GOVERNANCE SIMPLE, FRUITFUL & SUSTAINABLE The Church of England seeks to be ‘simpler, humbler, bolder’. IMPORTANT DEFINITIONS On the Way invites us to plan MISSION & for future fruitfulness and PARISH sustainability. This includes the PASTORAL PLANNING sustainability of governance A parish is the basic territorial unit arrangements in terms of their of the Church of England governed ADVANTAGES OF ONE effectiveness and the demands by one Parish Church Council it places upon clergy and others. (PCC). A parish may have one or PARISH - ONE PCC This paper outlines three ways more parish churches with • Vision - creating common purpose in which parish governance churchwardens elected for each and mission. With one parish, PCC could work: parishes are asked church in the parish. representatives from across the to consider which is most churches have a common appropriate. responsibility for growing and BENEFICE sharing vision and resources to A benefice consists of a single parish enable mission and ministry to or number of parishes under the flourish across the new parish. care of an incumbent. A multi parish • Appointments - It is easier to benefice refers to a benefice with a recruit clergy to one parish, one number of parishes under the care of PCC. In an increasingly an incumbent – there are a number of ‘competitive market’ more than different governance arrangements, one PCC in a benefice can often e.g. multiple PCCs on their own, deter candidates from applying. multiple PCCs plus a Joint Council, or • Administration - reducing PARISH CHURCH a PCC with District Church Council duplication. One parish with one (DCC). A plurality of benefices refers PCC addresses duplication and the COUNCIL to a number of benefices under the increasing difficulties in finding The principal function, or purpose, of care of one incumbent. and appointing church officers. the PCC is ‘promoting in the parish the whole mission of the Church.’ Each PCC is a charity, responsible for all parish GROUP MINISTRY CREATING A SINGLE finance; it is formally the employer of A Group Ministry is the coming PARISH any paid workers. The PCC has the right together of three or more parishes to be consulted about major changes to in a ‘Group’ for the sake of Mission • The simplest model for govern- the forms of worship used in the parish and Ministry across a distinct ance is one PCC whether in one and about the appointment of a new geographical area. The benefices benefice or a multi parish benefice. incumbent and any pastoral scheme within the Group retain their • In a multi-parish benefice a Pas- affecting the parish. separate and distinct existence toral Scheme may unite several with their own PCCs but a Joint parishes to become a single parish Council may be established with with one PCC. delegated responsibilities. • Churches in such a single parish could all remain Parish Churches with churchwardens and with specific committees dealing with the care of the individual churches. • Though restricted and specific funds could remain with each Parish Church, the one PCC would DISTRICT CHURCH hold financial responsibility. COUNCIL In any parish where there are two or WHAT TO DO NEXT more churches or places of worship the annual meeting may make a scheme for The On the Way Advisors will help the election of a DCC for any district in JOINT CHURCH you think and pray about different the parish in which a church or licensed COUNCIL governance models. Talk with them building is situated. if you have Parishes that belong to the same questions or DCCs may be delegated by the PCC the benefice, or to a benefice held in want to find day to day running of the churches they plurality, or are in a group ministry may out more about represent but sit in subsidiarity to the one establish and delegate responsibilities these models PCC which holds overall responsibility for to a Joint Council. A JC has the same or the practical governance and of the parish. legal status as a PCC. implications.