§ 5.40 p.m.
§
THE LORD BISHOP OF CHESTER rose to move to resolve, That in accordance with the Church of England Assembly (Powers) Act, 1919, t his House do direct that the Diocesan Stipends Funds Measure, 1953, be presented to Her Majesty for the Royal Assent. The right reverend Prelate said: My Lords, the Reorganisation Areas Measure, 1944, and the Pastoral Reorganisation Measure, 1949, provided between them that there should be established in every diocese—with the exception of Sodor and Man—a diocesan stipends fund to be held by the Church Commissioners. Into these funds
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are paid monies arising under schemes and orders made under these Measures, and also donations, legacies and other contributions received by the Commissioners for the purposes for which the funds were created. The general purpose of the funds under the existing Measures is stated to be:
such purpose connected with the cure of souls
within the diocese as the Bishop, with the concurrence of the diocesan board of finance, may from time to time direct. Doubt has been expressed as to the exact meaning of the words:
such purpose connected with the cure of souls,
and it is clear that, whatever it is, the meaning might be interpreted much more widely than was intended when the original Measure was passed. The real purpose of the diocesan stipends funds is to provide or augment the stipends of incumbents, curates and others, such as lay readers, actively engaged in the cure of souls.
§ One object of this Measure is, therefore, to restrict the use of the funds to these purposes only. The second object of the Measure is to provide for a proper differentiation between capital and income; and the third object is to enable the Commissioners themselves to hold the actual stocks or property representing the funds on their general account, and to credit the funds themselves in the dioceses with an equivalent cash value. This is to provide a measure of stability, and also to safeguard the various stipends funds from fluctuations in value. This Measure is, I submit, entirely uncontroversial. It passed through tile Church Assembly without a Division at any stage and, as your Lordships are well aware, it has been reported upon favourably by the Ecclesiastical Committee. I therefore beg to move.
§ Moved to resolve, That in accordance with the Church of England Assembly (Powers) Act, 1919, this House do direct that the Diocesan Stipends Funds Measure, 1953, be presented to Her Majesty for the Royal Assent.—(The Lord Bishop of Chester.)
§ On Question, Motion agreed to, and ordered accordingly.