- 81 -
4.2.2.25
Average age (or age structure) of the
congregation
X X X X
This was included because it was shown by the Johnson study;
(B17)
to have a strong correlation with level of giving (a point which was
incidentally corroborated by one of the interviewees
(C4)
), but that
study was altogether more advanced than current Church of England
thinking and it was no surprise when the discussants opined that it
could not be made available without considerable effort. (Apparently
something of the sort was attempted when preparing for potential
income - but the parochial returns suggested age levels much higher
than the Diocese felt to be the true case - possibly because parishes
were tending to give the modal rather than the mean congregational
age.) The opinion of the parochial representatives also seemed to
run counter to Johnson - their feeling being that in some of the
more affluent parishes giving from retirement pensioners could be
just as high as from the working parishioners, though it might be
lower in the less affluent. For the present therefore this factor
must be dropped, but should the Diocese ever consider a formula method
for diocesan share (or any form of management information system) it
may merit re-appraisal.
4.2.2.26
Proportional usage of diocesan
facilities (e.g. Retreat House)
X √ X X
Deemed inappropriate because it is diocesan policy to encourage
their usage, and net deficits are therefore allocated equally between
parishes, although it was felt that the number of people making such
usage was an indication of the strength of the parish committed core.
4.2.3
Other aspects
4.2.3.1
Area of parish
√ √ √ √
