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March 2001, Page 2.
Index of articles.
Vision & direction:
index,
Catch a vision,
Why vision?
I want to be...
Manifesto,
What we're about.
In this issue:
(March 2001)
Vicar's Letter,
Manifesto,
Sidesmen,
Vision,
Healing,
Question.
Not the Queen's speech
At the beginning of each session of Parliament, the monarch makes a speech about what her government will do next. Not that she writes it herself - the party in power does that. In one way her speech is a relic of the past, but in another way it is a facet of good government that there should be a clear programme for what needs doing next.
The Vicar is not the Queen! I can write my own speech and give you my own ideas. Nor is he the Prime Minister! I have no built-in majority to force a programme through the PCC - it’s up to me to persuade you.
So, before we elect the Churchwardens and PCC at the Annual Meeting, here is my attempt. It’s only right that you, the church, should know what I’d like done, so that you can canvass the opinions of the prospective PCC members and elect the ones who represent you.
Church Services & Worship.
• I will ask the PCC to agree to a regular pattern of “joint services” at 10.30am on Sundays, instead of the present pattern where every joint service is an exception. Maybe once a month on a definite Sunday.
• I will suggest to the PCC that we should either scrap the 8am service altogether or move it to the same Sunday as the joint services. In this way the early service might recover a distinct reason for existing.
• I will ask the PCC to approve a service book for the new Common Worship services which will be flexible enough to be used at all services. This will mean that the 9.30am service sometimes has variations, and the 11.15am always has a service book given out.
• I will ask the PCC to agree to refreshments (maybe coffee, or maybe soup and rolls) after the 11.15am service, so that people can get to know each other. The fact that we often don’t even know each others’ names is a crying shame.
Church life and atmosphere.
• I will ask the PCC to draw up a “vision statement” for our church (see last November’s Link, and the article “What sort of Christian?” in this issue.
• I will ask the PCC to start tithing the church’s income (giving 10% away to missions and charitable causes) from 2002, and to move to a philosophy of giving as a church instead of asking our people to give to charities as individuals.
• I will ask the PCC to agree a definite plan for helping visitors and newcomers to understand the Christian faith - a plan which will mean lay people taking an active part. Maybe regular Alpha courses?
• I will ask the PCC to consider buying new bibles for the church. The New English Bibles we have sound quite dated nowadays, are inaccurate in some passages, and the print is too small.
• I will ask the PCC to look again at the location of the OHP screen.
• I will ask the PCC to agree to the production of a directory of church members, so that people can get to know each other better.
• I will ask the PCC to agree that all those requesting infant baptism for their children should have a service of Thanksgiving and Blessing first.
PCC & APCM Procedures.
• I will ask the Annual Meeting to end the three-year terms of PCC members and hold elections for all seats every year.
• I will ask the Annual Meeting to reduce the number elected onto the PCC gradually over a few years, from the present 18 down to 12.
• I will ask the PCC to hold the Annual Parochial Church Meeting on a Sunday morning instead of on a weekday evening, so that young families can attend.
• I will hold Standing Committee meetings only for urgent or minor matters, and not regularly any more.
So now you know my thoughts - please think about them and elect people to put your point of view!
John Hartley