Parochial Church Council
[P.C.C.]
The Parochial Church Council (PCC), is the executive body of a Church of England parish.
Powers: Two Acts of Parliament define the powers and duties of PCCs. The Parochial Church Councils (Powers) Measure 1956, as amended, defines the principal functions and purpose of the PCC, which is the responsibility of co-operating with the incumbent (rector, vicar or priest) or priest in charge in promoting the mission of the Church in its parish. Section 6 of the Synodical Government Measure 1969 (No. 2) Act amended the list of PCC functions originally in Section 2 of the 1956 Act. Part II of the Church Representation Rules, contained in Schedule 3 to the Synodical Government Measure 1969 (No. 2), states how a PCC should be constituted. A PCC consists of the clergy and churchwardens of the parish, together with a number of representatives of the laity elected at the Annual Parochial Church Meeting by means of being nominated and seconded at the meeting, and also being listed on the parish roll for at least six months. The incumbent is the chairman of the PCC and a lay member is appointed vice-chairman. The PCC must meet at least four times a year. Since 2008 under the Charity Commission's The Excepted Church Charity Programme, a PCC with an income of over £100,000 is required to register as a charity, and the members of the PCC become trustees. Many parish post-holders are appointed by the PCC such as sidesperson, child protection representative, treasurer, chalice bearers and sacristan. Churchwardens are elected at the Annual Parochial Church Meeting and attend the PCC and the standing committee. [Courtesy of Wikipedia].
Statement of PCC Members' Responsibilities Charity law requires the P.C.C. as trustees of the church to prepare an annual report and financial statements for each financial year that gives a true and fair view of the Church's financial activities during the year and of its financial position over the year. The P.C.C. is also required to ensure that these are subjected to an annual independent examination or audit and to present these to the Annual Parochial Church Meeting in accordance with the Church Representation Rules. In preparing these financial statements, the P.C.C. are required to: • Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently. • Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent. • State whether application accounting standards and statements of recommended The P.C.C. has the responsibility of co-operating with the incumbent in promoting in the ecclesiastical parish, the whole mission of the church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical. Formally, the P.C.C. is responsible for the financial affairs of the church and the care and maintenance of the church fabric and its contents which responsibilities are executed by churchwardens or other volunteers. It also has a voice in the forms of service used by the church and may make representations to the bishop and deanery synod on matters affecting the welfare and pastoral care of the parish.