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SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH
(i)
At Parochial Level
There is a need for more knowledge as to the reasons for the
diversity in accounting practice and why there is so little financial
control and check, and need also for more knowledge as to parish
resourcefulness. Little if anything has been done on the comparative
merits of, and preferences for, weekly or special events giving, nor
on motivation for giving, particularly as to amounts given, and all
would merit attention. A useful study could be made of the role of
the incumbent in parochial business affairs and whether that discourages
either the participation of parishioners in parochial management or
the best utilisation of the skills of qualified lay people. Incidental
to this it might be rewarding to study the functioning of one or more
parochial church councils and in their varying conceptions
of diocesan share. Finally there is useful work to be done on those
churches which have dual values.
(ii)
At the Parochial/Diocesan Interface
Both the synodical system and potential income have now been
operating long enough for their advantages and disadvantages to be
evident. There would be practical value in studies of the satisfaction
or otherwise felt about their operation. Similarly useful would be a
study of the sense of obligation felt by parishes towards their diocese.
(iii)
At Diocesan Level
There would be value in studying the workings of the various
diocesan management groups.
