FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Q/ Who is this Jesus guy?
Q/
I'm
interested in working for the church...
Q/
I'd like to give some
feedback...
Q/ I have a complaint
about a
member of the Clergy, what can I do?
Q/ Is the Diocese rich?
Q/ Marriage:
Please visit our Weddings
page >>
Q/
Baptism:
Please visit our Baptism
page >>
Q/
Funerals:
Please visit our Funerals
page >>
In-house queries:
Q/ Common
Tenure! What's going on there? (pdf)
Q/ Where
can I find guidelines for working with children and young people?
Q/
Can you help us develop a strategy for our church?
- Contact
Mission and Ministry
- View
Growth Programme information
Q/ What is the Parish Share and how is
it
calculated?
Q/ Buildings
and maintenance:
Please visit our
Buildings page >>
Q/ Ask us a question we haven't
thought of!
If you find yourself champing at the bit trying to have a very
simple question answered that doesn't appear to be here, please get in touch with
the Diocesan Office and we'll see if we can give you a hand.
Alternatively, use this form to
submit a question.
See also:Church of England FAQ >>
Ask the Bishop a question!
Please email:
Leave us some feedback, or get in touch!
If you're tearing your hair out with an issue, the best thing to do is get in touch with Church House. However, if you'd like to submit a question to be added to this FAQ, give us some feedback on the website, or aren't sure where to direct your query, please email us at this address:Q/ Who is this Jesus guy?
A/ He's the reason the Diocese of Bristol exists. To learn about Jesus, click here.
To learn about Jesus' work, click here.
See also: Rejesus website >>
Q/ Is the Diocese rich?
A/ No. We rely on the money that people put into the collection plate on Sundays (over 70% of our Revenue comes this way). One or two Bristol Charities are very generous and support some areas of work, but the majority is paid for by the faithful congregations giving generously week by week.
The Diocese does own a significant amount of property, but this is all functional and is used as clergy residences and for worship purposes.
Q/ What is the Parish
Share and how is it calculated?
A/ The
Parish Share is an
amount of money submitted by each Parish to cover Diocesan costs
(including that of the parish's own clerical salary). Calculations
based on church income, size and location can vary greatly, but the
below offers a typical percentage break-down of the share:
Stipend (salary)
50.5%
Employer’s
NI
3%
(average)
Pension
contribution 14.8%
Housing
costs
12.8%
(property dept
average)
Council
Tax 4.9%
(average)
Clergy malpractice
ins 0.04%
Training 6.5%
(PDT dept average)
Church House overheads 7.4%
(incl. Area Dean and Archdeacon costs averaged out)
Training includes Post Ordination as well as on-going professional
development - the cleric will not have that proportion spent each year,
but it is front loaded in this model and spread over the working
lifetime. Overheads in Church House are not exhaustive, but includes
such things as the time spent in payroll and pension work, provision of
advice to clergy, Area Deans expenses and Archdeacons’
stipends
and admin costs, as these go to support the clergy and their families.
Q/ I have a
complaint about a member of the clergy – what can I do?
A/ A high
standard of integrity
and service is expected of our Clergy. Mostly that standard is met, but
occasionally individual Clergy can fall short of what is expected. When
this occurs there are different ways to respond:-
- When it is a minor incident or behaviour, you are encouraged to share
your disappointment with the Clergy person concerned and resolve it
together.
- When that is insufficient, a word with the Area or Rural Dean or the
Archdeacon [use this
tool to locate relevant Area Deans and Archdeacons, or if you
know who you need, simply contact
us]
will lead to someone on the bishop’s staff speaking to the
member
of the clergy concerned so that the matter is dealt with and rectified
informally.
- When the problem is more serious, the Clergy Discipline Measure
provides a procedure for handling complaints. Please visit this link for more information and
the latest procedures.
But at whatever level you are concerned, please be assured that your
complaint will be taken seriously.