OUR PARISH CHURCH

 

THE PARISH CHURCH COUNCIL

 

PART 6

 

The Parochial Church Council (PCC) is a council set up in every parish in the Church of England (C of E) by the Parochial Church Councils (Powers) Measure, 1921 subsequently amended in 1929 and yet again amended in 1956 to give the laity a share in parochial administration. Most of the powers formerly possessed by the church wardens which relate to the financial affairs of the church, as well as the maintenance of its fabric and ornaments, were transferred to the PCC.

 

There are a number of functions the PCC undertake and I would like to go through them because it gives a very good insight into its function and is put in a formal way:-

· It shall be the duty of the minister and the PCC to consult together on matters of general concern and importance to the parish.

· Cooperation with the minister in promoting in the parish the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical. This is on the basis that on the pastoral side to look after people: on the evangelical side to promote the Christian ideals; the social side is to help the poor and to be involved with charitable works: the ecumenical side is to encourage good relations with other Christian denominations. In fact this point is so important that it has to be set out every year in the annual report presented to the annual parochial church meeting.

· To consider and discuss matters concerning the Church of England and other matters of religious or public interest but not the doctrine as it is grounded in the Holy Scriptures and the teachings of ancient Fathers and Councils of the Church.

 

The PCC together with the Vicar consult together on matters of general concern and importance to the parish. These would include (a) controlling expenditure (b) looking after the maintenance of buildings (c) discussing matters concerning the Church of England (d) having representatives on the deanery synod (e) the PCC should meet at least four times a year.

 

Each PCC has a standing committee. In our case they are the Vicar, as Chairman; Ken Jones, Lay Chairman; the two Churchwardens, David Morlidge and Evelyn Weston; the Treasurer, Andrew Mitchell and the parish secretary, Graham Burrows. It normally carries out the routine work of the PCC between its meetings. The standing committee is not an independent body and is accountable to the PCC for everything it does.

 

The day to day finances are controlled by the Treasurer. He/she manages the church’s accounts and provides the APCM with financial state of the church. An independent auditor is appointed who has to audit the church accounts.

 

The PCC has a secretary who deals with the paperwork of all the meetings and sends out notices and chases up action which might be necessary.

 

I am very grateful to James Behrens MA, LLM, of Lincolns Inn and the Middle Temple, Barrister, for his book “Practical Church Management” which I used extensively to produce this article.

The Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM) is held no later then four weeks after Easter. At this meeting which can be attended by those who are on the Electoral Role the main business is to appoint Church Wardens and all officers. There will also be a vote to elect people to serve on the Parochial Church Council and the Deanery Synod. The following are those elected at the recent APCM:- 

 

PCC members                                                                                     Sidespersons

Evelyn Weston                  §                                                                Graham Burrows

David Morlidge                 §   <                                                           Val Bywater

Ken Jones                           # < Lay Chairman                              Maureen Clark

Graham Burrows               # < PCC Secretary                             Michael Collier

Maureen Clark                                                                                     Alan Forrester

Michael Collier                  # %                                                         Norman Fort

Geoffrey Dowling                                                                                Marjorie Haythorn

Lesley Easterman              <                                                                Neville Holt

Helen Fisher                                                                                         Lesley Humes

Alan Forrester                   #                                                              Pat Hunter

Doreen Fort                                                                                          Chris Jones

Norman Fort                      #                                                              Ken Jones

Jane Hampson                                                                                     Ken Marland

Lesley Humes                                                                                      T.W. Mason

Andrew Mitchell               Treasurer                                                  Shirley Mayhew

Joy Pope                                                                                               Dorothy Morlidge

Rosalind Seddon                                                                                  Arnold Pearson

Elizabeth Tatman                                                                                 Brenda Pearson

Geoffrey Whalley                                                                                Neil Pickering

Trevor Whillas                  #                                                              Hazel Roberts

Christine Jones                                                                                    Paul Roberts

                                                                                                              Brenda Rossi

§  Church Warden                                                                               Joy Ryner

# Deputy Church Warden                                                             Michael Tatman

< Deanery Synod Member                                                            Joan Whillas

% Diocesan Synod Member                                                           Trevor Whillas

 

Sidespersons  -  these were not elected at the Annual Meeting but are volunteers and the list never closes. Sidespeople are in effect assisting Church Wardens in their duties

 

David Bevis