C of E Shortfalls

Adelphoi,

So that you can see what is happening in the C of E here is a bulletin I got today, Dec 31, from the Diocese. Reductions such as this are being called for in most dioceses. Paid clergy are getting fewer. My own parish was classified a full time job until I came a year ago, when, to save money, it was made 0.5 in terms of stipend and time by the diocese. All clergy are paid the same from central funds and parishes send in money, according to their size and ability to pay, to the centre. The basic, full clergy stipend is about $25,000.00 plus a house and expenses of ministry.

£2-MILLION BUDGET SHORTFALL SPARKS REVIEW OF MINISTRY

A budget shortfall of £2-million, which could rise to £4-million over the next five years, has sparked a strategic review of ministry within the Lichfield Diocese. The review could lead to a reduction in the number of clergy deployed throughout the diocese and a change in the way clergy are used, but reports that the diocese intends to "scrap vicars" are misleading. Parochial clergy and local churches are at the heart of the Church of England's mission and purpose.

Each year, every parish is asked to pay an amount set by the diocese as their share of the diocesan budget. In recent years, some parishes have found it increasingly difficult to pay their share, and the diocese has been forced to eat into its reserves to meet its costs. Reserves are limited and the diocese can not afford to keep using its reserves to fund revenue costs.

Historically, parishes had to pay a much lower share of the diocesan budget than today, as the amount available from external sources, such as the Church Commissioners, has reduced, and costs, such as pensions for retired clergy, have increased.

Diocesan Secretary, David Taylor, said today: "Parishes are finding it more and more difficult to pay their share of the budget agreed by Diocesan Synod. Therefore, the Synod has decided to reduce what it will ask from parishes by £835,000 over the next seven years. Whilst we are looking to cut non-parochial costs and increase income, savings of this magnitude can only be made by reducing our biggest cost - stipendiary posts.

"The only alternative is for churchgoers to be far more realistic in their levels of giving in order to maintain, or even increase, clergy numbers across the diocese."

Small reductions in clergy numbers have already taken place where parishes have been merged, or where several parishes have had to share one vicar. But these have tended to happen as a result of natural vacancies.

Now, the diocese will hold a series of meetings in each of its deaneries - groups of churches in a town or similar district - to ask "what is the most effective way of 'doing church' in this area?" Local clergy and representatives of the laity will be asked to look at how the church is staffed in their area, and whether this is the most effective way of using clergy. The deaneries will be asked for suggestions as to where money can be saved.

David Taylor commented: "Reducing clergy numbers and re-organising parishes on the basis of when vacancies occur is not an effective way of maintaining and developing a mission-oriented Church. Despite an excellent team of staff and volunteers working on diocesan finances, we have a problem because more and more parishes can't afford what we are asking them to pay. Rather than wait until the problem develops into a crisis, we want to take action now, but we want the action we take to be strategic, so that we develop the diocese into an effective tool for mission.

"The local church is central to what the Church of England is. And parochial clergy are at the forefront of the church's mission. The process we are embarking upon is designed to protect these front-line clergy and provide the resources to equip them to fulfil their calling as God's ministers. However, we have to face up to the fact that clergy numbers could fall, and the way we use our clergy could change."

On Sunday 12th December every church in the diocese will play a taped message from the Bishop of Lichfield, the Rt Revd Keith Sutton, in which he will call the Diocese to prayer in the run up and during Lent. This will not be a time of asking God to provide money, but of listening to God to determine his will for the future shape of ministry in the Lichfield Diocese.

ENDS


The Rev'd Dr. Peter Toon