From Carole Palfrey

Sir, - I was most interested to learn that the Revd Philip Welsh ("Why I don't take services now", Comment, 25 July) has a largely empty diary as he embraces a retirement free of responsibility for the "cure of souls".

As he acclimatises himself to his new role as a member of the laity, could I perhaps issue a word of warning? His vision of the challenges ahead - adjusting to invisibility, relearning how to worship, finding a new way to say his daily prayers, and socialising over coffee with fellow parishioners without the embarrassment of shyness - is a far cry from the reality of day-to-day parish life in the pews.

As congregations throughout the land dwindle, the burden on the faithful souls who remain increases. It is not that they are required to pray more fervently - though, doubtless, this might help - but rather that they need to engage ina never-ending struggle to raise money, and be willing to give unstintingly of their time and energy to ensure that all the tasks essential to parish life continue without interruption as the years go by.

In villages, it is usually the church that provides the focus of community life. The priest, who usually has responsibility for the "cure of souls" in a group of parishes, each with its own church building, could not manage without the support of by an army of willing volunteers. The church offices - both high and lowly - in every parish need to be filled: churchwardens, vergers, officers, and parochial church councillors.

Capable organisers and volunteers are required to do the flower-arranging, serve the coffee, clean the church, and mow the churchyard. And who is going to edit the parish newsletter, organise special parish events, and run the fêtes, bingo sessions, coffee mornings, parish lunches, and other fund-raising events?

Every parish has different requirements and ways of organising its affairs, but all are dependent ona large proportion of their congregations' playing an active part rather than merely turning up for services.

If the newly retired Mr Welsh would like to offer up his empty diary to a small rural parish with a very large church and an ageing congregation, I am sure he would find the pages filling up with amazing rapidity. When his diary is once again filled with parish duties, he will truly know that he is a fully signed-up member of the laity.

CAROL PALFREY

Solar Via, Happisburgh

Norwich NR12 0QU

From the Principal of St Stephen's House, Oxford

Sir, - The Revd Philip Welsh writes that "to be ordained is not to be given an indelible individual character, but to be placed in a relationship with a worshipping community that validates your priesthood, that 'entitles' you."

This is certainly what the Dominican theologian Edward Schillebeeckx, whom he quotes, thought, and it is what the Orthodox theologian Metropolitan John Zizioulas thinks, whose writing about this strongly influenced the 2006 Cyprus Agreed Statement "The Church of the Triune God" between Anglicans and the Orthodox Churches.

But it is not what Richard Hooker thought when he wrote of ordination in the Fifth Book of the Ecclesiastical Polity: "They which have once received this power may not think to put it off and on like a cloak as the weather serveth . . . let them know which put their hands unto this plough, that once consecrated unto God they are madehis peculiar inheritance for ever. Suspensions may stop, and degradations may utterly cut off the use or exercise of power before given; but voluntarily it is not in the power of man to separate and pull asunder what God by his authority coupleth."

ROBIN WARD

St Stephen's House

16 Marston Street

Oxford OX4 1JX

From the Very Revd C. R. Campling

Sir, - As a priest who retired 19 years ago, I have some sympathy with the Revd Philip Welsh's argument that a retired priest should not officiate. But I believe he is wrong.

He is right to say that priesthood is a matter of pastoral activity, not of status. Jesus implied this whenhis reply to St John the Baptist's messengers referred John to his ministry of healing, not his status (Matthew 11.2-6). And, again, inthe Fourth Gospel (John 14.11): "Believe for the work's sake."

When we retire, we lose our status ("The Vicar"); but we do not lose the authority that we were given to act as priests in the Church of God. Indeed, this is reaffirmed with the Bishop's licence to officiate. Of course, we do not perform our ministry in a vacuum. We do it in the context of the people whom we meet and get to know and love - perhaps with more time for them than we had in our parish days -in the course of our retirement.

CHRISTOPHER CAMPLING

Pebble Ridge, Aglaia Road

Worthing

West Sussex BN 11 5SW

From the Revd Ron Ingamells

Sir, - I respect the decision of the Revd Philip Welsh not to take services in his retirement, but I fail to understand his basic argument: "the extent to which I remain a priest, now that I no longer have a particular cure of souls".

I was a part-time parish priest for many years, but at the same time I worked nationally and internationally for the YMCA - a combination that I loved. I never felt that I ceased to be a priest when I left the parish to fulfil my other ministry. I think that my colleagues in the YMCA would also have thought it very strange.

Since retirement, I have had the privilege of presiding at the eucharist and preaching in this parish and others. When I do this, I truly feel that I am in relationship, sometimes fleetingly, but here regularly, and, therefore, for that time have indeed a "cure of souls".

A few years ago, the Rt Revd George Hacker wrote an excellent article for the Retired Clergy Association, exploring this theme with an emphasis on the "doing" and "being" in retirement. He wrote about "the ministry of brief encounters", and how much of our Lord's ministry was of this kind. "Helping out" in parishes is much like this.

RON INGAMELLS

2 Aragon Close, Buckden

Cambs PE19 5TY