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Setting the Ministry Share

Setting the Ministry Share

The Diocesan Synod has approved a new method for working out the financial contribution each parish is asked to make towards diocesan spending.

The current procedure, known as Parish Share, is being replaced by Ministry Share – so called to emphasise that the bulk of the diocesan budget pays for the provision of clergy in the local parishes.

Many church members have criticised the previous formula for ignoring a local parish’s ability to pay, while others saw it as a ‘tax on church growth’. Individual churchgoers often perceived it as a financial demand from the Diocesan Office, without understanding how the payment benefited their own church.

The new formula gives more transparency by being based upon the cost of ministry in each deanery. It also allows for mission and development initiatives which have been identified in local pastoral plans.

However, it also recognises the deanery’s capacity to pay by applying a ‘Health and Wealth’ rating to each deanery. Ultimately parish contributions are much more closely linked to the pastoral arrangements agreed for the deanery. The deanery will continue to apportion its share within the deanery using local knowledge and detailed expertise in assessing a parish’s ability to pay.

The new formula will help people to understand better their responsibility for meeting the cost of providing parish ministry.

The Parish Share Working Group, who have drawn up the new scheme, believe this is a much fairer system. Their report, Setting the Parish Share with its accompanying spreadsheet, was accepted by the Bishop’s Council in 2005.

“We do, however, recognise that some deaneries may face a significant change in their calculated contribution,” said Diocesan Secretary Dr Matthew Lavis. “but the new formula itself makes provision for a smooth transition to the new system.”

If you would like to read a detailed description of the new Ministry Share, you can get a copy of the Parish Share Working Group’s Report from The Diocesan Office, Bishop Woodford House, Barton Road, Ely, CB7 4DX.

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