CofE fees - pay more, gain nothing?

The implications of the Ecclesiastical Fees (Amendment) Measure 2011 cropped up yesterday. As a result I learned about the old days where incumbents could have more income than bishops and how augmentation provided for the poorer parishes. The benefits of a consistent stipend and the issues of a common purse and parish share all bobbed to the surface like detritus from a sunken liner!

Honourably, the first (quotable) comment considered the fact that the CofE is pricing itself out of the market when it comes to funerals and weddings. The cost of a base funeral being (with fees) is c. £2,000.

There is much pressure and hype regarding attracting weddings back into church buildings and yet, pound for pound, even though the buildings are attractive, in terms of venue alone, we are just not competitive. Then again, as one senior cleric put it, we possess a value added factor in that God is at hand to bless in our services (does that mean He curses i.e. withholds blessing, the others?).

We need to get our act together and realise that there is much at stake in the way that we market (used to be called evangelism), and charge for, what the Church offers.

I have much to wade through on this topic (thought the rural dean bit was just organising meetings, didn't know I had to read and understand stuff too :) ).

This is not a good measure and the mutterings about fees going directly to diocesan coffers and the like will do nothing to settle the troops and less in attracting punters!

Pax