Bishop Dominic outlines some challenges
facing the diocese
We are told by politicians of all major parties that the United Kingdom faces the greatest financial challenge for at least eighty years. The same is also true for our diocese and I want to outline the challenges facing us, not to cause alarm - as Corporal Jones in Dad's Army would say, 'Don't panic!' - but to share with you the issues we face and how I hope we can address them.
The Church in Wales is fortunate to be well endowed and as a diocese we receive an annual grant (or subsidy) of about £900,000 each year. This money from the past is being used to support 'today's church' and it is no secret that I would prefer that money to be used for 'tomorrow's church' and for new mission initiatives. I feel that 'today's church' should be paying its way.
Our largest expense is the cost of clergy stipends. At present we have no vacancies in any parishes, which is good news, but it means that we are well over budget and could have a substantial deficit by the end of the year. There are three ways to balance the books: increase the Parish Share, increase our congregations, or reduce the number of clergy.
I am aware that some parishes are already struggling to pay their Parish Share and some are doing so from reserves. Some congregations are growing, but overall there is a small decline each year and many of our church members are on restricted incomes. As a diocese we have a higher ratio of clergy to worshippers than any other diocese in England or Wales and in the short term we need to make efforts to reduce the number of stipendiary clergy to our planned levels. After 2013, we shall have a number of retirements and may be struggling to find stipendiary clergy for parishes.
As Anglicans we value the parish system where every parish is under the care of a priest and parishes pay a Parish Share as a contribution towards the ministry and mission of the whole diocese. At present there are few parishes that pay the full costs of their clergy, and parishes under the care of non-stipendiary clergy are still required to pay their Parish Share without which we could not maintain our parish system. It is what makes the diocese a family - we all contribute what we can for the benefit of all.
We need to look to the future and make plans. In doing so it is important to discern what God is wanting of us. One thing is clear, and that is that many who are offering themselves for ministry today feel called to be non-stipendiary (or self-supporting) ministers. This Petertide, I am likely to be privileged to ordain about fourteen men and women of whom only two are stipendiary. In the future we shall have self-supporting ministers looking after parishes or being part of a larger team of ministers working with a stipendiary priest. We are blessed in having more self-supporting clergy than any other diocese in Wales.
As the 'ministry bishop' in Wales, I have been working with others and with the Bench to explore ways of preparing people for local ordained ministry and I think there will be exciting developments to do this. Dioceses that have a discipleship programme like our Living Faith course discover that some of those who take part begin to feel a call to lay and ordained ministries.
We also need to look at how to encourage people to be realistic in their giving. Some are very generous but others are not, and our giving to God and his Church is something that all Christians should review each year. Whilst I favour the discipline of 'tithing' (giving a tenth of one's income) I am aware that the rich can give even more whilst the poor would struggle.
As a Church we receive comparatively fewer legacies than some others and there is a Church in Wales initiative to ask church members to remember the Church when making their Wills. This is something that I warmly commend.
After the resurrection the disciples must have wondered about the future and felt down hearted. Then on the day of Pentecost it all changed because they were 'spirit filled'. I pray that we too shall be 'spirit filled' and that the Holy Spirit will show us the way forward and like those early disciples lead us through the uncertainty into new and exciting times.
+ Dominic