Welsh bishops forgo pay rise in solidarity with recession-hit parishioners

By giving up their 1.6% increase as a ‘symbolic gesture’, bishops will save church a total of £18,000 Welsh bishops are giving up their annual pay rise as a symbolic gesture for people hit by the recession. The Church in Wales said 35 people including its most senior cleric, the archbishop of Wales, Dr Barry Morgan, would forgo the 1.6% increase next year. Diocesan bishops are paid £39,576 and the collective gesture of solidarity represents a gross saving of almost £26,000 – around £18,000 net. The church will absorb the money, rather than give it away. Speaking at the Church in Wales’ governing body meeting, in Lampeter, Morgan said: “We recognise this is a difficult time for many of our parishioners as the recession bites and many are losing their jobs or having their salaries frozen or even reduced. “Turning down our pay rises will save the church some money and will, I hope, be a symbolic gesture to show we understand what the communities we serve are going through at the moment and we want to support them.” According to the church, parishioners gave £7.79 each Sunday in 2010 – an increase of 1.8% on the previous year. It represents 2.5% of the average Welsh gross weekly adult income. But, as attendance declines, so does the amount on the collection plate. The move comes as Welsh unemployment figures continue to rise – by 7,000 in the last quarter – with 8.4% of the working population not having a job. Bishops in the Church of England have had a 1.5% pay increase this year – from £38,440 to £39,020. This sum does not include working costs, such as travel and hospitality, or pensions. A 2009 report revealed that the Church of England was struggling to persuade parishioners to part with more money as a way of funding its clergy and maintaining its buildings. Churchgoers were giving 3% of their disposable income compared with the 5% recommended and requested by its parliament, the General Synod, during its first significant debate on donations and giving since 2000. Wales Recession Anglicanism Religion Christianity Riazat Butt guardian.co.uk

Posted by on September 21, 2011. Filed under News, Politics, World News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.