Statistics show increased ordinations, vocations and giving
Posted: Friday, October 24, 2008, 17:39 (BST)
New Church of England statistics published on Thursday have revealed increases in the number of clergy being trained and ordained. They also show increases in the amount parishioners are donating towards the mission of the Church. The figures confirm the changing patterns of church attendance, published earlier this year.
Vocations
Official Church Statistics, published on the Church of England website, show increases in the number of clergy being trained and numbers being ordained. The Church recommended 595 future clergy for ordination training in 2007, the greatest number for more than a decade and maintaining the upward trend since the mid-'90s. In 1994, 408 candidates were recommended for training.
Part of the increase is made up of younger candidates, with 243 of those recommended for training in 2007 being under 40; compared with 239 in 2006, 209 in 2005 and 188 under 40 in 2004.
To further encourage young vocations to the priesthood, the Ministry Division of the Archbishops' Council has developed the Call Waiting campaign including the website Callwaiting.org.uk, a glossy magazine with essential information for prospective clergy, and a series of eye-catching posters. Audio interviews with young trainee priests, curates and vicars on the Call Waiting website chronicle the journey from initial sense of calling through discernment to training and ministry.
The Church ordained 552 new clergy in 2007, an increase on the 481 ordained in 2006 and the highest number since the year 2000. Overall, 262 women and 290 men were ordained in 2007, though just over half (52%) of these were ordained to non-stipendiary ministry. Of those ordained to full-time, stipendiary ministry, 162 were men and 102 were women.
The comments below are readers' personal opinions and are in no way intended to reflect the editorial opinion of Christian Today.
Added: Monday, October 27, 2008, 18:27 (GMT)
It is quite interesting to read when, as far as ordination and training for same is concerned, I looked into entering the ministry (CofE), I was told that, although my calling wasn't doubted, it wasn't up to God as to who enters training, but the CofE!
This was a shock, especially as it was at a time when I read that there were a great number of clergy leaving the Church (April 2008)! I feel that the Church is quite picky as to who they want. I have Asperger's Syndrome, and was quite up front about it, but, although my interviewer claimed to understand, it seemed that he didn't want to have someone joining up in stipendary training that could be a problem.
Despite my being a Christian since 1976, and in the CofE all that time, in different fellowships, as I moved house, career and life direction, it wasn't enough, and that was the 'reason' given. I felt that my calling, something I didn't look for, was summariliy dismissed.
Still, that seems to display and give the lie to the 'humility' of Church organisations that don't have their ears and hearts open to God's leading. And that is showing itself up in how the Archbishop of Canterbury is rolling over for Islam, and not taking a Scriptural line against the current events that are happening in this country - not leading from the front, but intellectualising, apologising and dissembling the Bible to the point of being ineffectual!
It's no wonder people are leaving the CofE, as there is no real Scriptual teaching - witness the wet Bible Sunday (Oct 26 2008), and it's message of 'Bible poverty' in Britain. It's not that many families don't have a Bible in their houses, it's just that they don't read it, or if they do, don't understand it! It's just seen as a LUCKY CHARM!!! (And what's the point of giving a hungry, bewildered 4 year old a Bible and not giving her food to survive, or her family the same, in an impoverished country?)
Still, if people are just coming three times a year, and baptisms, weddings and funerals, at least the church buildings are being used. But regularly? If the Church does not meet the needs of their parishoners, never mind the indigent Christian fellowship, the Church will be seen, and is, as irrelevant. And denegrates the Gospel of Christ.
Never mind about the perceived money-grubbing for the CofE, spiritually hungry Christians need solid teaching, without fear of being seen as non-PC, or upsetting people. Maybe they need shaking up - the CofE leadership certainly needs it, and God will oblige, as He usually starts the shaking up with His own house first, and then world. What's going on is nothing to what's coming, and the True Church needs to be ready.
Amen.
Chris Maguire, Ventnor, IOW, UK
