Anglican Bishops raiding funds to spend on their homes
Pastor Dale Morgan
Anglican Bishops raiding funds to spend on their homes*
By Jonathan Petre, Religion Correspondent
Last Updated: 1:52am GMT 28/02/2007
Church of England bishops were accused yesterday of raiding funds for
cutting-edge mission work to pay for repairs on their crumbling historic
palaces and houses. The row broke out at the General Synod in London
after it emerged that the Church Commissioners are to spend an extra £9
million on bishops' costs this year, mostly on their housing.
Angry Synod members said that the overspend should be met by selling off
bishops' expensive castles, palaces and see houses.
But they claimed that the bishops appeared to be planning to cut the
special funds allocated to pay for pioneering vicars and youth workers,
a move they denounced as "tragic". The disclosure came as the Synod
debated new proposals to help the Church meet its growing clergy pension
bill.
A Church House spokesman said upgrading bishops' houses was part of the
Church's overall mission effort.