The Diocese of Leicester has pledged to create ten new stipendiary clergy posts as part of its long-term commitment to support parish ministry and mission in Leicester and Leicestershire.
Speaking at a recent meeting of Diocesan Synod, Bishop Martyn said that diocesan income has fallen significantly in real terms since 2018, leaving the diocese increasingly dependent on national Church funding, the majority of which is allocated to supporting ministry in lowest-income communities.
In response to this challenging financial position, our trustees have considered how diocesan resources can best support local churches in the years ahead.
As a result, they have agreed that income generated through the sale and long-term successful stewardship of land will be used to fund ten additional stipendiary clergy posts.
The new posts will be introduced gradually and distributed across the diocese, helping to strengthen clergy provision in a sustainable way. Working within Minster Communities, these clergy will support local churches as they continue to shape their ministry and mission together.
The investment represents a substantial commitment to the future of parish ministry across Leicester and Leicestershire, ensuring that resources generated today can help sustain and grow the Church's presence in communities for years to come.
“This is a significant increase and very welcome news,” said Bishop Martyn. “It is important to be clear that these ten new posts will not be created all at once but introduced gradually over time.
"As they are established, they will strengthen ministry across the diocese and help us move steadily towards a position where each Minster Community has the stipendiary clergy needed to support the lay and self-supporting ordained ministers who will enable the flourishing of every church.”