Church Growth Strategies: Charging admission

It is rather odd that following on from the 'asking people to pay for stuff' the issue comes up again as a result of my experiences of the past week. When I became a Christian, one of the things that struck me about my faith, and something I used to tell my friends was that Christianity was, 'Something so amazing that we couldn't ever find a way of being able to pay for it and yet it was also something that we struggled to give it away!'

The past week has seen me on holiday and one of the places we visited as a family had a number of amazing places to visit and the means of seeing the exhibits and visiting the historic buildings was made ors by the simple purchase of a ticket. When I asked at the sales desk they told me that the family ticket would enable me to visit the main attractions and exhibits and that this included the local cathedral too - so, of course, I forked out the required dosh.

Now, as I'm always being up for any opportunity to stop and enjoy chatting with the Boss in an historic sacred space I forked out the (not insubstantial) amount asked for so that we could all enjoy the sites and sights of that place with the thought that at the end of it all there was to be a 'God moment' to top it off.

So we went into all the buildings and visited the wonderful exhibits - made the mandatory stop at the souvenir shop for the equally mandatory thimble for the matriarch (AKA 'Nanna') and then I headed for the 'God slot' and the cathedral.

Upon entering I was ushered to a sales desk where, like a good punter, I showed my tickets.

'Ooooh,' said the really nice woman, 'They're not our tickets dearie. You'll need to buy one that looks like this (you'll need to imagine the ticket she waved in front of my nose!). 'But I was told that this ticket does everywhere and everything,' I mumbled, aware of the looks from the cathedral bouncers (I mean ushers - sorry, always get confused under pressure) and the sales staff.

'So,' I asked, 'How much will it cost me?'

The response from the sales person, reaching for the tickets, was, "Oh, it's such good value. It'll only cost you £28.80 for the whole family and we don't close for another hour' (because apparently there was a 'paying' event on and they were going to close early to set it up!)

The woman looked crestfallen and the man next to me mumbled something about not passing up a chance to see a building that had been there since the late twelfth century and how it was 'really great value' and stuff like that.

But in the end, making a point of telling the sales staff and supporting cast how I worked in a place a bit like that every day of the week and so was only missing out on some of the local variations but would take the bloke I came to chat with outside (where the encounter was free**) and do it there.

Not missing a beat, one of the welcoming staff (they weren't that welcoming really) then took great pains to point me to the cathedral shop (where apparently there were MANY wonderful things to purchase - and obediently I did visit and did purchase something to ensure I received a blessing (or evaded another stern look) and left with a smile towards the sales staff and 'welcomers'.

Oddly, none of them smiled back - not even a wave was on the 'free menu'!

Outside, I found a small church with the message: Come in, we are free! Perhaps they knew something that the cathedral didn't (or not being part of the Dean's people weren't that bothered about the cost of keeping what might have been a wonderful building going (don't know - didn't go in and so, like the folk in Dario Fo's great farce: 'Can't Pay - Won't pay' I moved on.

As we made our way along the edge of the cathedral, another of the (many) sightseers, noticing my 'cathedral' bag, asked what I thought of paying to go in. When I explained how I hadn't paid and so hadn't been into the building other than to shop there my sightseeing friend remarked, 'Bl**dy robbers, I'd be happy to make a donation but I'll be damned if I'm going to pay admission charges. It's a place of worship not a bl**dy museum.' (I think he liked the 'bl' word as he used it quite a bit.

One of our children then suggested going back in and turning the tables over but I thought that might disrupt the paying customers and get in the way of them closing early for the other 'paying' event so instead we found a music shop and bought a guitar with the money we hadn't paid to see whatever it was that was so special inside (and used it to sing God's praise for the rest of the week too - making it a real bargain I reckon).

I did try to point out that church buildings consumed a large amount of QEII drinking vouchers (AKA money) and that there was little in the way of government and other public support but my new friend was having none of as he pointed out that Church was always out there with its begging bowl asking people to support their cosy little club and their fine buildings and lifestyles.

I knew this was a battle I was not going to win and so left it for one of the Dean's staff (for it transpired that they lived in the place and were more than just a sightseer - they were almost a campaigner!

The problem is that I heard many people moaning about the charge for entry to what they assumed was God's house rather than part of the tourism industry of that place. The good news was that I didn't have my dog collar on and looked like the rest of the world and so, like the wretched priest in the tale of the Good Samaritan, I walked on the other side and kept my head down.

I took a moment to see how many others (and who they were) charging for admission. Apparently there are seven cathedrals, One Abbey (Westminster), an Oxbridge college and a royal chapel (you need to pay to get into Windsor Castle - the Chapel is then free) where charges apply for entry. Thankfully ours (Lichfield) is free and I often drop my change in there when passing to support the work of the place. I note, with great interest, that Chester have scrubbed the admission charge thing (went there the week they started charging and it was not popular with the locals at all.

Not a positive move charging for entrance I reckon: Even when it is 'such good value!' but then again, when the building you have is perhaps just to be considered as another stately home or museum (perhaps a sign with 'God used to live here once'?) where Church also meets rather than a place of worship would make the admission price policy right and proper./

Still, bumped into Jesus just next door to the cathedral when I bought a chap a sandwich (wonder if He might have even been happier at me spending my dosh on that exhibit of God's love made flesh before me than the bricks behind me?

Discuss

** I didn't point that out in case they thought He was part of their package and chased me off for touting or something!

Cathedrals - who needs them?

I appear to have lit the blue touch-paper with my passing comments about cathedrals yesterday if the three people I met whilst at 'Open Door' were anything to go by. Two of them left me in no doubt that these wonderful building were little more than a drain on the finances of the Church of England and that, "All those people who work in them and live around the close should be 'paying their way' rather than tasking money away from the church congregations that were in the towns and villages!" The other person told me that they love our cathedral as it's a place where they can go and find peace and great music - both of which help them with their own walk.

So there we have it, in a local poll 67*% of the people don't think we need our cathedrals! But are they right? I don't want to address the money bit at the moment as we are currently engaged in an exercise of 'sustainability' (which the diocese is calling 'plain speaking') and looking at clergy numbers and the like (more about that shortly methinks) and this might be part of the reason for the comments***.

So do we need our cathedrals? The majority of the comments made focussed on money. Money for maintenance of those wonderfully big and glorious buildings. Money for upkeep and keeping the doors opened. Money that some 'charge' (and here Westminster and Chester came in for the most flak) Christians to visit their buildings. Money for 'all those people' who work in the cathedral and the money that is paid out for the housing in the closes (with question asked about rent and 'grace and favour'). Yep, if my engagements yesterday are anything to go by, seems quite a few are uncertain about having one on the grounds of money.

Another issue that cropped us was the fact that whilst the building we have is splendid, it's not in the right place for a cathedral in a diocese which is shaped as it is (mainly because we've given bits off to form other diocesan structures elsewhere).

I have had discussions with some who considered the cathedral to be an outdated, outmoded edifice to days gone by and that they needed to be considered in the same light as other stately homes and heritage centres rather than anything that has a place in the community (but these people have never lived in a cathedral town - and I know that having one makes it a city, but that's just convention not community). A tourist feature not an ecclesiastical reality. A source of income for the place in terms of tourism and a source of self-sustaining for the cathedral itself.

BUT (has to be one)

The same responses to yesterday's closing churches conversation apply here and alongside them we have a multitude of other considerations to add into the pot.

The OLSX (Occupy London Stock Exchange) debacle did much to bring the Church, the CofE in general and St Paul's in particular into the public gaze. There was criticism for the fact that the place appeared more concerned with tourists and income than it did with standing with those who campaigned about institutional greed and the general imbalance of wealth (although of course to get wealth you have to be born rich or work and it seemed most of the protestors perhaps lived in neither of those camps!). Where doors should have been flung open and a welcome given, what many saw was a church that cared more about money that standing up for the rights of some and criticising the excesses of others.

Sadly, not one person could see the fact that the electricity, gas and other suppliers to St Paul's all wanted their payments. "Surely no one would cut off a cathedral or a church?" some asked when faced with this scenario. But of course they would, for we are but customers (and commercial, not domestic, customers too!). The cathedrals need to balance their books and the problem of charging admission rather than inviting donations is a tough one for, as we find with some of the churches in our town, many may come in but the donations are pitiful. All want the buildings to be open and available to them but this same 'all' expect the church to fund itself or be funded by some other body (just not them!). So we can ask for a donation or we can charge and I'm not sure which of the two is the right way pastorally, practically, financially and as criteria and responses on a list of other consideration.

On a value for money (which is mean and mercenary) I think that our cathedrals are worth their weight in jelly beans and centres of worship of the highest standard and as centres of excellence, facilitation and enabling. Here's a few 'for instances':

1. When it comes to the major festivals and holy days there is something special about making the journey to the cathedral and it becomes a sort of mini-pilgrimage and centre of celebration all rolled into one. Just speak to people on a Maundy Thursday and see how special it is to gather in a large, and generally splendid, building to celebrate as the many strands of Church together.

2. The ability to come into a scared space which has stood as the centre of Church in that region and in so doing understand that you stand in the company of generations of those who have worshipped before is something that cannot have a price placed on it.

3. To come into a cathedral and find oneself lost in the music and the excellence of the choirs (visiting and resident - and this is a factor, it is a venue for other choirs, organists, bell-ringers and the like) draws one into God and into a special place that all of us need from time to time. It is a safe haven in the storms of life.

4. They are churches and they have their own regular congregations. It's just that their church is a bit bigger than other peoples. They are the centre of community and engage as such with all the same things that we in our smaller places engage with and in.

5. Cathedrals are a centre for excellence and resource as the roles of those who act as missioners and facilitators clearly demonstrate. In fact I would rather that some of the diocesan sector staff worked out of the cathedral than the administrative offices as this would solidify and confirm the role and place of our cathedrals.

6. They engage with the schools and the 'Open Door' and other schools events are an extremely effective and valuable form of engagement between church and community (and not just the local community).

7. They do need to bring in the money to be self-supporting and this is an issue. I felt aggrieved when visiting Church House, Westminster to realise that popping in to the place next door would cost me (although another person later told me that had I asked there is a broom cupboard set aside for those cheapskates who tried the 'just want to pray' approach to getting in for free). I'm not that sure that the cathedrals do take way money from the parishes but as one of those yesterday argued - they cost money and that, even if it comes from a different pocket, is from the same pair of trousers! Think this highlights a need for involvement at parish and Deanery levels from the cathedral staff and some value for money input and engagement.

So there you have it - a real thinking on my feet fifteen minutes of cornflakes (Crunchy Nut), Tea (Darjeeling) and typing.

I hope it makes sense (and has some validity to).

Let's treasure our treasures and let's pray that they continue to flourish and support the wider Church in all and every respect. Pray for them, their congregations, those who work in (and out of) them and for those visitors too - might be the first chance some have to engage with God as we perceive Him to be!

Pax

* Sample of 3 in a poll conducted by strange Vicar**
** Thankfully none of those whose opinions were gained were from the church I'm in
*** There were also comments about paying for 'all those people in diocesan jobs'

ps. I've left the 'grace and favour' aspect as I know little of this and wouldn't know where to start.

pps. Interesting that those who were critical came from places that felt badly done with regard to parish share.

Let's close half our buildings!

Another conversation this week saw one of those present make the statement, "Let's close half of our church buildings!" They went on to explain how the CofE footed the bill for more historic and protected buildings than any other body and hw we should give them to the local communities as heritage centres and museums, art galleries and whatever else they could be used for.

"The time has come to take the Church back to the houses," he cried. "We don't need buildings and all the trappings of being settled that tie us down and make us ineffective. Let's go back to meeting in homes and being the Church where it is to be found."

"Oh No," thought I, "Not another one!"

But indeed it was and we were treated to a masterclass in how Church should be done (and this is the second of those this week for I was also regaled with a lecture on blank canvases and how they [the lecturer, priest and saviour of the faith] were the paints that would bring an incarnate and intoning presence to the lost!!!).

The Church should just abandon their building and withdraw to places where low-cost, high-efficiency Church could be engaged with. No need for all the old Common Prayer stuff or even Common Worship for each would be Church as they understood it to be for their community. There were no difficult places or tough areas, no needs to great and no problem too small. Church had to return to the days of Acts and be seen in the temples of today's society sharing God's love and His word.

Got to be honest and say that I must be losing it for by ten minutes I would normally have started playing with this newly-minted minister of hope, grace and uncontainable renewal. But I didn't and as the lecture unfolded I understood that behind the theology speak and the technical terms the Emperor was as naked as I (and probably just as scared about it).

Love, Prayer, Love and more love is the key. Love those around you and make them important and the opportunity to bless what God is doing (even though they don't recognise what's happening as being God yet) becomes a reality. It takes years to get them across the threshold and even then the work is only just engaged.

Our buildings are lighthouses amidst the rock and storms of life. They offer us the opportunity to be the curator of the local memories and custodians of the histories of our communities. The give us a place for the community to use and a safe haven for us to worship our God. They provide a place of sanctuary and a drain on our resources. But we need them.

We just need to make them fit for purpose or, as I recall +Willesden doing, go to the council and tell them that the wonderful listed building is theirs as it needs loadsa money spent on it and, being listed, loadsa other stuff too.

Let's forget the high sounding theological words and silly ideas that we could live effectively for anyone other than ourselves (and believe me, I am aware of many 'house churches' who exist as cosy little worshipping and self-serving groups with little (or no) impact on their communities and the lost. House church is a part of the whole and without the whole is often the recipe for ineffective, self-serving (and often smug, self-righteous, almost sect-like) expressions of Church.

Paul got it so right when he talks of a whole body and each member being connected to the other - Kingdom thinking in the church and across the Church - and buildings aren't the threat to this.

The Christians in Acts met in the central place in Jerusalem for the worship of God - nothing's changed today, so make the building central, not redundant (and treasure our Cathedrals - they are not a threat to the local parishes but a resource and a joy).

Pax

Money and the CofE

I've halted play for a few moments to (try and) answer some questions about money and the CofE.

Hopefully I'm heading in the right direction with these (and if not am sure I will be corrected):

The cost of an ordained minister
The cost of an ordained minister varies from location to location and seems to range from £45-50k. tThe final figure comes about by taking the stipend, National Insurance, training, support services (i.e. diocesan staff), housing costs, Council Tax, Water rates and pension contributions and lumping them together. Once this is done the final figure is divided by the number of stipendiary ministers and there's the figure.

Funding Bishops)
As I understand it the bishops (and their staff) come from central funds.

Funding Cathedrals
Money comes from funds other than diocesan common purse

What does the Church of England do with all its money?
Well it's obviously not good biscuits and a good variety of tea (don't do coffee) is it.

The money that the Church Commissioners have, this includes property, things and other liquid assets (but still not tea :-( ) is used to add to the money that comes in from the giving of the church's own members.

Take a look at the pretty picture below and you'll get an idea as to how, where and what (and you'll see that the 'what' with regard to 'all it's money' means a subsidy of some 21% of the total money needed/used):



I hope this quick response provides some useful answers,

V