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April 2005, Page 6.
Index of articles:
by subject,
by date.
In this issue:
(April 2005)
Jesus a Ghost?
Abortion,
Annual Meeting,
Church Survey.
Annual Meeting 2005
Annual Parochial Church Meeting
Please come and:
This is your chance to ensure your view
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This month we hold our Annual Meeting, and I urge you to come. Vicars always say that - so why should you make the effort?
Because as an elected member in two other positions I know the difference the support of the electorate makes to me:
I sit on General Synod. Quite often I have a view about what we're discussing, and I get up and try to catch the chairman's eye so that I can speak about it. What makes me think I ought to express my view, rather than just keeping quiet and going along with everyone else? The fact that I fought an election and got 32 votes out of 95 shows me that I represent a good fraction of the other clergy in the diocese. Because they bothered to vote I have the self-confidence to speak.
I'm also chairman of the House of Clergy of the Diocesan Synod. When I have to keep order in debates and choose between people who want to speak, how do I know I'm doing what the others want me to do? I don't. I was the only candidate - no-one else wanted the job, so no-one got the chance to choose whether or not they wanted me to do it. I know a few people think I'm doing a good job, but I don't know if the majority approve or just suffer in silence.
It makes a difference to your PCC members that you turn out to support them. It helps them to know you are behind them, and that they are representing your points of view. The PCC members need you to turn up!
How long will the meeting take? It's not possible to say - it depends on how many of you want to speak up and ask questions and raise issues for discussion. The reports are published in advance, and on the day we do them at speed. I will be disappointed in myself if I keep you more than 30 or 40 minutes, and I promise you will not be kept twiddling your thumbs during routine items.
John Hartley