The Gospel of Christ or the gospel according to Excel?
Last week I met with someone from another diocese who I have known for some time and whose opinion and comments I trust. Their first words were, "What's happening here with the money thing?" I began to tell them about how we have been meeting to address a reduction in stipendiary clergy posts and the many meetings we, as clergy, have had. The hallmark of these meetings was the fact that we had looked at the challenge of meeting the needs of a growing population with less minister missionally rather than financially.
The reality is that we have to lose two posts incrementally by 2017 (the first of the posts will be lost in 2014).
We are looking at a church whose management principle is seeking to work on the almost Dario Fo like principle of 'can't pay - can't have'. This appears to mean that those churches which are to be found in Urban Priority Areas and seek to preach to those in urban settings and function as 'estate churches' are up the list when it comes to 'can't pay'!
My friend and colleague told me horror stories whereby those who were comfortable and could afford their clergy were safe but those (dare I say it, where the need is) find themselves in every way becoming the poor relations.
One of the key factors promoted by our bishop is generosity and yet it appears that although this might be the desire, the reality might be somewhat different.
So where are we going? Some of the indications are that churches will be led towards clergy as sessional workers. Others will find themselves in the position whereby they exist with non-stipendiary clergy, locally ordained ministers (something I have problems with) or House for Duty (whose days I fear may also be numbered) clergy. More still will fall back on the kindness of retired clergy (who are muzzled when the grain of occasional offices appears ;-( ).
The reality is that we are looking at doing things differently and this is not a bad idea. BUT (has to be one) when we start planning our future by Excel and the balance sheet rather than the Gospel I fear for us.
My colleague told me how the plans where they were looked at contracting and not growth and this has to be wrong. If we look to downsize we look to close our doors and leave the many unsaved to the mercy of God (perhaps universalists are right in that those who failed to tell might be covered by God's grace at our failings).
Lower clergy numbers can mean a stronger and enabled and released laity and from this a flourishing Church. It provides those who have criticised clergy for inactivity with the opportunity to be, themselves, active. Sadly I feel it might also lead to yet another drop in able clergy as we lower bars and turn towards a clericalism that weakens rather than strengthens - watch this space (for we are not finished with this issue)