A Church Critique

Our Devon village parish church welcomes all that come
With friendliness and God's love and much good natured fun
But many in the parish think that monies all we need
Dull sermons and Church dogma don't sow the Christian seed

They want the Church to be there, to supply their families' needs
Baptisms, weddings and funerals and occasions such as these
They will often help with maintenance and in many other ways
But the Church's moral high-ground is in dispute these days

Sex scandals and cash management have not been handled well
Complaints are made, the Church ranks close, there's nobody to tell
We are asked to accept change so congregations grow
But the Church is the last to change and every movements slow

People love Cathedrals and the buildings of the Church
They visit them, but lack of priests won't quench their Christian thirst
So why can't we take communion without a priest at all?
Remembering what our Saviour did as Christians standing tall

But the Diocese seems to serve themselves above all other needs
Congregations are asked to help whilst Church's finance bleeds
Stipends are comparable to the national average wage
Then clergy get free housing, but their allowances enrage

Why do Bishops live in palaces and have so many staff?
Whilst vicar numbers fall, although their benefits are daft
When Jesus lived the Pharisee's had benefits like these
Whilst he and his disciples lived with the poor and cured disease

The Church must cut its overheads as businesses must do
Make do with fewer office staff and fewer Bishops too
Resource should be for frontline staff or our Church will surely die
And Low Church or Home Church will serve Christians such as I