[Magdalen] Retired clergy (was Re: Epiphany)

[Michael Bishop]

This is an interesting contrast to the position in the CofE. The nearest 
we have to "membership" (apart from Baptism and Confirmation) is having 
one's name on the Church Electoral Roll which entitles you to vote at 
the Annual Parochial Church mneeting and eligible to be elected to 
office either to the Parochial Church Council (Vestry). The clergy 
cannot have their names on the Chuch Electoral Roll, but if licensed to 
serve in the parish they are ex officio members of the vestry. Clergy 
who are not licenced but simply have the Bishop's Permission to 
Officiate can be invited to join the vestry.
On retirement  clergy a very strongly discouraged from remaining in the 
parish(es) which they have served and indeed if they seek help from the 
church to find retirement residence they cannot normally get help to 
live in their former parish. Retired clergy are strongly encouraged NOT 
to continue their association with the parishes they served.
When I retire next year, I will live, at present I know not where, but I 
will not enter any of the parish churches or even parishes in which I 
have served for almost 20 years unless I am specifically invited by the 
new parish priest. That I believe is the only proper way for me in the 
interests of the parishes and any successor. I do hope and expect to be 
given permission to officiate in whatever parish and diocese in which I 
make my new home.
My "home parish" (in Grace's terms) from which I went to my ordination 
training is no more - the church was closed many years ago. I suppose 
the nearest thing I have to a "home" parish in those terms would be the 
parish in which I was baptised as a 3 month old baby - but where I never 
attended worship (except, I suppose, when I attended my sister's baptism 
when I was 7)

....
....
God bless

Michael Bishop
rev at michaelbishop.name

Rector of Boylestone, Church Broughton, Dalbury, Longford, Long Lane, Sutton-on-the-Hill & Trusley

Diocese of Derby, England

On 13/01/2016 15:28, Grace Cangialosi wrote:
> Jim,
> I was told that clergy remain on the rolls of the church where they were a member before ordination. They never belong to another parish after that. I could be wrong; I haven't researched. But I always refer to my "home parish," ie, the one that sent me to seminary, and my membership is still there, AFAIK.
>
>> On Jan 13, 2016, at 9:41 AM, James Handsfield <jhandsfield at att.net> wrote:
>>
>> No clergy is a member of a parish.
>>
>> -------------------------------------
>> Education is its own reward, both for the individual and for society.
>>
>> Jim Handsfield
>> jhandsfield at att.net
>>
>>> On Jan 12, 2016, at 11:50 PM, Mahoney, W. Michael <wmmah at stoneledge.net> wrote:
>>>
>>> There is an irony here, though.  A retired priest must absent him or
>>> herself from his or her former parish.  But, if they remain canonically
>>> resident in the diocese, they must attend Annual Council, or submit a
>>> written excuse.