This
page is for members of St John's PCC |
This
page provides useful information intended primarily for PCC members
although other users of this web site may find the information
and links helpful. Please note that the posting of links is for
general information only and should not be taken as implying any
approval by or relationship with the owners of such sites and
users make use of these links solely at their own risk. St. Johns
accepts no responsibility or liability for any consequences arising
for users of this web site as a result of following such links.
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| Parochial
Church Council (“PCC”)
The powers of a PCC are laid down in the Measures of the Church
of England but in practical terms for St. John’s the main
functions of the PCC are:
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Acquire, manage and administer property for ecclesiastical purposes,
including the church building, the halls and Knights’
Meadow minister’s accommodation, which includes maintenance
and improvement works, and trees on church property
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To set an annual budget of expenditure and to collect voluntary
giving to support any church purpose, including powers to invest
funds and run bank accounts etc. and to determine the terms
on which St. John’s supports Christian charities and missions
both in the UK and overseas.
- To
make representations to the Bishop about any matter affecting
the welfare of the parish
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Responsible for employment of persons engaged in the service
of the parish, excluding clergy paid for by the Diocese
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The PCC has an important voice in any decisions as to the forms
of authorised services and other matters related to church services
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Responsible
for providing certain of the requisites for divine service as
specified in canons F1 to F14
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The PCC has certain rights and duties during a vacancy as laid
down in the Patronage (Benefices) Measure 1986
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Responsible for complying with the regulations of the Church
of England as they apply and as Trustees under Charity Law.
God gives to all of us the responsibilities of
stewardship for that which he has entrusted to us. This is true
individually, and also collectively. As a local church community,
and as a PCC, we are stewards both of the mission of St. John’s
church, and of the resources available to the church.
The PCC member’s duty is to prayerfully
consider whether any of the things St. John’s is doing could
be improved, to consider new ideas and challenges for the parish,
its particular needs, expectations, and membership. PCC members
are called to a high degree of commitment, a willingness to learn
about the work, it involves trying to work out what God wants
for his church and above all involves acting and speaking in a
Christian way and particularly at PCC meetings. PCC members speak
for themselves searching their own conscience about what is right
and may not take direction as to how they vote at PCC meetings
from anyone else in the church.
The responsibility of the PCC member is to apply
those skills, knowledge and experience gained throughout their
lives acting with reasonable care and skill and where they lack
the relevant expertise to make due enquiry, and where necessary
to seek professional advice.
The PCC uses the priorities set by the Bishop
of Coventry and Warwick to guide their own priorities. These relate
to the core mission of the church:
1. Worship God
2. Making new Christians and disciples
3. Working with others to transform communities
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| Membership
of the PCC
Membership is open to church members who qualify
under all of the points listed below:
• At least 16 years old, and
• Name entered on the Electoral Roll and if 18 years or
older for a minimum period of 6 months, and
• An acting communicant member
Nominations for election to the PCC are made by
any two members of the Electoral Roll at annual church meetings
as described below.
Members of the PCC are:
The Incumbent: Chairman
Churchwardens: Deputy Chairmen and Chairman in case of an interregnum
(elected at the Annual Meeting of Parishioners by those residing
in the Parish and Electoral Roll members)
Two Diocesan Synod Members: ex-officio (elected by Deaneries and
whose number per Deanery is in proportion to their respective
Electoral Roll membership)
Four Deanery Synod Members: ex-officio (elected at the Annual
Parochial Church Meeting by Electoral Roll members of whom three
were elected from the Warwick Road congregation and one from the
Knights’ Meadow congregation)
Twelve PCC members from the Warwick Road congregation (elected
at the Annual Parochial Church Meeting by Electoral Roll members)
Three PCC members from the Knights’ Meadow congregation
(elected at the Annual Parochial Church Meeting by Electoral Roll
members)
Churchwardens serve annually, and Deanery Synod
and PCC elected members for three years, unless elected to fill
a vacancy of a shorter period.
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Governing
Documents
- The
Parochial Church Councils (Powers) Measure 1956 as amended
- The
Church Representation Rules (contained in Schedule 3 to the
Synodical Measure 1969 as amended)
- For
those who would like to find out more about the governing documents
please see: www.parishresources.org.uk/charity/gds.htm
and follow the links indicated there.
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| PCC
Meetings
Dates of forthcoming PCC meetings:
17th July 2008
18th September 2008
30th October 2008
4th December 2008
15th January 2009,
19th February, 2009
2nd April, 2009
7th May, 2009
11th June, 2009
16th July, 2009
Items for PCC meetings should be proposed to the Churchwardens
and items for Any Other Business should be notified to the Chairman
of the meeting at least 48 hours before the start of the meeting.
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| Policies
The PCC has created and maintains policies in
relation:
• Health & Safety
• Child Protection (including checks with the Criminal Records
Bureau)
• Employment & Volunteer Policy
• Hall Hiring and Use of Buildings
• No smoking
• [Protection of the Vulnerable]
• [Conflicts of Interest]
• [Use of Reserves]
• [Maintenance of buildings]
Copies of the policies are available for PCC members
from the PCC Secretary.
[ ] denotes policies on which work is progressing
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| Minutes
of Meeting
Minutes are produced by the PCC Secretary for
all meetings of the PCC. A Summary is displayed in the church
building as soon after the meeting as practicable, and any Electoral
Roll member has the right of access to the minutes except for
minutes deemed by the PCC to be confidential.
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| Annual
Report
Each year the PCC produces an Annual Report presented
at the Annual Parochial Church Meeting and available to all members
of the church and other interested parties.
This describes the officers and staff of the church,
the church’s activities over the past year, its financial
report and contains reports from most of the groups operating
within the church and describes hopes, priorities and plans for
the future.
Copies are available, preferably in electronic
form, from the PCC Secretary. Please apply to the Parish
Office
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| Reference
Books
Useful reference books
- Parish
Resources (part of the Church of England) have produced an 8
page leaflet to introduce PCC members to their roles and responsibilities
as Charity Trustees: www.parishresources.org.uk/charity/Trusteeship%20leaflet%208pp.pdf
- “An
ABC for the PCC: a handbook for Church Council members”
(latest edition 2003) ISBN 0-8264-6599-4
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Serving the Parish: how to be an effective PCC member Martin
Dudley and Virginia Rounding SPCK ISBN 0-281-05718-4
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A Handbook for Churchwardens and PC Councillors ISBN 0-8264-8153-1
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Churchwardens: A survival guide Martin Dudley and Virginia Rounding
SPCK (2003) ISBN 0-281-05073-2
- “The
Parish survival guide” by Martin Dudley and Virginia Rounding
ISBN 0-281-05665-X published by SPCK in 2004 primarily for clergy
but still useful for PCC
- “So
the vicar’s leaving: a good interregnum guide” by
Mike Alexander and Jeremy Martineau pub Canterbury Press ISBN
1-85311-505-3
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The Essential Trustee: what every trustee needs to know”.
This is regularly updated so PCC Members may want to check the
link www.charitycommission.gov.uk/publications/cc3.asp
- Coventry
Diocesan Directory” produced each year and available from
the Cathedral & Diocesan Offices, 1 Hill Top, Coventry,
CV1 5AB telephone 024 7652 1200. The 2008 version cost £5.50.
The Directory lists the contacts for the Bishops, Church House,
the Cathedral, the Deaneries, and Deanery and Parish statistics,
a list of parishes, clergy and laity, the honours, General Synod
and Diocesan Synod, Bishop’s Council and Committees and
has chapters also on ministry, schools, chaplaincies, fixed
dates and organisations.
- Common
Worship: Services and Prayers for the Church of England published
by Church House Publishing www.chpublishing.co.uk
see also the Church of England web site at http://www.cofe.anglican.org/worship/liturgy/commonworship.
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| Coventry
Diocese
Coventry Diocese www.coventry.anglican.org
Several sub-sections of the site are accessible
from the top site
Development & evangelism www.coventry.anglican.org/developmentevangelism
Finance of the Diocese: Report of Coventry Diocesan
Board of Finance 2006
www.coventry.anglican.org/diocesanadmin/finance/resources/opt/-/item/118
Stewardship www.coventry.anglican.org/developmentevangelism/stewardship
Coventry Diocese Mothers’ Union www.mothersunion-cov.org.uk/welcome.htm
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| Coventry
Cathedral Link
www.coventrycathedral.org.uk
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| Links
to the Church of England
Church of England web site www.cofe.anglican.org
This is a very detailed site containing much information for both
PCC and church members alike.
Some of the areas that may be of particular interest
are:
Ministry www.cofe.anglican.org/lifeevents/ministry
Communion by extension: www.cofe.anglican.org/worship/liturgy/commonworship/texts/other/extension/extensionfront.html
Facts and figures www.cofe.anglican.org/about/thechurchofenglandtoday
Funding the church www.cofe.anglican.org/info/funding/index.html
Training on teaching Christian giving www.cofe.anglican.org/info/trgmods/
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| Registration
of the PCC as a charity
The Charities Act 2006 removed the presumption,
contained in previous legislation, that advancing faith was charitable
and St. John’s PCC, together with all churches with incoming
resources exceeding £100,000 per annum, will be required
to register as a charity with the Charity Commission, and to demonstrate
that the PCC serves the public benefit. This requirement will
be triggered when the relevant part of the Act has been implemented.
See below for links to Government sites explaining the implementation
of the whole Act.
In St. Johns the Churchwardens are responsible
for the registration application and each Trustee / PCC Member
will need to complete a Trustee Declaration.
The Parish Resources web site offers a wide range
of resources to support all aspects of stewardship in the local
church: www.parishresources.org.uk
The section of web site limited to pilot Dioceses
which are Coventry and Sheffield for initial registration of PCCs
as charities - http://www.parishresources.org.uk/pilots.htm
The Charity Commission link is www.charitycommission.gov.uk/registration/default.asp
but PCC members should refer in the first instance to the Church
of England advice where there is specific guidance for churches.
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| Charities
Act 2006
The Charity Commission for England and Wales http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/
is established by law as the regulator and registrar of charities
in England and Wales. Its aim is to provide the best possible
regulation of charities in order to increase charities’
efficiency and effectiveness and public confidence and trust in
them. The publication The Charity Commission and Regulation describes
in more detail the values and how it operates as a regulator.
The Charity Commission produces very helpful guidance
for Trustees and a good starting point is their publication “The
Essential Trustee: what every trustee needs to know”. This
is regularly updated so PCC Members may want to check the link
www.charitycommission.gov.uk/publications/cc3.asp
The link to the Charities Act 2006 on the Charity
Commission web site is www.charitycommission.gov.uk/spr/charbill.asp
The web site for the HM Government Cabinet Office
of the Third Sector is www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/third_sector
and the section dealing with the Charities Act 2006 is at: www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/third_sector/law_and_regulation/charities_act_2006/
“Charities Act 2006: What trustees need
to know” There is a document version and an interactive
version available by following the above link.
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| Governance
Charity Commission: www.charitycommission.gov.uk/enhancingcharities/governancecode.asp
National Council of Voluntary Organisations:
NCVO http://www.ncvo-vol.org.uk
Good Governance: A Code for the Voluntary and
Community Sector
www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/publications/publication.asp?id=3837&terms=good.governance
Capacity Builders capacitybuilders.org.uk
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| Stewardship
Links
The Parish Resources web site offers a wide range of resources
to support all aspects of stewardship in the local church: www.parishresources.org.uk
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| Environment
Shrinking the footprint from the Church of England
National Environment Campaign
www.shrinkingthefootprint.cofe.anglican.org
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Health
& Safety
Advice
from Ecclesiastical Insurance (and see also “Related documents”)
www.ecclesiastical.com/ourproducts/insurance/churchinsurance/church_health_and_safety/index.aspx
This
link provides health & safety policy advice for the PCC:
www.ecclesiastical.com/uploads/PDF%20-%20church%20insurance%20health%20and%20safety%20policy_tcm9-2399.pdf
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| Employment
Advice is available to the PCC from the Diocese
and:
NCVO: The Good Guide to Employment
www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/publications/publication.asp?id=1474
UK Government employment advice www.berr.gov.uk/employment/index.html
ACAS best practice advice: www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=1360
Minimum Wage
www.berr.gov.uk/employment/pay/national-minimum-wage/index.html.
Business Link No nonsense guide to employing people
www.businesslink.gov.uk/Employing_People_files/Employing_People.pdf
Business Link West Midlands (user ID required)
www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/BGAuthenticate?site=131
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| Interregnum:
New Appointments
Church of England Good Practice in Clergy Appointments
www.cofe.anglican.org/info/caa/goodpractice
Guidelines for the professional conduct of clergy
www.cofe.anglican.org/lifeevents/ministry/profcond.pdf
Book: “So the vicar’s leaving: a good
interregnum guide” by Mike Alexander and Jeremy Martineau
pub Canterbury Press ISBN 1-85311-505-3
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| Insurance
Church of England www.cofe.anglican.org/info/ecclesiasticalinsurance
Ecclesiastical Insurance www.ecclesiastical.com
Further advice available from the PCC’s
Treasurer
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| Fabric
and Buildings
Site containing a wealth of resources www.churchcare.co.uk
Disability Discrimination Act www.coventry.anglican.org/diocesanadmin/diocesanadvisorycommittee/advisory/opt/-/item/32
The Diocesan Advisory Committee for the Care of
Churches (DAC)
www.coventry.anglican.org/diocesanadmin/diocesanadvisorycommittee
Faculty Procedures in Coventry Diocese:
www.coventry.anglican.org/diocesanadmin/diocesanadvisorycommittee/facultyprocedures
For copy of St. John’s PCC Heath & Safety
Risk Assessment and for further advice please refer to the Leader
of the PCC’s Fabric Team.
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| H.M.
Revenue and Customs
Help from HM Revenue & Customs www.hmrc.gov.uk/menus/charity.htm
chapter and verse from the taxman on how Gift Aid works.
HMRC Gift Aid advice –transitional rules
to 2011
www.hmrc.gov.uk/charities/faq-transitional-relief.htm
Further advice available from the PCC’s
Considered Giving Secretary
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