Parsonage Houses threatened: What are the issues?

http://www.anglican-mainstream.net/index.php/2008/01/31/parsonage-houses-threatened-what-are-the-issues/#more-2765

[Anglican Mainstream] 31 Jan 2008--Sir, CEN readers, particularly the laity, should be concerned at your report last week over plans to transfer the ownership of vicarages from incumbents (vicars) to central church funds. Historically, the vast majority of vicarages/ parsonages were paid for by donations from parishioners/patrons to house a priest to look after the spiritual needs of people in a parish. The legal ownership of the parsonage remained with the vicar thereby giving him/her, and the parish, some security from interference from Bishops. Vicars own property as ‘sole corporate’ and are said to enjoy the ‘freehold’.

However, in a wide ranging review of clergy conditions of service, the Bishops, through a General Synod committee, are recommending the freehold be scrapped, replaced with a new title called ‘common tenure’ and that all property be transferred en-bloc to diocesan Parsonage Boards or to Diocesan Boards of Finance. No substantial reason has yet been given for transferring vicarages to central bodies and lay representatives of diocese on General Synod are bracing themselves for a fight at next month’s General Synod sessions in London (February 11-14).