As a retired priest with PTO in Leicestershire, serving a very financially solvent village church, but which has now already been permanently deprived of its part-time stipendiary priest (by decision of the bishop), I welcome very much your contributions on this video to a debate that to a large extent has been silenced by the bishop. For instance, on two of his videos on this topic, I took the bishop to task for (i) failing to carry out pilot schemes before the diocesan synod's decision to implement this major restructuring; (ii) failing to ascertain how many parishes were willing to consolidate their finances to a central fund and (iii) failing to provide any theological rationale for what was being proposed. He refused on both occasions to respond, even though mine were the only comments to his videos! In relation to Launde, there has been no discussion of any (or any potential) problems that they have or are likely to encounter. I think that parishes need to know what the alternatives are. As Roy so astutely says, the power is in the hands of the hierarchy to sack priests who advocate going it alone. In my case, I imagine that my PTO would not be renewed, in order to get rid of me. The only way forward is for parishes to make it clear that they will not allow the centralisation of their finances. The bishop may have the legal power, but the parishes have the financial power to assert their position. Without the parish share contributions, the scheme is doomed to fail. The money should be spent on paying the expense of maintaining and restoring the churches and paying for their own priests to come in and provide the service expected of a national, established church rooted in Anglican theology.
Thank you for posting this video. Roy's presentation of the 'Save the Parish findings' and his thoughts going forward regarding funding traditional parishes/priests at the coal face/front line, and information is essential to help the discussion and conversation toward hope. And where we can raise awareness of the STP in our parishes and attend the meetings in the Palace of Westminster to bring attention to the local MPs and members of the House of Lords. in the Cross of Christ.
This is very helpful. The Dicese should be concentrating on increasing the number of full-time Vicars. I believe Religion is Worship and bringing people to come to know Jesus. It is not complicated. Thank you very much for posting this excellent discussion. Let's pray for the Church to thrive.
This has been a very informative interview Brett. I actually go to a church in Derbyshire about 10 miles from your church and we are trying to get a similar thing to happen in the diocese of Derby! Loads of people in our village are complaining to me about the fact that they cannot speak to the vicar because his vicarage is in another parish and people feel that the church is really losing its connection with the local area which is absolutely heartbreaking, because the town where our churches are based really feels like they are trying to crush the Holy Spirit 😢 there is little or no evangelism going on in our town anymore and loads of Christians are feeling really pushed out in the cold because their views are not being listened to even though people are speaking to me when I feed it back, it seems to just fall on deaf ears 😢
I'm glad it was a helpful video brother! You and your church will be in my prayers. Feel free to share the video, the better informed people are the more they can be well equipped to speak to their ecclesial leaders about these issues. God bless you.
We’ve had the exact same double speak in Lincoln. Consultation; smoke and mirrors; PCCs bullied; no parish, or even benefice, alternative allowed to the new super “mission areas”.
The same thing is being done in Lincoln. Also for financial reasons. 3 vicars for 12 parishes is generous compared with what we will have as a small rural parish. We too have never defaulted on our parish share. As a rural parish personal contact is so important for trust. This will go. We will get occasional services from any clergy available and even more occasional communion. Pastoral work just won’t happen. Mission too will be affected negatively.
Is it possible for parishioners to pay for repairs directly rather than putting money in the till first? I am Roman Catholic in the US and we have our share of questionable bishops so some parishes have resorted to people paying for expenses directly so nobody can redirect the funds. But I realize that I am very ignorant of how CoE finances work so that may not help. God bless!
Yes, clearly some clergy find themselves in a difficult position when voicing any opposition to proposals from the 'hierarchy'. Roy Faulkner demonstrates how important it is to have laity who are not afraid to challenge some of the daft schemes dreamt up by the dioceses. The Save the Parish movement has a most important role at national and diocesan level in speaking out in support of parish mission as the most effective way of bringing people to Christ.
Hi Rev Murphy, have you heard about the new regulations proposed by the World Health Organisation? Did you see speech from Andrew Bridgedon? It’s very alarming what “they” the WHO would like to do. Can we pray over this.
If something is working well, you should leave it alone. But if something is broken, you should learn how to fix it properly before you attempt to do so. This way, you can prevent further damage or mistakes. If you can not be sure what will work, leave well alone.
@@RevBrettMurphy Thanks for this. I'm not far from you, in the southeast corner of Lichfield Diocese. I'm very fortunate in that my diocese is relatively wealthy (which is another scandal: are we not one church?). I have one parish and one church (and the freehold, for whatever that's worth these days). I suspect though that in a few years' time we'll all be doing what Lincoln and Leicester are doing.
This was a very good interview. Thank you to you both. If one adjusts the figures for the number of clergy since the ordination of women, and convert women priests into the order of deaconess (as their deaconing is valid whilst their priesting it is not), you suddenly have an even starker drop in the number of priests.
I fear for many Churches and Christians as this world move's more away from Biblical teaching's to try and bring acceptance to non biblical scripture based people. I feel if Churches stick to what is taught and scribe's have noted. Then the Lord Jessus will bring the missing flock back. As we all move through life so many traditions change same as Governments but it is nice to know that the teaching are still the same. I left the church at 18 and now just found my way back at 60 through out my absence I tried to teach my children that easter was not a celebration of a rabbit and Cadbury chocolate even though I had lost my way. I explained what easter mean't same at Christmas I always tried to tell them the gift giving was 1 God gave the earth his Son through virgin Mary and secondly the wise men came with gifts guided by the star of David. It is not Santa claus and reindeer's or 6 white Kangaroos in southern hemisphere. Recently I found my way back at 60 and these simple explanation's showed me Jessus had never left me he was alway's with me but he was waiting for me to be ready to rejoin his flock. As a father of 2 I was very aware the community and Government in Australia was pro LGBT and I told my children you have to be yourself I and your mother will still love you. But they now both have heterosexual partners they still call me old fashion as I now tell them the teaching's of bible. I have explained in God's eye marriage is between a man and a woman and become 1 in union. They asked what about LGBT I told them in eye of God and Christ Jessus teaching in Christian eyes we are all children of God but marriage is kept for 1man and 1 woman to become 1 in his eye's but as LGBT they can still pray and be God's children and can seek a union or marriage by celebrants and now church's leaving the teaching's of the biblical scripture's. They can then plead there case with Lord Jesus and God as to wether or not it is right in there eye's but it is not my job to judge or seek to amend the biblical scriptures they are sacred and need to be taught as they were. But it is not our job to judge the Lord and God has that right only.
I don't understand how the Archbishop can find million(s) for reparations which we in Britain should not be making since Britain was the place that brought slavery to an end, and not putting money into more local vicars/boots on the ground. I also worry that the recent SS blessings decision has reduced potential ordinands etc
Stewart, Cannot the church see that having a 'dial a minister' would mean that the Word of God would be greatly watered down because of inconsistent teaching.
Yes that's a major concern, preachers who are heterodox could be foisted upon orthodox congregations. Female pastors expected to minister to traditionalists etc...its a very difficult prospect for people to cope with.
@@RevBrettMurphy They clearly don’t consider the individual at all. Who are these people who are doing this? Like politicians they are completely out of touch with ordinary people and it seems to me that they are not even Christians. Have any of them actually prayed about any of this stuff?
Sadly there is a misunderstanding here of so many points. One big one: Our lay associate ministers ARE called, discerned and trained and will be fully involved in parish work. What a shame that this is ignored by your conversation.
Lay ministers are not allowed to celebrate Communion, to grant absolution or to bless a congregation. They are therefore not interchangeable with clergy. What the Church needs is more parish clergy, funded by income from the 10 Billion (yes, BILLION) £ of assets owned by the Church Commissioners. This is unlikely to happen under woke Welby, who wants to centralise everything and appears to be increasingly narcissistic.
