Retirement Information
Clergy and Stipends
The Venerable Geoffrey W Arrant
8 Elm House
Saxilby
Lincoln
LN1 2QH
Tel: 01522 826967
Annual Events
Car Insurance
Charities
Fees
Funeral Services
Guidelines for Rural Deans
Holiday Accommodation
Household Contents Insurance
Other Ministries
Pensions
Permission to Officiate
Residential and Nursing Homes
Retired Clergy Association
Retired Clergy Support Group
The Christian Council On Ageing
Useful Websites
The Adviser is appointed by the Bishop and responsible to him, and to the Diocesan Human Resources (Clergy/Lay). He is available to advise individuals seeking help with preparation for retirement; co-operate with the Training Officer in the provision of pre-retirement courses; maintain contact with the Church of England Pensions Board and charities in the provision of support for those in special need; help in the provision of post retirement courses and events; and, most important, seek to provide pastoral care in conjunction with Rural Deans for the retired clergy and their families.
Annual Events for Clergy
In recent years, there have been annual lunches for the retired clergy and partners, at modest cost, with the balance being met through the generosity of the Bishop. There are also local social gatherings - most recently at Edenham, and at South Ormsby.
Car Insurance
Does your car insurance cover you in the event of an accident whilst travelling in connection with taking a service, wedding or funeral, in a vacant parish, or associated pastoral visit?This matter was raised with the Ecclesiastical Insurance Group (Feb/March, 2000), who confirm "that clergy motor policies [held with EIG] automatically include business use and therefore provide cover in the event of an accident occurring whilst travelling in connection with carrying out clerical duties."
You may wish to check with the Company with whom you have your car insurance?
(For those with EIG Policies)
EIG, Ecclesiastical Direct (Personal Insurance)Beaufort House, Brunswick Road, Gloucester GL1 1JZ
Charities
There are a number of National Charities for retired clergy, widows and dependants. It is possible to make direct contact with them but local advice will be gladly given. In addition there are diocesan funds including the Diocesan Retired Clergy Fund and the Clergy Widows General Purposes Fund from which grants are made. The national charities now operate a ‘network' with the Pensions Board so that applications may be addressed to the appropriate fund. The Adviser/Officers and staff at Church House, Lincoln are glad to help. Details of the main charities are given in the Appendices (see coloured pages at back). Other charities are listed in the Church of England Yearbook.
Fees (Otherwise referred to as ‘Occasional Payment')
Diocesan arrangements apply for Retired Clergy with a valid PTO (Bishop's Permission to Officiate) taking Services in a Vacant Benefice or for taking a Funeral or Wedding. Information is usually advised in circulations to Retired Clergy but can be obtained from Church House, Lincoln.
RURAL DEANS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ORGANISING ARRANGEMENTS IN VACANT BENEFICES/PARISHES.
Occasional Payments are paid only for Church services up to the normal pattern for Sunday public services in the parish or group and, in addition, for no more than 1 weekday public service. The Occasional Payment for the main Eucharist service on a Sunday is larger than the Occasional Payment for other services. This is, in part, to recognise that there are growing numbers of people duly licensed/authorised who can take non-Eucharist services.
An Occasional Payment rate is also paid for taking a Funeral or Wedding in a vacancy.
CLAIMS FOR TAKING SERVICES, FUNERALS, IN A VACANCY SHOULD BE CLEARED WITH AND COUNTERSIGNED BY THE RESPECTIVE RURAL DEAN.
Where asked to take a Service, Funeral or Wedding to cover for a serving Parish Priest (ie not in a vacancy), or where this is on a regular basis, arrangements over any payment should be determined between the individual, Parish Priest, and PCC(s). The Occasional Payment rates may be used as a guide.
Travel costs for ‘Additional Ministry' undertaken in Vacant Parishes by Retired Clergy (eg Private Communions; Hospital sick; Bereavement, and Pastoral Care visits) should be negotiated with the relevant PCCs.
Note: In a vacancy details of what additional ministry is to be undertaken and for which reimbursement of travel costs may be claimed from PCCs, need to be worked out beforehand, in conjunction with the Rural Dean and, if necessary, the Archdeacon. It is best if this is in writing.
Funeral Services
The Bishop has issued directions under Canon B38 for the Diocese. Of concern to us are:-
The main change is that the present obligation of the parish minister to take all funerals of resident parishioners, those who die in the parish, or those on the electoral roll, now extends officially to all funerals in (council) cemeteries or crematoria. Other clergy (including retired clergy) may take funerals under the jurisdiction of the parish minister or, in his absence, the Rural Dean and should not regard themselves as Crematoria Chaplains, operating on their own. The Rural Dean of the place where the cemetery or crematorium is situated is responsible for a rota panel of clergy to officiate if the parish minister, for whatever reason, is not available.
Introduction
The diocese is responsible for all retired clergy in our diocese, including Deacons, Deaconesses and Accredited Lay Workers.
- The Rural Dean may:
- Delegate his role as "visitor" to a suitable retired priest in his deanery, and consult with the Adviser about this.
- Share together with the Clergy Retirement Adviser the pastoral care of retired clergy and their families.
- Report back to the Adviser on any matters that may be viewed to warrant diocesan action, contact with the Pensions Board, or any matter of financial or housing need.
- The Rural Dean may be invited to visit retired clergy whose PTO (Permission to Officiate) is about to expire.
- The Clergy Retirement Adviser, who is supported by a small group of retired clergy across the diocese, can be contacted for advice and assistance.
- The Adviser particularly requests information about incoming retired clergy, sickness, bereavement, or any problem that may arise with retired clergy.
- The Joint Clergy Widows Officers (The Revd Canon M Boughton and Mrs Doreen Boughton Tel: 01522 569653 E-mail: mboughton@aol.com) are responsible for widows, widowers and their dependants.
- Please note that Church House, Lincoln Tel: 01522 504050, is available as "back-up". The Bishop's Personal Assistant may be available to help on matters of authorisation and retirement ministry generally.
Holiday Accommodation
Some charities will be prepared to help with holidays; the Church Army have some provision; St Deiniol's Residential Library are glad to welcome retired clergy for holiday and refreshment at special rates; unfortunately the Bishop Ingle House at Wells on Sea has closed. Other places that offer holidays include retreat and conference houses listed in the Church of England Yearbook. The friends of the Clergy Corporation offer holiday flats in Eastbourne.
Household Contents Insurance
Are you covered for loss of, or damage to, household contents arising from occasional visitors to your home in connection with your taking a service, eg. such as a wedding or funeral interview?
As with the issue of car insurance cover (mentioned above) this matter was raised with the Ecclesiastical Insurance Group (Feb/March, 2000), who confirm "that retired clergy [who hold Household Insurance with EIG] are covered for loss of, or damage to, household contents occurring under such circumstances."
(For those with EIG Policies)
EIG, Ecclesiastical Direct (Personal Insurance)
Beaufort House, Brunswick Road, Gloucester, L1 1JZ
Tel: 01452 384848
Other Ministries
Retired clergy can play a useful role in the community where we live. Larger towns have Councils of Voluntary Service. Volunteer Bureau, Samaritans and Citizen Advice Bureau, etc. All these need volunteers, and retired clergy and partners are uniquely equipped to help, mostly, this will be unpaid, voluntary work, sometimes with expenses paid. Such work has the double advantage of getting to know the neighbourhood, and enabling the exercise of (priestly) ministry in a non-ecclesiastical setting. Of course church associations and groups, eg Childrens Society, church schools, etc, often need help too. Ask your Rural Dean!
Pensions
You will, I trust, find every help from the Pensions Board and its Officers. They are of course bound by the pensions provision agreed by the Board with the Church Commissioners and others. However, as circumstances change, they will view sympathetically any deterioration in pensioners financial situation, and they operate a ‘safety net' policy with regard to clergy and widows pensions. There are agreed lower limits beneath which they will ensure that pensioners and widows incomes do not fall, by augmentation of pensions and/or adjustment of rent or interest payments on property.
Church of England Pensions Board
29 Great Smith Street, London SW1P 3PS
020-7878-1800
enquiries@cepb.c-of-e.org.uk
(Diocesan Office), Edward King House, The Old Palace, Lincoln LN2 1PU
01522 504050
Permission To Officiate
All Retired Clergy are reminded that they must obtain the Bishop's Permission to Officiate before conducting services in the Diocese of Lincoln. Permission to Officiate expires after three years and needs to be renewed. Before a PTO is granted, it will be necessary to undergo a disclosure check by the Criminal Records Bureau. The Bishop's Personal Assistant will advise you on the process.
In the parish in which you reside you can:-
- Assist the Parish Priest in the taking of normal services
- Assist the Parish Priest in the taking of weddings and funerals
- Assist the Rural Dean in the taking of services in parishes during interregna
- Represent retired clergy in your PCC, Deanery Synod and Diocesan Synod and this applies to licensed retired, and retired with PTO clergy over 70 years of age.
All fees will of course be submitted in the tax returns of retired clergy as part of income, subject to a deduction (usually 10% for ‘preparation' plus mileage expenses) the mileage rates are published annually by Church House, Lincoln. Clergy with supplementary pensions are required to declare them as above, to the Pensions Board and the supplementary pensions may be reduced accordingly.
Residential And Nursing Homes
The Pensions Board administers a number of retirement homes for clergy, widows and dependants, and one nursing home (Manormead). Holidays and respite care may be available at these homes. There are usually waiting lists for the homes, and it is wise to contact the Pensions Board as early as possible.
In some cases, retired clergy may need other residential or nursing accommodation. It is advisable to go through the normal channels by way of GP, Social Services and their assessment of need. These avenues must be explored and help be obtained with fees, but where there is an unavoidable shortfall financially, the Pensions Board and the charities may be able to help by augmentation. The Diocese through the Adviser/Officers, and Church House, Lincoln, will be glad to talk over your problem with you and advise.
Other help, for instance, with home nursing and car, may be available from the various charities.
Retired Clergy Association
The Association is a fellowship of retired stipendiary and non-stipendiary clergy of the Church of England and is recognised by Lambeth as representing the interests of the retired clergy. It produces a newsletter and there are local groups. In 1991 a report 'Ministry in Retirement' had a significant influence on the church's thinking; it has been subsequently revised. Application forms for membership are automatically sent to stipendiary clergy when they retire. Information may be obtained from the Hon Secretary: J L Sansom, Kiggon Cottage, St Clement, Truro, Cornwall. TR1 1TE. (Free Life Membership of the RCA is available for those who retire from service in Lincoln Diocese (as from 1st September, 2001) and continue to live within the Diocese. Contact the Pastoral Department at Church House, Lincoln. LN2 1PU Telephone (01522 504036). The Area Representative at present is Canon Peter Hall, Hawkshead, 6 Abbey Rise, Barrow on Humber, North East Lincs.DN19 7IF Telephone (01469 208268) hwphall@gmail.com Members may apply for bursaries to the Association. The bursaries are to help with study or research undertaken by retired clergy who need to equip themselves by specialist training or study for future ministry.
Retired Clergy Support Group
This is a group of clergy who support the Clergy Retirement Adviser. The membership of the group is approved by the Bishop, and the group meet regularly to review provisions and to organise events. An annual newsletter is circulated and information about events from time to time. The members are spread around the diocese so that they are available to the retired clergy. An updated list of members of the Support Group will be provided from time to time.
The Christian Council On Ageing
This is an ecumenical group which produces an excellent quarterly journal '+ Plus'. The Council seeks to explore the Christian potential and vocation of old age and to promote theological reflection on ageing and to encourage an educated response to ageism in the churches. Membership is open to clergy and laity. Enquiries should be sent to Mrs Sue Kennedy, Stoneway, Hornby Road, Appleton Wiske, Northallerton DL6 2AF Tel: 01609 881408, E-mail: joseph.kennedy@UKgateway.net, Website: www.ccoa.org.uk
Useful Websites
Stuart Court Supported Housing Scheme
Pension Board Manormead Care Home
Sons of the Clergy
The Foundation of Edward Storey
Bromley & Sheppard's Colleges
St Deiniol's Library
Frederick Andrew Convalescent Trust
Broken Rites
Independent Age
