Bishop George Eric Gordon (1966-74)

Summary

Thursday 18 May 1967

[256-8] Agenda and preconization. Excused: E. B. Gregory (Santan). Bishop's charge.

Matters arising

• 1. St George's had adopted the Manchester scale for assistant clergy, who were not included in the children's allowance scheme.

• 2. A full-time youth officer would be appointed and £ 200 had already been set aside for this.

• 3. A quiet day for the clergy had been arranged and would take place on 30 May at Maughold. Canon Hodkin of Manchester would lead it.

Communications from the president

• 1. Clergy should avoid being away during the holiday season as much as possible so as to be able to minister to visitors.

• 2. Faculty procedures should be observed as a safeguard against unsuitable gifts.

• 3. Confirmations would be announced later.

• 4. No consent would be given for the remarriage of divorced persons within the lifetime of a former spouse. Admission to holy communion would be decided by the bishop, who would normally take the advice of the parish priest.

[259]5. Clergy attendance at festivals was encouraging.

Questionnaire

The archdeacon asked for a prompt return of the questionnaire regarding the income of benefices, parish statistics and dilapidations. These were behind schedule, which was unusual.

Manx Fund

Grants were made to: Bride, Lezayre, Dhoon, Arbory, St Ninian's, Andreas, Sulby, All Saints and Castletown. Some parishes had asked for their grants to be used by the SPCK overseas.

Tithe and glebe lands committee

This was re-elected with the omission of W. E. J. Cringle.

Magazine committee

Financial problems remained. The price should be increased, the inset dropped and help sought from the diocesan board of finance. If 300 more copied could be sold the problems would be solved. The committee was re-elected.

Bray library

There were twenty-five clergy and two lay members. Sixty books were in circulation. There was £14 in hand and £6 still due in subscriptions.

Proctor's report

[259-60] This was given by P. C. H. Matthews.

Anglican-Meth odist con versations

J. F. Foster asked about reconstituting the Anglican body which had had conversations with the Methodists. The bishop agreed to do this.