|
- 72 -
the changing volume and structure of the diocesan share (as shown in Figure 1.) should continue far into the future then it is possible to foresee a time when the parishes would again become restless at the comparative coarseness of the way in which potential income distinguishes between their respective resources. 4.2 Isolating Parish Variables
The initial conception of the variables was achieved by a quizzing technique - asking anyone who was in a position to be sensitive to inter-parochial differences to make a list of such variables as might be relevant. Those responding were specifically instructed not to limit themselves to what seemed to them practical, but rather to record anything which pointed to a difference in resourcefulness between one parish and another. The reason for this was that ideas are precious and should not be stifled at birth but rather be circulated and given chance to mature. Those ideas that really are impractical can easily be eliminated later, and there is always the chance that an idea impractical in its original conception can be amended by a different point of view into something more viable. The list that emerged from this quizzing ran to some fifty factors, but there also emerged some markedly varying points of view. Indeed so diverse were some opinions that it was hardly possible to handle them in one-off interviews - it was evidently essential that if the eventual formula was to have any chance of viability then those differing points of view should be brought together and requested to simultaneously consider each factor. This was done at a series of meetings but was only partially successful, partly because of difficulty in arranging times and places convenient to all, and partly because, on some factors, consensus could not be achieved. Nevertheless useful work was done, and whilst the results which follow must not be treated as perfect, they can be considered a prepared basis from which to proceed further. |
| |
|
|