Community involvement in Parish Council

This year’s AMEP has been set for 16 June following the 9.30 service and in preparation for this and future meetings, we are looking to establish a closer relationship between the workings of the PC and the congregation.For those who don’t know, the PC is comprised of people with separate portfolios. There is a secretary producing agendas/minutes, a Human Resources portfolio managing staff issues such as job descriptions, wages and leave, another dealing with buildings and ground maintenance issues, and, of course a Treasurer managing finances. We also have a 7.30 service representative for that group, as  well as a Prayer portfolio to help guide the PC’s deliberations.In the past, membership of the PC has usually involved finding someone who will take on the position in the absence of any enthusiastic nomination. Too often someone needs to be talked into taking a role and this clearly is not a situation which is as healthy as it should be.  We need to consider and pray about our individual skills and the contributions we might be able to make and be prepared to become involved.It is not being suggested that there has to be radical change of the membership of the PC but it is healthy that there is change over time, to inject freshness and to avoid suggestions that the church is run by a ‘purple circle’.Better communication between the PC and the congregation is necessary, although how this can best be achieved is not clear and suggestions would be welcome. Perhaps one or two extraordinary meetings during the year might help.Greater ownership of the workings of the PC would be beneficial. For example, an extraordinary meeting leading up to the AMEP might look at framing the new budget.  Portfolios on the PC could present budget submissions on anticipated staff costs, building works/maintenance etc, combined with submissions from the various ministries, e.g. the musos, small groups and Alpha courses.The success of Vision 52 seems to indicate that if a connection can be established between giving and expenditure, there is greater individual participation. People tend not to be so comfortable with putting money into a ‘bucket’ to be distributed at someone else’s discretion, so perhaps by greater involvement in the formulation of the budget that connection could be established.The congregation is urged to give these matters prayerful consideration in the period leading up to the AMEP, so please talk to me beforehand if you have any suggestions. Hopefully, the AMEP can be more fruitful than usual, paving the way for a successful year in growing the Kingdom.Peter Goff