The way forward for many Church of England parishes is unsure as they battle with crumbling buildings, declining attendance and a decline in clergy.
Civitas' new report, Restoring the worth of parishessays many parishes are “in disaster” and accuses Church of England management of “neglecting” them.
He calls the decline of the parish church a “tragedy” and says their survival is in danger until motion is taken to strengthen and help native clergy and congregations.
“Each spiritually and socially, parishes are an integral a part of English life. But we’re dropping them quick,” it says.
The report claims that whereas a few of the present disaster is because of cultural and spiritual modifications in an more and more secular Britain, the Church of England's personal selections have performed a “main position”.
These embody the creation of “megaparishes”, wherein numerous parishes are united below only a few clergy.
The report is essential of what it sees as a rising central paperwork, with the Church of England now using one administrator for each three-and-a-half clergymen, many in safety, communications and human assets roles.
He questions whether or not all of the posts are vital, significantly what he calls “politicised roles”, which embody racial and social justice advisers, LGBTQI+ officers and NetZero officers.
“These had been rejected from parishioners whose personal donations go in direction of funding the diocese as a part of the parish share,” the report stated.
“Some even refuse to donate in protest towards what they see because the ideological seize of the church.
“Since they appear to favor bureaucrats over pastors and politics over spirituality, a way of distrust of dioceses has unfold.”
At a time when the Church of England is making an attempt to draw new saints, these components can act as one other impediment, Civitas stated.
“Those that really feel referred to as to the priesthood could also be deterred by the unprecedented calls for on clergy which have include the merging of parishes, along with deteriorating working circumstances and monetary insecurity – all of that are penalties of the church's more and more governing construction,” the report stated. reads.
“Though it had lengthy been the case that clergy acquired a modest stipend somewhat than a wage and had been 'post-holders' somewhat than staff, parish service carried sure advantages which have since been abolished.”
The report additionally expresses skepticism concerning the thousands and thousands of kilos being spent on experimental missions initiatives with blended outcomes, as an alternative of saving native parishes.
“Each the increasing diocesan paperwork and new funding fashions are a part of a managerial flip within the Church of England that has seen bold new initiatives prioritized over help for current congregations,” it says.
He provides: “The crux of the issue is that parishes throughout the Church of England have misplaced energy.”
