Blame the Vicar: A Lighthearted Look at Who Gets the Blame
It’s another quiet Sunday morning. The congregation is gathered, the hymns are sung, and the sermon is delivered with heartfelt conviction. All seems well—until something goes wrong.
The tea is cold, the sound system fails, or the flowers don’t match the season. And who gets the blame? The vicar, of course!
“Blame the vicar” has become a running joke in many churches. The poor vicar seems to be the universal scapegoat for anything and everything that goes awry. The heating in the church is too high? Blame the vicar.
The pews are uncomfortable? Blame the vicar. The biscuits after the service aren’t chocolate? You guessed it—blame the vicar!
But let’s pause for a moment and think about this. Why is it that we’re so quick to point fingers at the vicar?
Perhaps it’s because they’re the visible face of the church, the one who stands at the front every week. Or maybe it’s because, deep down, we know they’ll forgive us. After all, they preach about grace and mercy every Sunday, right?
The truth is, vicars are human too. They’re juggling sermons, pastoral care, meetings, and the occasional unexpected crisis (like the time the church roof started leaking in the middle of a wedding). They carry the weight of their congregation’s joys and sorrows, all while trying to keep their own lives in balance. And yet, they often take the blame with a smile and a gentle word.
But here’s where the story takes a turn. What if, instead of blaming the vicar, we celebrated them? What if we said, “Thank you for showing up, week after week, with love and dedication”? What if we offered to help instead of criticise?
The Bible reminds us in Hebrews 13:17 to “have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account.” Our vicars aren’t perfect, but they’re doing their best to serve God and their congregation.
So next time the tea is cold or the hymns are too long, take a moment to laugh instead of blame. Maybe even offer to lend a hand. And if all else fails, remember this: at least the vicar didn’t pick the biscuits!
Let’s give our vicars some grace—they’ve earned it. And maybe, just maybe, we can stop blaming the vicar for everything… well, almost everything!