Church Times article: Campbell Paget asks why his former parish is being denied a priest?
Campbell Paget asks why a financially secure and fruitful rural parish church of about 200 members — including more than 30 young families, a church school with a chaplain, a salaried youth worker, and supporting a missionary couple abroad — was suddenly told that there was no longer a post to apply for when he retired, since there was to be “pastoral reorganisation”. While all available research showed that the parish’s numbers justified a full-time priest and, indeed, the need for additional ministerial help — this was completely disregarded.
What upset the PCC was the determined unwillingness of the diocese to engage with them in an open and honest way. The PCC was told that it could present its case to the Church Commissioners but this is expensive and the diocese could delay the case by months. Meanwhile the dioceses expected the parish to pay the stipend, national insurance and pension for a priest which they were not allowed to recruit (despite having found their own candidate) Campbell believes that the parishes are still the ‘heart and soul of so many towns and villages’ despite the challenges that are thrown at them by the CofE.
Perhaps it is time we the older members of congregations in the Church of England accept there is no God in the actions of the Church Hierarchy. They want only impressionable young women as priests to carry out their bidding.
Nothing in this world really changes and the price that will be paid in our Parishes and communities will be irreversible. I believe the Christian Church now down plays in its new teachings the concept of “Evil” It may well do so because those who support this dissolution of one Priest, one Parish are Evil. May God help us, especially the marginalised Elderly.