Church Embraces Self-supporting Priests and Deacons
Diocesan Press Service. August 1, 1969 [78-7]
NEW YORK, N. Y. -- "Self-supporting" priests and deacons will play an important part in the expansion of the ministry of the Episcopal Church if proposals to come before the Church's Special General Convention in South Bend, Ind., August 30 to September 5 are finally approved.
Such "self-supporting" priests and deacons would work in secular occupations and receive little or no monetary compensation for their ministerial functions, which would be carried out in their spare time and on week-ends.
Proposals for such a "self-supporting" priesthood are being drafted by a group of Bishops, theologians and priests, many of whom have been involved in experimental programs for the education and deployment of self-supporting priests.
At a conference held last April in Columbus, O., sponsored by the Executive Council's section for Professional Leadership Development, this group heard of recent developments in this field and of the growing need for such ministries in today's pluralistic society from the Rev. Boone Porter of the General Theological Seminary, New York City.
One reason such self-supporting ministries are needed is economic. The maintenance of priests for small and poor congregations is a heavy charge on Diocesan resources. Such money could be freed for missionary outreach if more self-supporting priests were available. Many extra-parochial, institutional and industrial ministries could also be performed by skilled and committed persons already active in these fields, and ordained specifically for service to persons where they work.
The Church's mission among the poor and among ethnic minorities at home and among persons overseas could also be enhanced if indigenous leaders were prepared and ordained to minister to their own communities.
In addition, the self-supporting ministry could provide a role for priests who leave full-time parish work for secular employment yet who wish to carry out a sacramental ministry on a part time basis. They could also retain coverage under The Church Pension Fund.
In a recent letter Robert A. Robinson, president of the Church Pension Fund, said that "worker priests" could be fully protected under Church retirement provisions.
"First of all," he said, "a priest is a priest and the Pension Fund cannot be in the position of deciding, especially in today's world, which priest is more priestly or has a more valid ministry than another. Consequently, we feel that if one's Bishop states that he is performing a ministry, and so informs us, we can use the salary that the priest is earning as the basis for receiving pension assessments. "
In this manner any "worker priest" could receive retirement coverage to the full extent of his salary, including income from Church and non-Church sources. Provision could also be made for a part-time ministry on a prorata basis.
The French and English worker-priest movements and experiments since 1930 in Indiana, Michigan, Idaho and elsewhere have shown the advantages and possibility of such an approach. Recognizing this, the Lambeth Conference of 1968, a meeting of Anglican Bishops from all parts of the world, urged the Church to encourage development of self- supporting ministries.
Work groups at the Columbus conference discussed various approaches to the problem, obstacles to be overcome and changes in the Episcopal Church's Canons to be proposed to General Convention.
Alterations or except ions to present educational requirements were also suggested in order to permit skilled or indigenous leaders to be ordained after a period of special training, with provision for a program of on-going education.
Bishops, it was proposed, could license ordinands on a year-to-year basis for special ministries within a given Diocese.
Some participants suggested that distinctions between Church and secularly employed priests be abolished ultimately as a multi-faceted ministry develops. This would enable priests to move freely back and forth as needs and opportunities demanded.
A conference resolution urged Dioceses not only to welcome but to seek out skilled and dedicated persons for such ministries, to provide for their training and continuing educations, and to speed up their assignment to industry and other institutions and areas of need.