Priests facing redundancy as Devon diocese hits £1million budget crisis
The number of priests could fall in Devon because some parishes don’t pay their way, according to a confidential letter seen by the Western Morning News.
According to the letter from the Bishop of Exeter, the Right Reverend Michael Langrish, the diocese is £620,000 in the red with a further £400,000 worth of cuts to be made.
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Bishop Michael Langrish
Plans are afoot to draw-up a new budget and combat the deficit but job losses look likely.
The letter was sent to suffragan bishops, priests, deacons, readers and church wardens.
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Bishop Michael said the diocese faces “significant financial challenges” and every year spends around £13 million ministering parishioners.
Of that just under £9 million comes from the Common Fund that pays 80% of salaries and comes largely from the collection plate. Funds also come from Church of England Commission and investments.
Parishes repeatedly not putting their bit into the fund are being blamed for the financial problem.
Previously the deficit was swallowed up in the budget by asking other parishes to cough up a bit extra.
Last year however, the Diocesan Synod said it was fairer to get all who use the fund to pay their way.
In the letter, Bishop Michael said: “As we are not willing to ask parishes who are already paying in full (many in difficult circumstances themselves) to contribute more, we are now facing an annual deficit of around £620,000.
“This means that, as we look ahead together to 2013, we have to take some difficult decisions about what work we can and cannot fund anymore.”
The bishop goes on to say the number of stipendiary (salaried) clergy will be reduced.
He said: “We will have to accelerate the decrease in the number of stipendiary parish priests which was originally projected to fall by about two each year and reach 190 by the year 2020.
“We will do this in the first instance by prolonging vacancies. We will also need to reduce the number of new stipendiary clergy we ordain each year by one.
“We also need to make some £400,000 of savings from a range of centrally resourced services which are provided for the benefit of parishes and those involved in parochial ministry.
“This will entail reductions in working hours, voluntary redundancies and possibly even compulsory redundancies. These are cuts which will result in a wholesale restructuring at every level of diocesan life. Some of what we currently take for granted will disappear.”
The bishop’s Diocesan Council is due to meet on July 18 to discuss the budget.
A spokesman for the bishop said he would not comment She said: “The plan was for discussions to take place before a framework was put on the diocesan website asking for comment.”
Comments
by Anotherbloke
Friday, July 06 2012, 3:11AM
“Not good for anyone to face loosing their job, regardless of personal opinion or belief.
Got to feel for them, I mean if you stop being 'employed' by God, who else is going to take you based on experience.
Good luck to them all in finding new positions.
Religion is a tuough sell these days.”
by Bob_Wickerman
Friday, July 06 2012, 1:10AM
“Potbelly quote-'I do have respect for people who believe and I'm ashamed of people who mock!'..
Ah but if they DIDN'T mock, bible prophecy would be proved wrong..;)
"the apostles told you there would be mockers in the last time' (Jude 1:18)”
by Bob_Wickerman
Friday, July 06 2012, 1:02AM
“HermesThelema quote-'in resurrection in afterlife does my undying wish speak'..
If you're Jesus's chum you should be alright mate-"You're my friends if you follow me. I don't call you servants, but I call you friends"- (John 15:15)
and you'll be welcome at the party he'll be throwing for all his mates in the Great Pub in the Sky- "I will not drink wine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom." (Matt 26:29).
Drat that's me out then, i don't drink (sniffle)”
by Potbelly1
Friday, July 06 2012, 12:22AM
“I have mixed beliefs...religion to me is the unknown..give me proof it's real and give me proof it's not! .... at then end of the day I do have respect for people who believe and I'm ashamed of people who mock!”
by HermesThelema
Friday, July 06 2012, 12:14AM
“That is correct, Bob-Wickerman. In oath, in last breath, "Although there is no thought in my mind that I may call true presence in humanity; in resurrection in afterlife does my undying wish speak."
Most respectful Brother, Grandmaster of the Lodge of Great Britain. In respect;
Freemasonry. Free my wisdom such that every man, woman, child, creature, may be spared the pain of Jesus Christ and Satan in all love of God's free friend. Stranger know. Although I keep only in oath the presence of my Brother, I know at a day in the future all may pass as past.
Show me the fullest extent of all your love to the last man, Grandmaster.”
by Bob_Wickerman
Thursday, July 05 2012, 11:51PM
“The Bish looks like a cross between Alan Bennett and the padre in the MASH series”
by Bob_Wickerman
Thursday, July 05 2012, 11:43PM
“Bishop quote-'The cuts will mean some of what we currently take for granted will disappear"..
Look on the bright side mate, at least you and your chums will be fulfilling ancient prophecy-"What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes" (James 4:14)”
by Bob_Wickerman
Thursday, July 05 2012, 11:38PM
“HermesThelma quote-'Oh, my darling, my fairest, my greatest omnipresent, most gracious, most worshipful, Grandmaster'..
You conducting a seance to try to get Bobby Fischer to come through mate?”
by Bob_Wickerman
Thursday, July 05 2012, 11:36PM
“.."Bishop Michael said the diocese spends around £13 million ministering parishioners'..
Yer wot mate? Anybody can pick up a ready-made sermon on the net for nowt”
by HermesThelema
Thursday, July 05 2012, 10:37PM
“Oh, my darling, my fairest, my greatest omnipresent, most gracious, most worshipful, Grandmaster. How so well your oaths in brethren have protected my poor, my sick, my frail and my elderly. In true Government with what standing your knights have so protected my pilgrims. How your recital of my psalms given to yourselves in trust have so much benefited your kin. Does not each Freemason, in freedom, in Eden, in his choice in Heaven on Earth, bow so Gentlemanly as he cries his love for the High Priestess and Jesus Christ at the wedding feast of all time again in presence of our Lord. In gracious news, in payment of dues, does every, even Adam and Eve, grant fullness of wishes. Rejoice! The art, Freemasonry. One love. Break Jesus Christ's heart again, if only we had in presence been. If not in tear can a book be placed, remove in picture my witness in gallery.
In Hell you say? A vision true? Of Heaven you doth speak? In an unholy paradise of deceit, I graced sight, a child did weep. Each time did the reaper, toll in bell, each cried a free soul, a Freemason, a man. In reply did a young girl cry, "Satan! I love my child! My childhood friend!" Axe axis.
On a hill, did a child swing legs, as the grailed reaper did rest in cart. Across a valley in shadow, did a chapel call dawn's art. In morning, in sunrise, did death depart in smile. God's first pilgrim, knight, to dark sister, in the end, although all must ride my cart. When I last do rest in eternity, does my bride cease ring d'belle.
Though an axe did swing in Satan's cull, each templar, pilgrim, fell'ed for Christ. Lodge. Burial mound. This Sunday, Freemason, bow your head in news to the last man. Lend your fellow man a helping hand. Does an angel rest an arm on shoulder. When the Dark Sisters of Isis carried water to tend nailed feet, did your ally stand and shudder.”