You know what really grinds my gears? The Gears Strike Back

I always taught drill.

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GMG. The price of SWA cabling. Specifically, 16mm2 stuff. Oooompf.

40 posts were split to a new topic: The Death of the ATC

Also why are these always big church services? I never did an ATC Sunday parade as the idea of spending all day in a church or cathedral really did not appeal to me at all. Even as a CWO who loved a good parade!

Why are we not doing big multi-activity camps or something instead to celebrate?!

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Because an hour in a church with a March to/from is easier to arrange? Also lost if these ATC Sunday events have been running for 80 odd years when attending church for this sort of thing was the standard.

I’m not religious but I always loved the LaSER parade and then service at St Clement Danes

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There’s nothing that says commemoration events need to be parades with a church service. We can do whatever we want. Many units probably do.

I challenged this in my neck of the woods on Public Sector Equality Duty grounds.

That was not an enjoyable process.

The service is now very clearly optional and staff are to make that very clear to all staff and cadets, but if you’re not going in you have to wait outside. So we can’t grab a coffee or leave.

Understood, but the responsibility is to think of those who would not like that. For example, another, secular and prestigious venue might surely be available.

We’re not offering a religious service. We’re taking a central celebration for everyone in the organisation and then making it at least partially a religious event (with a particular leaning).

If someone wants to organise an Easter or Eid celebration and invite everyone, then that’s totally fine, provided CFAV and cadets face absolutely no pressure to help make it a success.

But we shouldn’t be taking a neutral, secular event that leadership clearly wants to be very successful and public and then adding religious observance.

Are churches free? Or do they charge?

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They certainly come with mandatory worship and a collection plate, sometimes split with another charity (but you can’t give to one cause and not the other).

It’s not possible to host in a church and not accept religious worship.

Why is that relevant?

Because it explains why they’re used so frequently, no hire costs, plentiful seating particularly for BIG parades.
Religious aspect aside, they are practical spaces for hosting large amounts of people.

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Well, collection plates are clearly not mandatory, (I also see them as a waste of time these days, i never have cash!)

The religion is, admittedly hard to avoid, but I would imagine that’s more our organisation than the church doing that. I was called to the Bar in Clement Danes, and graduated in Truro Cathedral, and while I don’t remember anything religious at Call, I couldn’t be sure, of that fact. But I certainly don’t remember any prayer at Graduation. So I think it is possible to NOT have the service be religious, and I would hope that a reasonable vicar would understand that.

Where else could host a whole wing inside on a February Sunday that wouldn’t charge? (Not being facetious, it’s a question.)

I don’t get why we get the all excited about a church parade, it so archaic and somewhat discriminatory because it’s forced upon on people of other religions, or those like me who is quite against the concept of religion. The only option is excluding individuals from the parade because we always pick Christianity.

The best parade i did had the ceremonial stuff with no bible bashing followed by a BBQ

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Similarly, I went to a graduation at York Minster and don’t remember any overtly religious element. I also attended the investiture of a mayor in Bradford Cathedral and the religious element was multi-faith, in spite of the setting.

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I suppose if you want a big public event then it makes sense. But you could do all sorts of things that don’t cost money.

An activity that reflects some of the great things we do would be more appropriate that sitting in a church being bored.

Now you mention it, I’ve also graduated within a church and recall it being without religion.

That could mean that while inclusion of religious worship was conveyed as unavoidable, that’s not true.

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It’s definitely doable, I imagine the real reason these services are always religious, is because that’s the way it’s always been done, so that’s the way we always will do it.

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You’re kinder than me; I was imagining it was because the Church took a leaf out of the tobacco/vaping industry’s playbook and was trying to get ‘em hooked whilst they’re young.

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Another GMG.

People who don’t understand how climate systems work.

Using air con etc as an “on at 30 degrees or off” system while leaving windows and doors open all the time.

Shut the doors, leave it on auto and only make slight tweaks to the temperature if you have to.

People get really offended when I get frustrated about it.

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