Writing My Own Pastoral Letter Of Recommendation

[Lilllabettt]

Aah. So, you saw it as standard practice in the ONE research institution--a far cry from your earlier blanket proclamation of its prevalence "in the professional and academic world".

Really, Lilllabettt, you will be a better person if you tempered your vanity, and avoid reckless statements like,

1) "Many of these people do not regularly write ANY of their own correspondence".

2) "They give dictation, then someone types up their ideas with nicer words and sends it off."

3) "This is how the American president handles his correspondence."

I fear you are completely unaware of how such ludicrous pronouncements reflect poorly on your character.

 

 

No. It's been a standard practice every place I've ever learned or worked. I have been an adult for 10 years and have run around in a few of the more prestigious organizations this country has to offer in the business, nonprofit and public sectors. 

 

Not to say that everyone did it this way for everyone. If a higher up knew someone particularly well or was particularly close to them, they might take the time to write one themselves. Otherwise, no. They have the recomendee write it or they have their secretary write it, and they sign it. Sorry.

 

Also, if you don't think the American president handles his correspondence that way, look into applying for a White House Internship in the office of presidential correspondence. it's a great program. 

Alternatively, you could apply for a job as an executive assistant (formerly, executive secretary). Writing emails and letters and handling the billing for their business accounts "in their name" will be most of your job.

[ClemensBruno]

No. It's been a standard practice every place I've ever learned or worked. I have been an adult for 10 years and have run around in a few of the more prestigious organizations this country has to offer in the business, nonprofit and public sectors.

Aaah. I must repeat: I fear you are completely unaware of how your confident certainty reflects poorly on your character.

I will not argue with you any further. It's pointless. Your pride prevents you from learning anything new or different from what you think you know.

[Lilllabettt]

Aaah. I must repeat: I fear you are completely unaware of how your confident certainty reflects poorly on your character.

I will not argue with you any further. It's pointless. Your pride prevents you from learning anything new or different from what you think you know.

 

ehhh I think there is some definite fly-off-the-handle-ness thats happening in this thread, and it did not originate with myself. but why don't we let people read for themselves, okay? peace.

[SilentJoy]

Aaah. I must repeat: I fear you are completely unaware of how your confident certainty reflects poorly on your character.

I will not argue with you any further. It's pointless. Your pride prevents you from learning anything new or different from what you think you know.

[ClemensBruno]

Wow.... How sad... Very sad....

Truly I am but new stranger here. One would expect greater Christian charity shown in this virtual group that has apparently been tight-knit for years.

However, it's difficult to feel welcome here. I've witnessed too much intolerance being defended during my brief few weeks here. I initially expected Phatmass to be a retreat into Christian Charity, but the tone of self-righteousness is unexpectedly more pervasive than one expects it to be. It's certainly very disturbing, and I sense myself recoiling away from continuing to be a part of this.

I do not belong in here. . . . I guess I will be leaving far sooner than I expected.

To those discerning, be assured that you remain daily in my prayers.

Your brother in Christ,
ClemensBruno


<< Benedictus sit Deus in omnibus operibus ejus et nunc et in saecula! >>

[maximillion]

My twopennyworth.

 

In the pastoral arena and the professional one I have frequently come across the practice of asking the person requesting a reference to provide either an outline statement or the full reference. So I agree with those who have this experience. It is common, in the academic, professional and other worlds. It may not be universal, that's true.

I have also spoken with many professionals and others who have a similar experience, so it is certainly true for the USA and UK, and I suspect, elsewhere too....

 

In the last job I held, the head of HR was required to write all references. He hardly knew me.......so it was common for him to ask the person who needed the reference to write a full outline, then he approved it and his secretary padded it out and off it went.

 

TBH it is so common now that I am surprised at the surprise........

[SilentJoy]

To those discerning, be assured that you remain daily in my prayers.
 

Thank you! :heart:

[Nunsuch]

Maximillion, I agree that it is important to give the recommender some information. For example, when I write recommendations for students applying to grad/law school, or applying for jobs, I ask them for their most current c.v. (resume), as well as any personal statement they may be submitting. But that is very different from asking them to draft a letter.

[Lilllabettt]

Maximillion, I agree that it is important to give the recommender some information. For example, when I write recommendations for students applying to grad/law school, or applying for jobs, I ask them for their most current c.v. (resume), as well as any personal statement they may be submitting. But that is very different from asking them to draft a letter.

 

 

Can you explain the ethical dilemma? I  simply don't see one.

If a recommender reads a pre-written letter and signs their name, signaling that what is in the letter represents their opinion, what difference does it make if they did nor did not craft said letter themselves? 

[Maggyie]

Um. OP, google the words "writing my own LOR" and you will find you have lots of company and lots of advice for how to do this well. LOR stands for letter of rec of course but online that's how people abbreviate. Here's some links:

http://www.petersons.com/college-search/letter-recommendation-writing-yourself.aspx

http://www.vault.com/blog/job-search/how-to-write-your-own-recommendation-letter/

While these pertain to the academic and professional worlds where this practice is VERY common, it's becoming commonplace in the church's world too. Simply because no one has time for anything it seems. But in the case of priests it's understandable I guess. Anyway these tips would sort of be helpful in your situation too I hope.

[MithLuin]

The purpose of the letter of recommendation from a pastor is to verify that the person in question is a member of a parish and attends mass, and is perhaps involved in some way with the parish community.  In other words, the goal is to verify that the person being recommended is a practicing Catholic.  

 

It often is not a character reference or anything more than that verification.  

 

To give an example of why this would be needed....

 

My father is a deacon and sometimes has to travel for work.  In one instance, he was in Paris on business.  Knowing that this trip was coming up, he contacted Notre Dame cathedral and asked them if they had any need for an English-speaking deacon during the time that he was there.  They wrote back to him, very pleased, and said that he could read the gospel at the International mass they would have on that date.  (Deacons are a bit more of a novelty in Europe than here in the states, apparently).  All they requested was a letter from his bishop stating that he was a 'legit' deacon.  

 

And so, he arrived at Notre Dame cathedral, letter in hand, and was fitted into a cassock and sent to the altar.  No one ever read the letter, but it was important that he was able to get one.  

 

The monastery simply wants someone from her home parish to vouch for her.  Typically this is the parish priest.  Yes, ideally, he'd ask his secretary to write a generic letter and just sign it if he's too busy to write it himself, but...there you have it.  

[Nunsuch]

I can only speak for myself, in terms of "ethical dilemmas."  I became an academic because I valued the integrity of the ownership of my mind (as opposed, say, to being an attorney, where my mind would be to serve the interests of a client).  So, I would be very reluctant to sign my name to a letter written by someone else.  I believe all of my colleagues think the same way. I don't know if this is an "ethical" dliemma, but I know I feel more comfortable writing my own recommendations.  

[marigold]

Yes but if you agree with everything in the letter - which in this case is simply, 'she is who she says she is, she's Catholic, and she's not an axe murderer', and not a detailed character reference, it shouldn't be cause for hesitation. I think that's all we're trying to clarify here.

 

For what it's worth, my priest is a busy man also, and one time I needed a simple 'vouch for me' letter of reference - I wrote it myself and he signed it. Some time later I needed a more personal character reference, and at that point he sat down and wrote it himself. And I signed it. Joke!

[maximillion]

I agree there is a difference between a simple letter of recommendation and a full on academic or professional reference, after all I can walk into my bank and request a letter of recommendation or proof of my bone fides without them knowing if I am an axe murderer......

 

That said, it is still becoming quite common practice for a full letter of reference to be written, at least in outline, by the person who is the letters subject.

We may not like it folks but it appears to be the way of the world.

 

 

 

And I bet those nuns never knew what a discussion we would end up having when they asked you for that letter of recommendation Silentjoy. :hehe:

[TheresaThoma]

Honestly writing at least part of the letter of recommendation is becoming very common in the academic field. I think part of this is because the applicant often knows more about the position and what specific things are important to mention.