 APPENDIX 13 - BISHOP’S REGULATIONS FOR THE

PAYMENT OF PAROCHIAL AND CASUAL DUTY FEES

TO RETIRED CLERGY, NON-STIPENDIARY MINISTERS
AND READERS
Introduction

• Our first and most important concern in relation to fees is that proper care is given to all
who come into contact with the church, particularly in time of bereavement.

• Secondly, it is right that we should recognise the service offered by retired clergy and
ensure that they receive an appropriate payment.

• Thirdly, we should remember that fees payable on account of occasional offices (i.e.
baptisms, weddings and funerals) form an important part of the diocese’s stipends fund.
They now also form part of the diocese’s contribution to clergy pensions. Without the
funds accruing from fees there would be a greater burden on parishes through parish
share.

There has been much concern throughout the Church of England at the lack of a common
approach to these matters, which has contributed to a widespread misunderstanding of
the principles involved.

Following research by questionnaire throughout the dioceses the Archbishops’ Council

has now sent to each diocese ‘Guidelines for the Payment of Parochial and Casual
Duty Fees to Retired Clergy, Non-Stipendiary Ministers and Readers’.

After consultation with neighbouring dioceses, retired clergy and those responsible for non
stipendiary and reader ministry in this diocese these ‘BISHOP’S REGULATIONS’ are now
issued to all clergy and Readers who hold the Bishop’s licence or permission to officiate.
Funeral Directors and those responsible for the management of crematoria will receive
copies of these Regulations to keep them informed of this development in our practice.

 General Considerations
1 The Regulations seek to strengthen the role of the incumbent or priest-in-charge,
as the one to whom the Bishop entrusts the care of souls in the parish.

2 The valuable ministry of retired clergy is recognised, and a distinction is drawn

between them and Non-Stipendiary Ministers and Readers, who offer their services
on a voluntary basis.

3 Non-Stipendiary Ministers and Readers do not receive fees, but should be fully
reimbursed for travelling expenses.

4 All who undertake casual duty and occasional offices are to have travelling
expenses reimbursed at the standard diocesan rate for clergy. A note of the
current rate is issued each year from the Diocesan Office.

5 The commissioner of the service should pay travel expenses and any other
expenses incurred in addition to the fee.
 CASUAL DUTY FEES FOR RETIRED STIPENDIARY
CLERGY
The guidelines of the Archbishops’ Council recommend that these be linked to the fee
paid to an incumbent for a funeral. This statutory fee is reviewed annually, and such a
linking will remove the need for a separate calculation.
The casual duty fee for retired stipendiary clergy will therefore be one half of the
incumbent’s fee for a funeral service in church. Continuing current practice, a notice
will be circulated from the Diocesan Office at the beginning of each year indicating the
level of fees for that year.
Retired stipendiary clergy should not be paid for casual duty in the parish where they live,
or where they normally worship and minister, except when the incumbent cannot officiate
for reasons of illness, annual leave or diocesan business or during a vacancy in the
benefice.
 PAROCHIAL FEES FOR WEDDINGS AND FUNERALS
A fee equal to two thirds of the incumbent’s fee should be paid to retired
stipendiary clergy, the remaining one third to be paid to the incumbent or Diocesan
Board of Finance in a vacancy.
In the case of funerals it is the Bishop’s expectation that proper pastoral care of bereaved
take place and it is the Incumbent’s responsibility to ensure that this care is carried out.
Fees should not otherwise be re-directed by the Incumbent, eg., to a non-stipendiary
minister who has officiated.
Fees should only be waived at the discretion of the Incumbent in very special
circumstances, normally only in the case of the death of a child. On other occasions the
Archdeacon should be consulted.
 HOUSE FOR DUTY
The provision of pastoral care by means of House for Duty appointments is likely to grow.
This is effectively a stipendiary ministry since the provision of free housing is of
considerable value and, in employment terms, this is payment in return for service.
• When the holder of the post is priest-in-charge all matters relating to fees should be
treated in the same manner as stipendiary appointments, except that as the payment
takes the form of free housing rather than a stipend, the fees should in all cases be
assigned to the Diocesan Board of Finance.
• However, when the holder of a house for duty post is an assistant priest, the fees should
be passed to the Incumbent or Priest-in-Charge.
 NOTES
1 The Parochial Fee income from weddings and funerals is part of the incumbent’s
stipend. The payment of two-thirds of wedding and funeral fees to retired
stipendiary clergy is a deliberate departure from this principle in recognition of the
important ministry of those who are supported by pension alone.
2 When fees are ‘assigned’ to the diocese, they become legally due to the diocese.
3 Retired clergy are asked send to the Diocesan Office at the end of each quarter the
one-third of the fee for funerals & weddings that is due to the Board of Finance,
 using the forms enclosed with these Regulations. Further copies of this form can be
obtained from the Diocesan Office, or photocopies made.
4 Precise records should be kept in each parish of fees received and, if they are
assigned, of their regular dispatch to the Diocesan Office.
5 The Diocesan Office makes periodic cross checks with PCC treasurers on the total
fees received in a particular period. This must agree with the figure in the
Incumbent’s annual declaration of income and expenditure (PSA/PUN pink form).
The Inland Revenue is also able to make spot checks on fees received and the
records kept of them.