Measure for Measure

Extract

The Archbishops' Council has set up a Review of the Dioceses and Pastoral Measures and related Measures, inter alia, ‘… to ensure flexible and cost-effective procedures which fully meet changing pastoral and mission needs…’. This article is mainly devoted to the Pastoral Measure, the current use of which may be of interest. There are about 200 pastoral schemes and orders a year, of which about one in six attract objections. These schemes result in a net reduction of about 70 benefices a year (1%). At the same time, around 20 churches are declared redundant a year (0.1%), of which 60% are found suitable uses and less than 20% demolished. However, not all uses provide a permanent solution and old cases often require re-visiting.