Revitalizing Parish Ministry: A Call for Change in Church of England’s Funding
Amid growing concerns over the Church of England’s financial strategies, Save the Parish has unveiled a manifesto advocating for a shift in resource allocation to bolster parish ministry. This move comes as the group gears up for the Church of England’s General Synod elections, emphasizing the need to prioritize local congregations over centralized initiatives.
During the manifesto launch in London, Save the Parish chairman Rev Marcus Walker highlighted an “existential crisis” facing the Church, warning that the institution risks losing its core identity. The manifesto underscores the necessity of directing the Church Commissioners’ £11.6bn fund towards parish ministry, ensuring that parish share income supports “the cure of souls” effectively.
Currently, only a small fraction of the Commissioners’ income reaches parish ministries, leading to financial strains, clergy reductions, and church closures. The manifesto points out that changes in 2018 weakened protections for parish funding, diverting significant resources elsewhere.
Rev Walker asserts the need to “rebalance the Church of England’s finances,” recognizing the challenges this shift might face. He stated, “It’s not their money. This is money either given directly by the parishes – £319 million a year in parish share – or money left in perpetuity to fund parish ministry, handed over by its custodians for other purposes.”
Established in 2021, Save the Parish includes Anglicans from diverse theological backgrounds, all united in their commitment to reinforcing the parish system. Walker criticizes the Church’s strategic grant funding model, highlighting its failure to achieve desired results and its contribution to cuts in parish ministry.
The manifesto cites research by Church Action on Poverty, revealing that 40% of church closures occur in the most deprived parishes, a trend described as an “abandonment of the poor.” Walker attributes this to centralized funding strategies introduced in 2017, which replaced direct funding models.
Notably, an independent review led by Sir Robert Chote noted that a funding initiative aimed at adding 89,000 new worshippers at a cost of £176m only achieved 12,700, equating to £13,854 per new disciple. Walker commented on this inefficiency, stating, “I’d have got a much better result just by using bribery.”
The manifesto criticizes the creation of “mega-parishes,” where multiple churches are grouped, overwhelming priests. Walker referenced a scheme in Wigan that consolidated 29 parishes into one, reducing clergy numbers. The expected financial savings did not materialize, as attendance and giving dropped significantly.
Walker argues against funding cuts as a solution for renewal, saying, “You can no more cut your way out of decline than you can eat your way out of being fat.” Meanwhile, diocesan spending, particularly on staff, has increased, with £154m now allocated to these expenses, a 29% rise in three years.
The Clergy Charter of Care within the manifesto advocates for ending stipendiary cuts to balance budgets and moving away from “managerial metrics of success.” It highlights findings from the Church of England’s Living Ministry survey, which reports high levels of depression and loneliness among clergy.
Save the Parish proposes a legislative cap on benefices to five parishes and encourages members to run for the General Synod elections. Walker posed the question, “How can we ensure that the pure Word of God is preached, and the Sacraments be duly ministered … in every community, up and down the land?”
He stressed the importance of well-trained priests in communities, ministering in buildings that reflect their history. “We have that system; we must resource it and allow it to thrive,” he stated, concluding his speech with a call to action to transform the Church and secure its future.
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
