TENURE OF CLERGYMEN.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17882, 1 October 1923, Page 2

TENURE OF CLERGYMEN.

STORM AT ANGLICAN SYNOD. A discussion on the advisability of limiting the tenure of the benefice of Anglican clergymen caused a storm at the Anglican Synod at Adelaide recently. Canon Bleby said if. it applied to the clergy it'should apply to the bishops also. It would mean,that,the power of patronage committees would pass to a Bmall body »of Church dignitaries, probably' headed by the bishop. It might some day be a weapon of j tyranny in the hands of a bishop. < What was sauce for the poor parochial goose should be sauce for the diocesan gander. In that case a bishop might find himself at the mercy of a feommittee of archbishops, who would politely tell him they no longer required his services. That would be' the position in which the unfortunate would find himself if the tenure of benefices were limited. They would need to be assured that Bishop Thomas's successors would be a succession of archangels before they submitted to the chances of such a position. A parish priest was not a pawi\ on a chess board, and it would be, a, sorry day for the Church if he were. The security of tenure was «the only offset the clergyman received to the financial disadvantages of his position. Eev. S. J. Houison said that a certain proportion of the Anglican priesthood should be immovable.., If the tenure' were limited, clergymen: going to Synod would bo practically gagged. Rev. J. S. Moyes accused Canon Bleby of the word "juggling." He j was like a flyiwhich wouldVwalk upside down on the ceiling.' " *■"'"'■ Archdeacon Forster said that Canon Bleby was an .expert in drawing .red herrings across the trail. Mr W. J. Kimball said the Anglican Church was far too conservative. Canon Murphy said he had been told that the limitation of tenuro-had been brought forward because the bishop wished to increase his power. City patronage boards never considered the country clergy, but imported men from abroad for all the important positions. If the parish priests were to be moved about every few years the laity, would be put to considerable expense in furnishing rectories a.tid paving the cost of moving. The Bishop said that most men ha'd, done their beet work in a parish in ten years, and it was advisable then to make a change. It was decided to appoint a committee to enquire into the matter and report on the advisability of the limitation of the tenure of benefices in practice and theory.