I'm sorry but like everything else a priest should not be made an idol of. We are nothing without God. So let us instead of making silly shows focus on forming a stronger relationship with Him, make Him our true Idol and tell the world about Him in way that his honouring to God!

Matt Wilson said...

Hey hey
maybe we should all atleast try and look on the bright side rather than want to find every bad thing.

One
how good that a programe channel four has made has probably put a sum of money into helping a christian church be better at what it does.

Two
How good of a traditional institution like the CofE to admit it's a bit out of it's depths when it comes to the real world and so ask for help from som people who will help give them the perspective of the community and some answers for it.

Three
how good of the anglican church to be prepared to change

Four
how good of a vicar to be prepared to change, learn more and such

Five
how good that a small and dying church instead god radical and missional and intentionall is going to try and reach out to people with the message of God.


And let's get over the number's game

GOD cares about people
therefore God cares about numbers of people

when a church is 10
and a community 6000
surely number's do matter
because thats 5990 people that aren't being offered the opurtunity to be in fellowship and recieve what christianity has to offer

and a church must have bum's on seat before it can send them off them


as bad as the CH4 spin is they are paying to help a guy make God known
that has to be good in some way
Matt

LauraHD said...

Hey there,
Yep, I agree in the broadest terms with both of you, but I still think the programme's a pile of shite, frankly! It's something about the "tone of voice" of the whole thing... Look forwards to next week's show, if only to stop watching it and having to post here about how annoyed it's making me... :-S

LauraHD said...

Oh and forgot to say that there's a thoughtful article here from The Observer:

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/review/story/0,6903,1635227,00.html

Anonymous said...

Matt,

I see where you are coming from with the numbers situation but that's not what i was saying. What i was trying to say is that Priest Idol is simply getting people into the Church by holding karaoke nights etc. Church is not for a Sunday, we should as Christians be in his presence 24/7.
Nowadays people think that going to Church gets you into heaven. What matters is the condition of your heart. Are we in it for ourselves or for God?
The thing i do have a real hang up with is the fact that we are honoring the C of E for stepping out in to the World. We should not be praising them for this. If they were real Christians and sticking to God's word they would be challenging non-believers the whole time and not just fitting in to a Ch4 show. They would be practicing God's word in away that keeps up with secular society i.e modern worship songs, but still have the focus of conveying God's word in a way that is honoring. The best example of this modern evangelism is the Alpha Course of which i am an avid supporter having seen close family members coming to faith through this.

Anonymous said...

Someone else seems to be watching and posting on this program. He waffles a lot, but might be worth a read - check out http://www.home-group.org.uk