Anglican Mainstream

A most important proposal is coming before General Synod on February 12. That is for the dioceses in effect to confiscate the parsonages.  The issues are set out here.

Sir, CEN readers, particularly the laity, should be concerned at your report last week over plans to transfer the ownership of vicarages from incumbents (vicars) to central church funds. Historically, the vast majority of vicarages/ parsonages were paid for by donations from parishioners/patrons to house a priest to look after the spiritual needs of people in a parish. The legal ownership of the parsonage remained with the vicar thereby giving him/her, and the parish, some security from interference from Bishops. Vicars own property as ‘sole corporate’ and are said to enjoy the ‘freehold’.

However, in a wide ranging review of clergy conditions of service, the Bishops, through a General Synod committee, are recommending the freehold be scrapped, replaced with a new title called ‘common tenure’ and that all property be transferred en-bloc to diocesan Parsonage Boards or to Diocesan Boards of Finance. No substantial reason has yet been given for transferring vicarages to central bodies and lay representatives of diocese on General Synod are bracing themselves for a fight at next month’s General Synod sessions in London (February 11-14).

I have called a separate meeting of the  House of Laity to debate the issue before the main Synod debate on Parsonages. Whilst the Ecclesiastical Offices (Terms of Service) Measure was devised in response to HM Government’s concern that unbeneficed clergy (those without the security of the freehold) should have consistent employment rights, akin to the secular employment law, there is no legal or principled reason why parsonages have to be tied into this. Compulsorily annexing’ these donated properties will create very bad relationships between dioceses (particularly Bishops) and parishes. All dioceses are currently asking parishes to give more financially, but to do so and then to sequestrate parsonages based in parishes for parish benefit sends out all the wrong messages. We should not emphasise a centralised Church but one where ministry is released and resourced at parish level. Transferring the legal ownership of all properties en bloc to [effectively] Bishops, local parishes will lose their right to have a say in the future ministry of their parish. When a vicar moves on and the living is ‘suspended’, the Bishop may consider merging parishes/selling a parsonage now that he has the legal ownership. However, significant consultations are carried out with the parish/PCC, and there are ample opportunities for them to comment on the needs of the parish and say why they believe a parsonage should be maintained, even if not need at that particular time. There is also provision for PCCs to appeal to the Church Commissioners to stop a sale.

Whilst I recognise that with patterns of ministry changing, parsonages may well need to change location, be sold etc., the democratic rights of lay people and parishioners must be maintained at all times if they are to have any confidence in the system and to feel part of the mission and ministry the church at local level. Anything that shifts the emphasis of ministry delivery/ policy from parish to diocesan level should be met with strong opposition by the laity.

I would urge all churchwardens and church treasurers to write to their Bishop about this issue and also to encourage members of the House of Laity from their diocese to vote this specific part of the Measure down.

Paul Eddy

Member of General Synod for the Winchester Diocese

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