The Church of England has nothing to learn from the Civil Service
by Fergus Butler-Gallie, Telegraph:
Cash-strapped parishes must be free to focus on their core mission, not tied-up in management jargon.
If you want to wind your vicar up this Christmas, then ask how fundraising is going. Given the current standard of morale amongst parish clergy it would take a Christmas miracle for them to smile sweetly and give a bland reply.
Lots of people moan about being asked to put something in the plate at Christmas but, in truth, I know of some churches who only survive due to Christmas collections.
It’s an oft repeated trope that “the Church has loads of money”. Well, up to a point Bishop Copper. The Church Commissioners have an investment fund of circa £10.4 billion. But when it comes to the church where you might pop your head in for carols or midnight mass, they don’t see a penny of it.
In the 70s an asset grab in the name of fairness (as they so often are framed) erased the ancient irregularities of having some parishes “worth” more than others.
Now, nobody sane goes into ministry to make a buck, but the irritation is that this shift fundamentally changed the financial relationship between parish and central Church.
Today parishes are still expected to pay their share to the diocese, but most historic assets have been centrally grouped and the profits from them go to, you guessed it, the centre as well.
Now all this would be just another minor gripe were it not for the fact that the central Church has proved to be so cavalier with those assets. The commissioners do free up cash from time to time but never for the parishes.
Indeed, dioceses often act like the mafia, withholding funds or staff from parishes that don’t toe the line. Money can be found for “new disciples” projects or fresh expressions, for initiatives which undermine or supersede the ministry of parishes on the ground, it can be dished out merrily to external consultants or to favourites of a particular church party but I can almost guarantee you that the vicar whose hand you shake at the door this Christmas won’t see a penny.
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