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The Parish Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Gillingham, Dorset heading - with pictures of the congregation at worship, enjoying a coffee and looking at the bookstall and at lunch
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The Parochial Church Council

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The Incumbent (the priest who is in charge of the parish) has the Parochial Church Council (PCC) to share the privileges and responsibilities of making certain decisions with him, and also to co-operate with him in carrying out the whole mission of the Church. The PCC has a range of functions including the spiritual, legal, financial, pastoral and missionary.

Introduction

History

In the long history of the Church of England, the Parochial Church Council is a relatively recent invention. However, from the sixteenth century until 1919 the administration and finances of a parish were looked after by the "Vestry". Since 1919 a number of Acts have defined and refined the composition, functions and rights and responsibilities of the PCC.

What is the task of the PCC?

The Synodical Government Measure 1969 states it clearly:

It shall be the duty of the incumbent and the Parochial Church Council to consult together on matters of general concern and importance in the parish.

It then goes on to set out a number of functions of the PCC, of which perhaps the most important - and certainly the widest - is:

co-operation with the incumbent in promoting in the parish the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical.

The incumbent and the PCC each have their own particular rights and responsibilities in the life of the church but the important theme here is partnership and co-operation.

More specifically, the PCC is responsible for the maintenance of the church buildings and churchyard, and, with the incumbent, for deciding how the church's money is to be spent. The PCC is formally the employer of the church's paid workers, for example our administrator. The PCC has the right to be consulted about major changes to the forms of worship used in the parish and about the appointment of a new incumbent. It is also consulted about any pastoral scheme affecting the parish.

Several members of the PCC are ex-officio by virtue of them having been elected to the Deanery Synod (we are in the Blackmore Vale Deanery); they have a role in linking the parish into the wider structures of the church, including having a vote for both the Diocesan Synod and the General Synod of the Church of England.

How is the PCC formed?

to be written

Who's on the PCC / how can they be contacted?

to be written

Structure

There is no requirement for the PCC to have sub-committees, but many churches, especially larger ones, will work in this way.

After feeling this would be a good way to work for many years, our PCC finally formed smaller committees to oversee most of the functions in May 2005, reviewing and making some revisions of the committees a year later.

At St. Mary's PCC is now made up of the following sub-committees whose function is described below:

Although committee chairmen have to be members of the PCC, other members of most of the committees can be co-opted - for the following year or for particular purposes. Most of the committees could do more if they had more members to share the load: if you are interested in joining one of the committees please speak to one of the members.

Sub-committee Terms of reference

As agreed in 2005 and revised in 2006.

With this way of working still being relatively new, and with each committee having functions which overlap with most of the others, there may still be a lack of clarity about responsibilities in certain areas.

Standing Committee

Background

Since the PCC meets once every three months there are inevitably itmes that need to be addresed by the PCC between these meetings and the principle purpose of the Standing Commitee is to address these items. The Standing Committee includes the Incumbent, the two Churchwardens, the Treasurer, the Secretary to the PCC and one representative from the PCC.

Primary Purpose

To conduct PCC business.

Responsibilities

The Standing Committee is responsible to the PCC.

Authority

The Standing Committee is a management committee and not a policy committee, so decisions made by this committee may only be of a management nature and cannot dictate policy.

The distinction between management and policy decisions can be a grey area, so the Standing Committee must take care to ensure that its remit is not exceeded, but must take account of the following:-

  1. Some decisions due to the timing of the meetings and the urgency of the decision may have to be made without reference to the PCC.
  2. If the matter discused could be held to be of a contentious nature, or, in the opinion of the Standing Committee, may be materially contested by PCC members not present, then the matter should be referred to the PCC.
  3. If the matter in hand requires a decision before the next PCC meeting, and is of a contentious policy nature, consideration must be given to convening an emergency PCC meeting.

Housekeeping and Finance Committee

Background

The Housekeeping and Finance Committee is a committee of the PCC and, where appropriate and authorised, acts for the PCC on Housekeeping, FInance, Vicarage School Room, Parish Office and associated matters. The PCC remains the legal body and the HFC is expected to follow the same working procedures. The HFC should keep the PCC informed of all developments, except confidential salary matters for the Parish Office staff, details of donations held by the Treasurer and any other aspects decided by the incumbent. It is expected the Incumbend, Treasurer, Churchwardens and at least one representative from the PCC will serve on the HFC, together with, ideally, at least three other PCC or co-opted members.

Primary Purposes
  1. To monitor all aspects of present and future Church Finances, which include financial control, budgetary management, investments, load repayments and fund raising, and provide the appropriate advice to the Incumbent, the PCC and its officers and trustees.
  2. To aid the Churchwardens in their statutory duties for the maintenance of the Church buildings, contents and grounds, including the provision of new and improved facilities, particularly those to satisfy Health and Safety and Disability legislation.
Secondary Purposes

The secondary purposes of the HFC are as follows:-

  1. To oversee the work of the Vicarage Schoolroom, making sure that the Vicarage School Room is run profitably consistent with it being a Church facility and that regular maintenance is properly financed and programmed.
  2. To oversee the functioning of the Parish Office, making sure the filing systems, office equipment, maintenance contracts and staff training are sufficient for its needs.
Responsibilities

The Housekeeping and Finance Committee is responsible to the PCC.

Authority

The authority of the Housekeeping and Finance Committee is subject to the following limitations: -

  1. No financial decisions are to be taken that exceed the budget delegate to it by the PCC. Additional requirements must be referred to the PCC or the Standing Committee.
  2. No action can be taken that affects the business of another committee of the PCC without approval of that committee.

Worship and Christian Confidence Committee

to be completed

Background

The Worship and Christian Confidence Committee is a committee of the PCC, which works with the Incumbent to explore and develop worship and develop the spiritual growth of the church family.

Primary Purpose

The purpose of the Worship and Christian Confidence Committee is to assist the Incumbent in developing our worship and the spiritual growth of the church family, taking into consideration the following points:-

  1. The form of the main service at Saint Mary's each Sunday is the joint responsibility of the Incumbent and the PCC. Variations within that format are the responsibilty of the Incumbent.
  2. The form of worship at all other services at Saint Mary's is the legal responsibility of the Incumbent.
  3. To provide an annual written report of the worship provided and a review of the spiritual life within the Parish, together with recommendations for development or change, to include progress made during the year.
Responsibilities

The Worship and Christian Confidence Committee is responsible to the PCC.

Authority

The authority of the Worship and Christian Confidence Committee is subject to the following limitations: -

  6. No action can be taken that affects the business of another committee of the PCC without approval of that committee.

Christian Action Committee

Background

The Christian Action Committee is a committee of the PCC. It works to encourage the mission of the church both in the Parish and beyond.

Primary Purposes
  1. To encourage mission of the church within the Parish and beyond.
  2. To provide an annual report for the Annual Parish Church Meeting containing a review of the work of the committee over the past year.
  3. To promote links with social, commercial and civic organisations, Christian or otherwise. To explore ways in which the Word may be heard.
  4. To seek to further the Word of God and encourage links with non-church organisations such as pre-schools, youth club, schools (including those outside the Church which are attended by students from the Parish), local businesses, local government, social services and the British Legion.
  5. To be pro-active in developing Christian social action within the community, such as Churches Together, retirement homes and sheltered accomodation.
  6. To promote ecumenical co-operation.
  7. To oversee St. Mary's Under 5's Toddler Group
  8. The Children's Society
  9. Public Relations to include:-
    • Communications
    • Web site
    • Magazine
Responsibilities

The Christian Action Committee is responsible to the PCC.

Authority

The authority of the Christian Action Committee is subject to the following limitations: -

  1. No decisions are to be taken that exceed the budget delegate to it by the PCC. Additional requirements must be referred to the PCC or the Standing Committee.
  2. No action can be taken that affects the business of another committee of the PCC without approval of that committee.

Social and Fund Raising Committee

to be confirmed and completed

Background

The Social and Fund Raising Committee is a committee of the PCC that works to support the incumbent and all of the other PCC committees. Its purpose is to develop a rapport both within the church family and with the wider community through event organisation. The Social and Fund Raising Committee will be PCC led but will co-opt widely to staff events adequately and to utilise and encourage the enthusiasm of church members. The Social and Fund Raising Committee will have as a member, who may be co-opted, a Catering Co-ordinator (i.e. one who organises a catering team to suit the event, not one who does the catering alone). All funds generated will go to General Church Funds unless authorised to specific projects by the PCC.

Primary Purposes
  4. No action can be taken that affects the business of another committee of the PCC without approval of that committee.
Authority

The authority of the Social and Fund Raising Committee is subject to the following limitations: -



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