From the Revd Chris Mitchell
Sir, - Reading the reports of the February General Synod
sessions (Synod, 21
February), I do wonder how many members have experience of
small country parishes.
In the debate about the frequency of PCC meetings, great alarm
was expressed at the dire consequences of a parish's having only
one PCC meeting in a year. In each of my last two appointments
before retirement, some of the parishes in my rural group had very
infrequent meetings. One parish in Norfolk used to appoint a PCC
each year, but rarely met - usually only if a faculty application
was needed.
Another parish, in Derbyshire, would usually have one meeting in
the year, in addition to the APCM. Yet the worship and ministry of
the parish continued, albeit in a quiet and unspectacular way. Most
matters were quickly decided by an informal meeting after a
service, and only a limited number of matters required a formal
meeting.
This parish had a population of about 80, a fortnightly service,
and an average Sunday congregation of ten, all of whom were PCC
members. Obviously, in a large town parish the situation would be
very different.
I am sure that I am not alone in these experiences. It is true
that in such a situation the incumbent has to be careful that
decision-making is not dominated by one forceful individual or
family; but this can happen even at a formal meeting. Similarly,
fears of clerical despotism seem ill-founded. These days, PCC
members (quite rightly) would be quick to raise matters of concern,
and insist on an early meeting, if needed. Wise parish priests and
archdeacons have more important things to do than to quibble about
the number of PCC meetings held.
CHRIS MITCHELL
42 Melton Avenue, York YO30 5QG