I just read one of the most important articles to appear in The American Organist in many years. It is in the June 2010 issue, is entitled "A Cautionary Tale," and is found beginning on page 60. I can highly recommend this well-written and very revealing article! I never remember a story quite like this ever appearing in the magazine.
The article lifts the veil on the hiring process in one church. Never before have I read of such goings-on. The value of this article is hard to over-estimate as it brings to light something which is usually out of public view.
I do have my criticisms of the article. For instance, as far as I understand it, the First Amendment prevents governments from prohibiting nearly all kinds of discrimination in hiring by religious institutions. Otherwise, this article is right on the subject of what I have been saying, and is, indeed, the whole point of this blog.
Another point which can be made, but is not a criticism of the article, is that unethical hiring decisions are made all the time. If there are any business persons on church hiring committees they are probably only behaving as they would on the job. The behavior of the minister in this case, is another matter, however.
It must be said that while churches often fail in their hiring practices (and this is very common), musicians also, through lack of education and sometimes willfulness, also contribute to poor conditions in church music programs.
Having said that, this article shines a ray of light on what has been a shrouded church hiring system in this country. This is a step ahead. Hurray for author Jane Hettrick!
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6 comments:
Certainly organists have contributed to the decline of our art. I could go on about that for pages, but this article is addressing the unethical behavior of church hiring committees resulting in an organist of lesser quality. Unfortunately, this behavior is not limited to churches, but also permeates our education system and in particular our higher education systems. Without exposure, it won't stop.
I only wish we knew the name of the church. In that case, we could at least demand (request) an explanation through letter writing and the internet.
Thank you for your comment. I would be interested to hear more about your well-considered views.
Search committees need much more accountability. We never see what happens behind the closed doors of a search committee meeting and perhaps some of it should be confidential. However, in many cases that confidentiality gives the committee a means to reach an inappropriate and unethical conclusion. Many committees use illegal reasons, but are never convicted because 1) nobody knows except the committee and 2) nobody wants to pay for a legal battle.
This article points out one interesting fact about which I had never thought. When we apply for jobs, we have faith that the search process will be fair, that the committee will adhere to their published criteria, and that they will be appropriately communicative. I feel very strongly that it's time to re-think things and come up with better procedures to guarantee fairer resolutions.
In this case the person hired was light years ahead in ability, both chorally and instrumentally. No doubt about it and the hiring committee was not fooled in the least. What you have been reading are sour grapes (disappointed narcissism) on the part of the folks not hired. It happens at the highest level, even in our country's topnotch academic institutions. A whiz kid can come in whose ability is so high that it sets a new standard of expectation and performance. That's what happened in this case.
Are you saying you have personal knowledge of this case?
The title of the article should have been "A Fairy Tale". Some of the stated "facts" were little more than bitter conjectures, and some are just outright laughable.
Many talented people applied for the job. The most talented applicant was hired.
Unfortunately, Ms. Hettrick's accusations will make me suspicious of anyone claiming "sexism" or "ageism" in the future.
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