Writers to the Times today report growth in a Church of England benefice, problems with excessive bureaucracy and appreciation for Church schools.
Growth: The leader of three churches in the Cotswolds, Canon Andrew Wingfield Digby, formerly vicar of St Andrew’s North Oxford, reports that “Last Sunday, for the first time in years, services were held in all three. Every congregation is growing. The reason is ….first, engaging biblical preaching — ideally no more than 15 to 20 minutes….no one is much interested in what I think but they want to know what the Bible says. Second, ….a core of lay people who pray. And third, there is decent parking. That said, diverting some money from the central diocesan bureaucracy to the parishes would certainly help.”
Bureaucracy: A retired priest in Herefordshire “recently received 13 documents with boxes to be ticked…. (and has) to do this exercise every year. The questions …show that the Church of England is paranoid about sex offenders and obsessed with bureaucracy. Bishops are employing administrators at the cost of funding parish and pastoral work.”
Church Schools “church schools clearly have something that parents want. Could it be that the educational success of these schools lies in their Christian character?”
From a teacher of religion and ethics.
Read here (£)