STIPENDS OF CLERGY.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20489, 7 March 1932, Page 8

STIPENDS OF CLERGY.

. ♦ ARREARS IN THE DIOCESE. FRANK STATEMENT OF POSITION The difficulty which is developing in the Diocese in regard to the payment of local contributions to tho stipends of the clergy is the subject of an article in the March number of the "Church News." "Standing Committeo had beforo it last month a report revealing that a grave position is developing in tho Dio cesc in regard to the payment of contributions to tlic clergy's stipends, states the article. "It was to bo expected that a number of the country cures would have some difficulty _ in keeping abreast of their responsibilities and the committee has met this by advancing up to three months' stipend and travelling allowance. But it was shown that up to January 31st the office had advanced about £1550 on this acoommodation and there was in addition about £2Bl arrears not advanced because more than three months' was owing. By February 9th, with the advances made for the month, tho total arrears had grown to about £2200, of which about £1950 had been advanced, and £270 was not advanced because of the three months' limit. , "It will be obvious that tho finances of the Standing Committee cannot stand so great a burden indefinitely, increasing month by month. The position now is that 41 cures arc in arrears with the local contributions (for three months or more), or if one separately, the sub-districts which remit direct to the office, instead of through the central wardens, the number in arrears reaches 58. Of these cures arc 11 in which the clergy have not been paid any local contributions to stipend for one, two, or three months by advance or otherwise. It is hoped that the usual clearing up of accounts which takes place in March will result in most of these cures being able to pay in most if not all of the, arrears. Appeal to Parishioners. "Standing Committee feels that it is desirable that the bald facts should be made known to the Diocese, because it is possible, if not as some members believed probable, that in some cures tho parishioners are not aware of the position, and will be surprised to hear that their clergy have had nothing but the few pounds \which come from the Diocesan funds. And if the financial regulations are strictly adhered to, and the intention of Synod, when they were framed was that they should be, there i 3 a danger that in some, cases even the Diocesan grants may have to be withheld because loan, insurance, or other payments due have not been paid by tho cure. "It is hoped that by placing the facts frankly before the Diocese, parishioners will be moved to approach the question with a determination to see that the best that can be done in the cure will be at least vigorously attempted. Church officers are, of course, much harassed and we do not want to increase their embarrassment by citing particular instances, knowing that in many cases the wardens and vestries are doing what they can. We suggest that parishioners should ascertain from their church officers what the position is in. their particular cures. Position Causing Anxiety. "The position is rather an anxious one at present, as until after March 31st, when the parochial year closes, and church officers pay in to the Diocesan Office what their cures intend to contribute, it will not be possible to know exactly what the position will be. It is expected that there will be a substantial decrease in certain cures which have, up to the present, felt the depression worse than others. To provide for the possibility that there would be a deficiency in the fund, the clergy's grants have been already reduced, according to a scale by £1 in £5 over a stipend minimum of £250, from the beginning of the present financial year, and there is at present small, if any, hope" that these deductions can be refunded. It may prove necessary to make a further reduction in these Home Mission Fund grants for next year. "Church officers will, no doubt, bear these, facts in mind when considering their budgets for presentation to the annual meetings. It, will help to make the position of the fund clearer if church officers will send in the parish contribution to the Home Mission Fund as soon as possible this month. : "A special committee has been setup by Standing Committee to go into tho whole financial position and the prospects for the coming year. The Standing Committee feels, no doubt, that the parishioners will do their best to maintain their local contributions to the stipend fund, and where possible increase them to meet the special need, and it may be> well to let .it be known that +he Diocese may not be able to give as much assistance as in the past. The fact should not be lost Bight of that the clergy whose cures derive assistanpe from the Home Mission Fund have already had those grants reduced for the whole year' andi will probably suffer a similar, if not a greater, reduction in the coming year."