Worship According to Canon Law (B3), Incumbent and PCC should decide between them which forms of service shall be used regularly (other than the occasional offices, ie baptisms, weddings and funerals). The arrival of Common Worship necessitates careful discussion and decision in PCC about services, service books or booklets. The Lectionary and Calendar on which Common Worship is based require local churches to make choices, eg about which Lessons to have, and which Bible version to use. All these are PCC matters.
What they do:
The PCC Parochial Church Council
PCC meetings A PCC should meet at least 4 times a year. It is usually chaired by the Incumbent, though (s)he may delegate this to the Vice-Chairman Every PCC must have a Standing Committee to carry on routine business between meetings; often, the Standing Committee draws up the Agenda. PCC Minutes are taken by the Secretary. Playing a constructive part in a meeting is a skill. If the PCC is hardgoing, it is unlikely that it is all the fault of its Chairman! PCC members can do a lot to help meetings go well. Reading through paperwork in good time, making the effort beforehand to think through the matters on the Agenda, listening courteously and speaking concisely all help. Taking time out as a PCC to reflect, learn, pray and relax together is a good thing too.
The parish system A parish is the geographical area committed to the care of an Incumbent or Parish Priest by the Bishop. So everyone in England lives in a parish, whether or not they attend the parish church. The parish system developed gradually. By the end of the 13th century the country was covered by parishes which, of course, have been sub-divided as the population grew. Each parish has two Churchwardens (normally) and a Parochial Church Council or PCC. PCCs were first given legal status in 1919. Prior to the legal recognition of PCCs, the administration and finances of the parish church were in the hands of the Incumbent and Churchwardens only, which gave scope for abuse or neglect.
Resources J Behrens Practical Church Management Gracewing 2005 K McMorran A Handbook for Churchwardens Continuum 2006 & T Briden & Parochial Church Councillors Diocese of St Edmundsbury & Ipswich Handbook See Diocesan website www.stedmundsbury.anglican.org and www.churchcare.co.uk for a lot of relevant information. Diocese of St Edmundsbury & Ipswich • Lay Education & Training Adviser 7 Maltings Garth Thurston BURY EDMUNDS IP31 3PP 01359 233050
Rôle of PCC The PCC works with and supports the Parish Priest in all the activities of local church, looks after the church building and its contents, manages the church’s finances and is the means of communication with the Deanery, Diocese and wider church (including other Christian denominations), and with the local community.
Membership PCC members are elected at the Annual Parochial Church meeting which is held before 30th April. To be eligible you must be over 16,
on the Electoral Roll, baptised, confirmed and a regular communicant. All clergy licensed to the parish, and the Churchwardens, are ex officio on the PCC. Readers and Lay Elders are not automatically members, though they are often elected on.
PCC and Incumbent The relationship between PCC and Incumbent matters. They share responsibility for important aspects of church life - especially those bits of it which are seen and known about in the local community. They need to ‘get on’ and to discuss issues and make decisions in an agreeable way. Key to this is a willingness on all sides to listen to other people’s point of view.
Looking after the church and churchyard The PCC is responsible for maintenance and repair of the church building, inside and out, especially work recommended by the inspecting architect in the Quinquennial (5 yearly) Report. The PCC looks after ‘movable goods’, eg chairs, rails, candlesticks, lectern, Communion plate, vestments. PCC is responsible for matters relating to insurance, security, health and safety matters, disability. It is involved in any application to the Diocesan Advisory Committee (DAC) for a faculty (permission to effect a change to the church, or its contents, or the churchyard).
PCC responsibilities according to ecclesiastical law The PCC (Powers) Measure 1956 Section 2 states: It shall be the duty of the Incumbent & the Parochial Church Council to consult together on matters of general importance in the parish.
Upkeep of the churchyard and any buildings, trees or paths in it, and walls, fences or hedges around the churchyard, is a PCC duty.
Church finance It goes on to describe the functions of the PCC as follows: co-operation with the Incumbent in promoting in the parish the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social & ecumenical; the consideration and discussion of matters concerning the Church of England or any other matters of religious or public interest, but not the declaration of the doctrine of the Church on any question making known and putting into effect provisions made by Diocesan Synod or Deanery Synod; giving advice to Diocesan or Deanery Synod; raising matters with Diocesan or Deanery Synod. Note the emphasis on mission (as well as maintenance). It is worth remembering too that the PCC should consider wider matters of religious or public interest – so it should keep informed about them, maybe by inviting speakers occasionally, and not always be concerned with narrowly churchy matters. The other functions listed concern the PCC’s place in the Synodical system. It sends matters for discussion ‘up’ through the system, as well as receiving reports and matters of discussion sent ‘down’ to it.
Sometimes a PCC member complains, ‘All we talk about is money’. If money really is all a PCC talks about, it is a pity! But the Christian use of money (and other material things) is part of discipleship and witness. Furthermore, under the terms of the Charities Act, PCC members are charitable trustees, responsible for ensuring that money and other assets are managed prudently, in accordance with the church's beliefs and aims. The PCC sets the annual budget. This includes payment of Quota or parish share (most of which goes to providing for parish clergy), expenses of clergy and other ministers and church officers, salaries of any other staff eg Parish Secretary, and charitable giving. It also includes expenditure necessary for the upkeep and insurance of the building and its contents. The PCC Treasurer may deal with these matters, but (s)he acts on behalf of the PCC, carrying out its policy.
