Question

To ask the hon. Member for Battersea, representing the Church Commissioners, what steps the Church of England is taking to increase the number of full-time stipendiary priests.

Answered by Marsha De Cordova

The Ministry Development Board, chaired by the Lord Bishop of Chester, has launched a national programme, 'Called: What is your part in Gods Story', with targeted resources made available across the Church.

There has been a significant rise in candidates for ordinantion for each of the last two years, with numbers of ordinations up by 34% this last Petertide (June). There is a general focus on all forms of ordained ministry, including fulltime, stipendiary vocations to the priesthood.

An improved maintenance package for fulltime ordinands is begining this year, representing a significant additional investment in ordinand wellbeing. There have also been significant recent investments in clergy wellbeing, including increases to the stipend and pension entitlements.

Question

To ask the hon. Member for Battersea, representing the Church Commissioners, what assessment the Church of England has made of the effectiveness of the Save the Parish led Consultation at St George’s House entitled ‘Parish Ministry: Addressing the Crisis in Stipendiary Clergy Numbers in the Church of England’.

Answered by Marsha De Cordova

We are grateful to all those who seek to support the Church in its service to this nation, including 'Save the Parish' (StP) for their recent consultation and subsequent report. The Lord Bishop of Chester, who chairs the Church’s Ministry Board (MDB), attended the launch of the report.

The issues raised are under active consideration. Many of those raised by Save the Parish are already a focus of specific and ongoing work in the Church (for example, the ‘Called’ campaign, or the review of ordinand support). The Bishop of Chester has asked for ongoing conversation with Save the Parish to clarify some of the suggestions made in the report and remains grateful for their focus in highlighting some key issues.

Question

To ask the hon. Member for Battersea, representing the Church Commissioners, What steps the Church of England is taking to increase the number of ordinands.

Answered by Marsha De Cordova

The Ministry Development Board chaired by the Lord Bishop of Chester, has launched a national programme, called 'What is your part in God's Story', with targeted resources made available across the Church.

There has been a significant rise in candidates for ordination for each of the last two years, with numbers of ordinantions up by 34% this last Petertide (June).

An improved maintenance package for fulltime ordinands is begining this year and represents a significant extra investment by the Church to improve ordinand wellbeing.