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StJames Councils

Church AGM
An AGM is an integral part of an organisation's life but often many people just don't bother to attend. This means that unconsciously they are excluding themselves from a time when they can get an overall view of where an organisation has been, where it is and where it is going. At anytime an organisation needs to respond to people affected by it but the AGM is a time where current facts can be aired in a coherent manner, opinions can be voiced and noted and, if the Chairman has organised such, that votes may be taken.
 
At St Johns with St James, like so many organisations, the Annual General Meeting is held every year in April. It is held at each church on alternate years. Outside of welcomes and prayers it aims to provide the following:
  • It contains several legal requirements that ensure that people can see formally what is going on materially and financially and it is normal for these to be presented in written form -particularly the latter so that people may take a copy of the details to study in detail when they have more time.
  • Within the Church of England, St John's With St James employs staff and they would normally present reports on what their activities have brought to the parish and what their individual aspirations will be.
  • It is also likely that there will have been staff changes and so their comings and goings will be explained.
  • Finally the Chairman, normally the Vicar, will summarise the timescales of any proposals put forward, how people can feedback on their opinions and offer routes where members can offer to help with these proposals.
Parish Church Council
Given the number of issues, their occasional urgency and their need for continuous management as many of you reading this I hope are aware, that as well as an annual meeting there are Parish Church Council meetings held throughout the year. Approximately 6 meetings are held per year. This council tends to deal with the larger matters which have an effect on the whole parish and is a chance for the two churches to integrate their strategies.
 
District Church Council
However many matters affect only an individual church; it is pointless bringing up certain issues to the attention of the whole parish eg an issue of maintenance, or a individual fund-raising event, or help for an individual known to the church who is sick or on hard times. Given the number of issues, their occasional urgency and their need for continuous management there is a District Church Council. This meets in the church it's associated with at least 8 times a year and is where much of the day to day running of a church is managed from. Most importantly it is made up of ordinary members of the congregation with others who neccesarily will have to be there like Vicars, Associate Vicars, Curates, Children's Workers, Administrators etc and non-voting Co-opted members who are members of an organisation closely tied to the work of the church eg the manager of The Phoenix Project. Meetings are publicised eg in Newssheets and on the website. Anyone may attend. Only accepted members can vote.
 
It is important that members are responsible in their attitude. If they are not then it is rightful that that members be quized or even offer to, or be, stood down in an extreme case. It is also important that they should also not be the same individuals for years and years as it's hard work. They should be able to move aside for others to take responsibilty for the running of their church. New blood brings new thinking and new growth both for the church and, as we've seen time and time again, an expansion of the gifts in the individual concerned.
 
It is from the DCC that individuals offer to bring what they can, and be members of, the PCC.
 
A DCC may appoint sub-committees as they see fit. A sub-committees will be responsible for bringing an individual matter to a more expedient state than if the whole DDC were involved eg Children's Groups Subcommittee. Initially The Phoenix Project started like this and now stands successfully on it own feet.
 
 
Every Member Should Offer To Be Involved
Therefore it is very much appreciated that every member of the church be involved with their DCC, be appreciative of the work that others do and even offer to bring their skills, gifts and personality to the service of God in whatever way they can. If some of you think that you have none of these attributes then you are very much mistaken. God made you and loves you as he explains throughout the Bible for example:

PS 139:1 O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord. You hem me in -behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me," even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.