THE NATURE AND DUTIES OF THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE

The Parochial Church Council (PCC) is an executive committee of the parish with powers and duties defined by certain Acts of Parliament. It has the responsibility of co-operating with the vicar in promoting the whole mission of the church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical, within the parish. Formally, the PCC is responsible for the financial affairs of the church and the care and maintenance of the church fabric and its contents. It also has a voice in the forms of Service used by the church and may make representations to the bishop on matters affecting the welfare of the parish. Because its scope is general in nature the PCC delegates some of this work to both the standing committee, various committees it appoints and its financial team.

However, no-matter the delegation that the PCC gives to others and the responsibilities and powers arising from that, it is understood that

1) All to whom delegation is given, whether as individuals or groups/ committees, must report back to the full body of the Parochial Church Council and

2) though delegation is given, full and final responsibility for all matters rests only with those who are elected to serve the church as Parochial Church Council members.

The duties of a Parochial Church Council member as being elected from those on the electoral roll are as follows:

1. To be active and zealous in co-operating with the Priest in Charge and churchwardens in supporting, encouraging and equipping the whole mission of the church, whether it be financial, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical, within the parish
2. To be responsible in the care and maintenance of the church fabric and its contents
3. To be responsible for rightful worship that takes place within the church and in the name of the church that is in keeping with the building up of the body of Christ
4. To be mindful of its appropriate right as a body to make representations to the bishop in cases where the church as a body of Christ is being divided or disrupted
5. To demonstrate a clear allegiance to the Bishop of Lichfield and those in his name who carry particular responsibility within the Stafford Episcopal area.
6. To be concerned for the good of the parish and to organise the life of the church that the inhabitants see the church as being integral to their daily life
7. To attend regularly meetings of the PCC (regular means an expectation that two thirds of all meetings will be attended)
8. To be regular in worship and to be seen as taking their faith seriously
9. To recognize their responsibility of acting as a representative for all parishioners in the affairs of the church to the PCC
10. To recognize their responsibility of communicating effectively the life of the PCC to the wider church
11. To spend adequate time before a PCC meeting to read and reflect upon issues that are being covered
12. To recognize the financial responsibilities of PCC membership of finances sound and in good order
13. To recognize the protection responsibilities of PCC membership that all in the life of the church, regardless of age, are assured of respect, protection and dignity