- 90 -
B and C) one Sunday in three. The average congregation per service
would be 60, but the average per Sunday only 20. And if part of
diocesan share were allocated on size of congregation, then the
Diocese could, by making that 'congregation per Sunday' effectively
reduce those parishes' liabilities if they were prepared to so combine.
If the saving was sufficiently large then it is reasonable to think
that parishes would tend to follow the Diocesan line. (Conversely
of course, the Diocese could discourage combined services, and
encourage separate services in each church by making the criterion
'congregation per service'.) To use a formula in this way it must
be composed of a sufficient number of divisions to enable the Diocese -
by budgeting for an adequate working balance - to make up any shortfall
elsewhere, and it is also necessary for diocesan policy to be clear
and intelligible to parishes. But, remembering that the Diocese is
facing a number of issues (e.g. disposition of clergy) for the
adequate handling of which parochial cooperation is essential, and,
foreseeing the possibility that the share will continue to increase
substantially, this is a facility which may, at some future date,
merit re-appraisal.
