Full-time Anglican clergy in  Melbourne are set to get a five-day working week with no reduction in stipend after the diocese approved a reduced working hours proposal in mid-August.

Archbishop in Council endorsed the Clergy Remuneration and Working Conditions Committee recommendation to implement a shorter working week, moving from 48 hours across six days to 40 hours across five.

Observers believe Melbourne is the first metropolitical diocese to make a clear decision about the clergy working week.

It comes just months after the Grafton and Riverina dioceses voted to shorten the working week for their priests, citing health and safety concerns for clergy in general.

Diocese administrator Genieve Blackwell said a top response from clergy that full-time hours be reduced in a CRWCC survey about their working conditions, was among the reasons for Melbourne’s decision.

Bishop Blackwell said the committee’s proposal was guided by a 2023 motion to synod, through consultation with clergy and stakeholders, and through its meetings with Deanery about implementation considerations.

She said reducing the working hours was a significant change for which an implementation date had yet to be determined.

Movers of the 2023 clergy working hours review motion Reverends Andrew Bowles and Luke Whiteside hoped the implementation would go ahead as smoothly and quickly as possible.

Mr Bowles, who no longer works for the diocese, believed it would make a difference to the ability of people to stay in ministry for the long term, or to have a flourishing life while they were in it.

He said there were plenty of conversations about working conditions among many clergy across Australia, showing it was an important and live issue for them.

Mr Whiteside said he continued to receive feedback about clergy working hours from many of the families of clergy since seconding the motion in 2023.

He believed, for families, the move would point towards healthier models of work in ministry.

“I want to model faith to my children, and overwork doesn’t do that well. Overwork misrepresents God and misrepresents faith,” he said.

Executive officer Chris Bedding said clergy would always respond to urgent matters when needed, but a five-day working week should be the norm for all modern workers.

Reverend Bedding said Melbourne’s decision would add momentum to the push for safe and equitable working conditions for Anglican clergy, and urged every diocese in the national church to give the matter attention.

“With the process started by the Dioceses of Newcastle, Bathurst, Grafton and Riverina – Melbourne is the first metropolitical diocese to make a clear decision about the clergy working week,” Mr Bedding said.

“I hope to see positive change in Perth in the coming months, and I think every diocese will have to follow. The six-day working week is rightly being ditched!’

But All Saints East St Kilda vicar Father Rene Knaap believed reducing priests working hours, was out of touch with the working lives of ordinary Australians.

Father Knaap said many, including migrants, struggled with multiple shifts and seeing to family needs as well.

For him, there was a risk that reduced working hours signalled to these and others in the broader community that clergy might be entitled or lazy.

Father Knaap said there was a high degree of flexibility built into the life of the clergy.

“If we need to take a child to an appointment, we are free to do so,” he said.

He said there needed to be a renewed understanding of vocation and that ultimately ministry was meant to be costly, difficult and sacrificial, as it was for Jesus.

Asked about the possible effects of the reform on the diocese’s existing systems, Bishop Blackwell said the changes were not intended to diminish or constrain the vocational nature of ordained ministry.

“At the same time we acknowledge the need for sustainable ministry, proper rest, and time for personal renewal – which supports long-term vocational faithfulness,” she said.

“Parishes are facing a range of challenges as we work together to meet changing expectations and an increased regulatory environment.

“We are looking forward to working closely together to implement this change in a way that cares for our people and recognises the impact on the day-to-day rhythm of church life.”