|
|
bath & wells: diocesan information
Sickness Benefit Guidelines
Whilst your incumbent is off sick
-
Service Fees
Fees for the normal pattern of services in each church on a Sunday and with one mid-week service = £25.50 per service (2007)
- Travel Expenses
Travel expenses should be paid, at the current recommended diocesan rate of 40p per mile (this rate is reviewed in April each year)
General
Payment for taking occasional services together with the cost of travel is made by the Diocesan Board of Finance for a period of 8 weeks commencing the beginning of the 5th week from the time that an incumbent is ill, such that he/she is unable to take a church service. They must not dip in and out of work but be continually off duty. Continuing payments are made at the discretion of the Board of Finance.
Eligible Clergy
The above fees are not payable to full-time stipendiary clergy, non-stipendiary ministers or readers, although they are entitled to travelling expenses. Fees will only be paid to other clergy who hold the Bishop’s licence or the Bishop’s permission to officiate within the diocese. It is the responsibility of the Churchwardens arranging the service to ensure that this requirement is complied with. Where that is not the case then no payment will be made by the Board of Finance to reimburse the PCC.
Weddings, Funerals, Cremations and Burial of Ashes - Where the service is taken by full-time stipendiary clergy or by a non-stipendiary minister, the fees are normally paid to the incumbent who will then include this on his/her monthly fee income record sheet to the Diocesan Office. However, once sickness benefit to the parishes steps in at the beginning of the 5 th week, the administrator/treasurer is asked to send the parochial fees received to the diocese each month on behalf of their incumbent in order to give their incumbent a complete rest and to keep the records up to date.
- Where the service is taken by a retired minister with permission to officiate, the two third apportionment of the fee should be retained by the officiant*, with an entry included in the monthly fee income form to the diocese together with the remaining one third fee.
In all cases, travelling expenses may be claimed at the current diocesan rate, but in the case of funerals and interments they are to be paid by the undertaker. For weddings, they are a matter for private agreement between the parties. The diocese does not make payment for these services.
* Proportioned in accordance with The Bishop's Guidelines (2/3rds to officiant and 1/3rd to incumbent)
Method of Claim and Payment
Two methods are available and it is entirely a matter for the discretion of the Churchwardens which is used.
- The Treasurer/Churchwarden submit a claim to the Diocesan Office which then pays the officiant direct OR
- The Treasurer/Churchwarden arranges for payment to the officiant out of PCC funds and then submit a claim to the Diocesan Office for reimbursement to the PCC
In both cases the claim form will need to be sent to the Diocesan Office on a monthly basis. Please ensure that the form is completed fully and clearly. If you have any queries please contact Lynn Durbin.
THE BATH AND WELLS DIOCESAN BOARD OF FINANCE
The Old Deanery Wells Somerset BA5 2UG
Tel: 01749 670777
Tel Lynn Durbin: 01749 685139
e-mail: lynn.durbin@bathwells.anglican.org
|
|
|
|
|
