From the Revd Michael J. Crow

Sir, — The Church of England has one of the best-educated but worst-managed workforces. Thirty-five years of full-time ministry as a parish priest, preceded by two years of National Service and five years working for a very large insurance company, lay PCC membership before going to university, and 15 years of retirement under the benevolence of the Pensions Board have established me in this opinion.

Your correspondence on interregna (21 August) shows that I am not alone. Let it be hoped that the Archbishop of Canterbury’s intention to do something about this is fulfilled swiftly and effectively, although I fear that it will take many years and much prayer and hard work to turn things round.

There is, of course, the danger that over-management may stifle initiative, enterprise, flare and thinking outside the box; but for far too long it has often been forgotten that the Spirit of God, far from creating chaos, “hovered over the surface of the water” and encouraged and empowered the universe and the Church into being, and continues to do so.

MICHAEL J. CROW
216 Pinhoe Road
Exeter EX4 7HH