The PCC is responsible for the financial affairs of the local church, it’s wellbeing (both practical and spiritual) and the care and maintenance of the church fabric and its contents.
Its members are clergy (ex-officio), churchwardens (ex-officio), and lay members elected by the Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM) of the parish, who act as Charity Trustees.
The PCC is known as a body corporate. This means that the Council has a legal identity quite separate from the individual members of which it is composed (who all have an equal say). However, the Council body is accountable for the shared decisions that it makes and therefore decisions need to be taken carefully showing fairness, respect for the law and be in line with the regulations of the Charity Commission and Church rules.
PCC’s typically meet four times a year to discuss and decide on things affecting the parish. PCCs also make some decisions via email in between physical meetings (decisions by correspondence).
Trusteeship can be rewarding for many reasons – from a sense of making a difference in the community, to new experiences, skills and relationships.
Being a trustee can also teach you a lot about how churches (as excepted charities) are run, giving you experience in areas such as setting strategic goals, accounting, financial planning, coordinating volunteers, risk management, fundraising, employment practice and recruitment.
It’s also likely to be demanding of your time, skills, knowledge and abilities. Being aware of the duties and responsibilities will help you carry out your role in a way that not only serves the parish well but also gives you confidence that you will be complying with key requirements of the law.
As charity trustees every PCC member should be given a copy (or the download address) to be able to read the Charity Commission’s summary of the six legal duties of charity trustees. A link to this document is shown below:
Annual Parochial Church Meeting
In every parish, the annual parochial church meeting must be held in the period which begins with 1 January and ends with 31 May, inline with The Church Representation Rules 2020.
The PCC must provide the annual meeting with each of the following, which the annual meeting may then discuss –
- A report on the changes to the roll since the last annual meeting or, in a year in which a new roll is prepared, a report on the numbers entered on the new roll (a copy of the roll is available for inspection at the meeting),
- An annual report on the proceedings of the PCC and the activities of the parish generally {including a statement as to whether the PCC has complied with the duty under section 5 of the Safeguarding and Clergy Discipline Measure 2016 (duty to have regard to House of Bishops’ guidance on safeguarding children and vulnerable adults)}
- The financial statements of the PCC for the year ending on the 31 December preceding the meeting,
- The annual fabric report under section 50 of the Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction and Care of Churches Measure 2018, and
- A report of the proceedings of the deanery synod.
PCC Member Nominations
If you would like to become a PCC member, nominations are voted on during the Annual Parish Council Meeting inline with The Church Representation Rules but please speak with a Member of the PCC at any time of the year. During a vacancy, PCC Members can be appointed midyear.
The nomination forms can be found below in both word and pdf:
- Form for nomination for Churchwardens in word and as a pdf
- Form for nomination of Deanery Synod members in word and as a pdf
- Form for nomination of PCC members in word and as a pdf
These nomination forms contain a declaration for newly elected trustees, being: (i) confirmation of trustee eligibility (i.e. non-disqualification under charity law) for all trustees to sign; and (ii) a Fit and Proper Person declaration. This from must be completed by all PCC members, including those who are ex-officio or serving following Synodical election. This can be done by using the Trustee Eligibility and Fit and Proper Persons Declaration available in Word.
