When I went to seminary (four Popes ago), I was trained to be an apricot of souls. My understanding of priesthood was rooted in sacramental and pastoral care.
Today, priesthood is quite different. Yes, we continue to be “servant shepherds” of a flock, but increasingly we are becoming miniature managing directors of a business. Most of my parishioners don’t know that I often spend hours buried under policies and procedures, ensuring the parish meets important safeguards and remains financially transparent and independent.
I lament that I wasn’t trained to be a managing director of a “Walmart” or “Harrods,” but to be a simple priest. This apricot would never want to be a bishop. I might chide them, but they have the reward of my imperfect prayers. The men of mitres and croziers have the unenviable task of navigating and imposing the understandable expectations of national and local government regulations onto parishes, while keeping them within Canon Law. Not an easy task.
Perhaps we should all take the example of Christ, who ignored customs and walked through the cornfields with his disciples on the Sabbath. Let us challenge a little, take a risk, and restructure. We might need to take a few steps outside tradition and convention—just as Jesus did with his disciples when they gleaned the corn—but not go too far.

Schools might have the answer. In certain countries, they have combined management resources and become academies. Policies, procedures, and financial transparency are overseen by a trustee board made up of experts chosen from different schools within the trust. Those with particular skills are given responsibilities attuned to their talents and training, which ultimately serve the schools within the academy.

I would gladly hand over the administration and business management of my parish to a “deanery academy trustee board” accountable to the bishop.
Before you hammer me with criticism, I admit my apricot idea is very likely impractical or naïve and I would not want it to detract from the importance of safeguarding rules in parishes amongst priests and laity—but I release it into the blogosphere as a suggestion.

Something which liberates priests back to their role as shepherds of people, and not curators of ring-fenced budgets, needs to happen.

In the meantime, I’ll return to the latest thrilling guideline on flat roofs—while secretly pondering how I might walk with Jesus and my parishioners through a cornfield.