71 Percent of Priests in Parish Work
Diocesan Press Service. December 6, 1963 [XVI-7]
While Episcopal theological education prepares all ministerial candidates for local parish roles, only 71.8 per cent of the Episcopal Church's 9, 800 priests are actually involved in parish work.
This was the result of a first-of-its kind survey conducted by the General Division of Research and Field Study. The survey was based on what Episcopal clergy are doing in 1963. Its results were disclosed at a conference Nov. 15-17 sponsored by the Division of Christian Ministries in Chicago.
Of the Episcopal Church's total clergy, only 59.1 per cent are in charge of parishes while an additional 12.7 per cent serve as parish assistants.
Other survey findings show that 10 per cent are retired, 3 per cent are school chaplains, 2.7 per cent are on school staffs, 2.1 per cent are on the staffs of dioceses or the National Council, 4 per cent are chaplains, 0.5 per cent are in monastic orders, 1.5 percent are doing other than employed ministerial work, and 4.8 per cent have no working titles.
For participants in the Christian Ministries conference lead by the Rev. Robert N. Rodenmayer, the division's executive director, the survey served as a second reminder that all is not well within Episcopal theological education.
From a year-long survey on this subject conducted by the Christian Ministries division and announced at the conference, it was revealed that a great gap exists between what seminarians are trained to do and what they actually do, once they become ordained.