We are meeting the challenge. As a result of concerns about the fairness of the parish shares system the Diocesan Synod committed the Bishop's Council to look at it again once the new diocesan structures were in place in 1995. This group has now met and considered a number of schemes from deaneries and individuals. The working of the present system was also reviewed. The group now affirms the present Parish Shares system in which costs are shared between deaneries on the basis of church income and 'membership'The 'membership' is defined as one third of the parish electoral roll, plus two thirds of the usual Sunday attendance by people over the age of 16.
Information is taken from the annual returns made by parishes.
The most recent figures are used, and changes will be made on a rolling three year basis, to smooth out sudden changes. This proposal will be considered in October by the Diocesan Synod.