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| Llandaff diocese 'pilgrimage' to Santiago de Compostela Source: Twitter #llandaffinsantiago |
Next time pew sitters are asked to dig deeper to keep the Church in Wales afloat, they should go to the source of this triptych.
Participants have been adding their memories of how they were wined and dined in Spain after some brief strolls approaching the shrine of the apostle Saint James the Great while parishes were left without clergy, often struggling to make ends meet.
The fruits of their jolly, if any, should be apparent in the Year of Pilgrimage.
The fruits of their jolly, if any, should be apparent in the Year of Pilgrimage.
Surely, these were cheerful takers, not givers.
ReplyDeleteHaving spent £35,000 of church funds they should be more contrite instead of saying what a good time they had. Can I have my money back please?
ReplyDeleteLW
No.
DeleteYou cannot.
But you can certainly stop your giving.
Any church or diocese that can afford to squander money on specially chartered aircraft and such junkets certainly does not need any of my hard earned cash.
£35,000:? I think you could add another £100,000 to that. But, of course, we are not allowed to know the cost because.. altogether now, 1 2 3, 'ITS BUDGETED FOR' A thought occurred to me. As it was Christian Aid week, it would have made good reading if the Pilgrims had decided to donate their £100 (each) spending money to Christian Aid. Fat chance. Hic hic
DeleteIf only they had to publish their accounts, like a charity
DeleteI am pleased that the Diocese saw fit to provide clergy with expenses of £100. That seems a very reasonable amount given that they were away from home for four or so days. In my own job, if I am away from home, I can claim expense of up to £160 a day (I never do - I tend to eat in places that are reasonable and claim only for the odd coffee etc). £25 a day seems an entirely reasonable amount. I hope it meant they could enjoy a few beers as all pilgrims tend to do on the Camino Way. The clergy I have spoken to enjoyed the experience hugely and I suggest the School did much to unite the Diocese. Wonderful.
DeleteI say again AB. "Where is Martin Shipton when we need him?"
ReplyDeleteI wonder where the figure of £100 spending money has come from. 15 euros was all that was handed over to go towards the cost of one meal on one evening. RelectunctPilgrim
ReplyDeleteAny tax specialists out there who could advise whether this jolly would be regarded by HMRC as a taxable perk? The clergy were still being paid for they day job when they were away. They were given a freebie trip abroad, all expenses paid and now it appears there were also given spending money. Does all of this amount to extra taxable income? No doubt Peggy the Pilate can be brought in again to ‘cook the books’?
ReplyDeletePAYE-Bob
"The tax man will never know".
DeleteMy mention of £100 per cleric was just something I read off here and so may not be correct. To be honest, I was hoping it was the case - £25 per day for out of pocket expenses whilst doing your 'job' would not have been unreasonable. As I say, I can claim upto £160 a day when in London overnight. 15 Euros for dinner? I am sure that amount is more acceptable to the many on this site who like to paint a picture of lazy clergy onboard the gravy train. My own experience is that clergy work hard and very much deserved the trip.
ReplyDeletePP Your spurious £100 is neither here nor there - they shouldn't have been on a free visit to Spain in the first place. 'lazy clergy onboard the gravy train'? You provide a fair description.
DeleteLW
LW - tell me why they should not have gone on a pilgrimage together? I don't find anyone on this site offering carefully thought through reasons why this should not have gone ahead? All I read is moan, moan, moan, moan … and moan. Christ came that we might have life and life in all its fulness. Try and get in touch with that fulness for yourselves. These people who say the clergy should have given more to Christian Aid etc, all I ask is, how much did you give? I always give £100 a year during the May campaign. Not a boast (I can afford it). But how much did you give?
DeletePP I give the same as you every year and much more throughout the year to CA and to other charities. It is not that they went together on a pilgrimage but that it was via a charter plane to Spain. No, it was not 'cheaper than it could be done here'. It sounds as if you were on the trip yourself.
DeleteLW
I don't work for the church - work for one of the world's most admired companies -)
DeleteJust as well.
DeleteNobody in their right mind would describe the Church of England or the Church in Wales as "admired" in any way.