Is the Church of Ireland a Religious Organisation or a Business Organisation Now.

Maybe the rector has been away on holidays?

Should be but most parishes whether CofI or RC, aren't exactly overstaffed these times. Hope it works out OK, difficult times ahead.

Did anyone from your family become a priest? No. None from mine, or most other families, either.

Parishes in most churches are now vastly understaffed and simply won't offer the same responsiveness as before.

Yes it sucks that you're discovering this when someone is passing. But the whole country is going to be finding similar in the next 5 years as clergy retire.

And yes, I am sorry about your father. Hope the week goes as well as it can, given the circumstances.

The CoI don't collect 'dues' from parishioners homes like the RC, and if you were a CW in a CoI church, you definitely should not have been doing that. Were you referring to the Sunday collection? That is not called 'dues', it's is just called an 'offering'.

Regarding the situation you are in, I can say in my own parish although money is usually high on the agenda due to the fact that the congregation is a lot smaller than before so income is down and we still have to pay for our utilities just like everyone else, our Rector, will not ever ignore the call of a family when someone is seriously ill. I know this for a fact. Not all Rectors are the same.

The OP stated its church of ireland, there clerical people are clergy not priests , A person is dying here and the op was told that one they had recieved there emails and messages, and that the Rector would ring that day, I personally think its a disgrace this that no follow up happened,

Wouldnt a Simple phone call have been a help or reassurance, I think the Op should ring Joe , or better still have a Prime Time Investigation in to the way Parishoners are been Treated in there Hour of Need, and yes i do have a family member who is a Clergyman.

The Church of Ireland have some Clergy who like to have a High Church actually try to copy the Catholic Church now, the old fashioned Service is not Good enough for these Clergy.

One of the main things about been A Rector is that you have faith in your religion, so you can teach your religion to your parishoners LISTEN to there Querys, help Them and Spread the Gospel not the Cheque Book.

Baptize , Marry and IF you can find one Bury you Would have thought the last was probably the most important of the lot,

I think its a Disgrace that the Church of Ireland, Carry on this way,

No wonder nobody wants to go to Church anymore or people want to become clergy its a Business.

Does it mention in that Reading the reason why we Dont have Clergy,

As regards "Dues", the word implies some sort of obligation to pay/contribute. There is no such thing in Protestant churches but there is usually some sort of expectation that anyone who wants to consider themselves a member of the church should have a financial as well as a spiritual interest in the running of the church/parish, no matter how small that is.

This is the first time I have ever come across 'Churchwardens' actually opening envelopes and recording the contents. That should be the Treasurer's job! I'd like to know if you are a member of a High Church? They may use RC traditions and I am not familiar with those. Would you clarify please as it would help all here to understand your comments better?

you should have had contact back.

definitely.

but.....

Are you members of the Parish?

do you actually attend? (paying in financially makes NO difference)

I Suppose that its possible that the parish may be vacant. In that case the Rural Dean should pick up any pastoral support needs, but it may be that the message didn't get passed on.

was it an email or a message on a website, or did you actually speak to an actual human being?

As to the big house and car and all....... There are rules as to the accommodation provided by the parish. The salary isn't massive. And as to the car.... you want them to walk everywhere? They get a mileage allowance, but the car is out of their own pocket.

Hope your Dad is doing well.

I'm so sorry about your dad. Have you tried to contact the Rural Dean yet? Perhaps opening the envelopes was an old tradition, and maybe still in High Church, but I didn't think it happened today with privacy laws. Hope you get the answer you need.

Ah ok, I obviously stand corrected. Many thanks.