Saturday 25 April 2015

Blackburn Diocese Breaks the Laws of Physics

I have discovered an interesting job ad. From Blackburn Diocese: a half-time job in a rural setting. What could be more lovely than just working half a week? Obviously you only get half a stipend, but fair's fair. I suppose you could always get another half-time job. Or spend your free three days a week wandering the Pennines getting closer to God.

Oh. Hang on.


Turns out "half time", in Blackburn, means 4 days out of the week. But "half stipend post", presumably, means half of what other clergy get paid if they're full time.

The logic is inescapable. If half-time is 4 days, and you still get your weekly day of rest, then a Lancashire Week must consist of nine days. The Church of England eh? Not all the clergy believe in the Virgin Birth. But fitting 9 days into a week is a whole new level of miracle.


7 comments :

  1. It is unfortunately true that half-stipend is deemed to mean 4 days, i.e. Sunday and three more days. After all 'house for duty' normally means Sunday and two days. It may not seem just, but...

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  2. So if a house is "worth" 3 days, and house + half stipend is worth 4 days then a house + full stipend should be worth 5 days. Yes?

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  3. The logic appears inescapable. Half a stipend = 1 day of work.

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  4. Whilst the rest of the world thinks clergy only work one day a week (obviously Sunday) the church paymasters keep up with the fiction that it's a "day of rest" so anything done on that day is voluntary and can't be renumerated. ??!!

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  5. I was told it's to do with what's taxable. Apparently house for duty has to be 1/2 time, otherwise you get taxed on the house. How one more day = 1/2 stipend I don't know

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  6. and then 2 more days = 1 stipend...

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  7. I suggest taking a full-time job and only working half-time. It is more relaxing and nobody notices.

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