24 May 2013

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Electoral Roll renewal in 2013

21 November 2012 By

Information from Andy Brookes, General Secretary, regarding the renewal of electoral rolls in 2013:

Many of you are well versed in the six yearly renewing of electoral rolls. If so, skip ahead a few paragraphs to the changes we are making in 2013.

For those who are new to this, some background.

Each year around APCM time individuals have the opportunity to join the electoral rolls of our churches (with a small number resigning if they take the trouble). Every six years each church’s electoral roll is redone from scratch, with all members having to sign up afresh. You need to make this happen in early 2013, getting all your flock to sign anelectoral roll form.

This is more than just a statistical clean-up.

In the past 20 years, electoral rolls in the London Diocese have grown 60-70%. (The exact number depends on the base year; see Another Capital Idea for more details.) Any of you who have used this statistic with your congregations will know the encouragement and surprise it generates. However, we can only make this statement because each church does the collection work – thank you; and it is important to ensure that electoral rolls are realistic.

Under London Challenge many of the successes were achieved through our working together:  on Fairtrade, the environment, the2012 and much more. Our Capital Vision 2020 will build on this theme. We need to continue to do more together.

Changes in 2013

Many participants in Capital Vision engagement workshops asked us to raise our communications game. The ability to communicate further encouragement direct to members of electoral rolls will aid that objective.

The statutory electoral roll application form does not collect email addresses or phone numbers, but to enable that improvement in our communication to happen, a new box headed ‘Additional Information’ has been added at the end of the form. This contains an invitation to the electoral roll applicant to provide their email address and telephone number.

As you know, this information is vital to the smooth functioning of a parish. We also want to be able to use these email addresses to share, on behalf of the Bishop of London, important news and events in the life of the Church in the Diocese of London.

You should note that the request for ‘Additional Information’ has been worded to reflect best practice and covers use of the information provided both by the parish and by the Bishop.

Please use the new form, which should replace any used in the past, or if you prefer you can simply copy and paste the new box on to the end of your existing statutory form.

The mechanism for transferring electoral roll information to us will be a straightforward upload of a simple spreadsheet through a secure website. But this is for another day. The important thing is that your church include the new box for ‘Additional Information’ provided on the electoral roll form.

Documents to help with the preparation of your new electoral roll are attached: the application form, a notice to be displayed, plus a quick guide and a more detailed guide to the process. These documents – and many more relating to APCMs – are available on the diocesan website.

Filed Under: Information, PCCs, Synod

Statement following House of Bishops discussion

12 September 2012 By

It was a very good meeting indeed. There was a very high degree of convergence and agreement.

Official statement from the Church of England:

The House of Bishops has today by an overwhelming majority settled the text of the legislation to enable women to become bishops in the Church of England.

The House of Bishops made clear its desire for the draft legislation to be passed into law when it goes forward for final approval to the Church of England’s General Synod in November.

Speaking on behalf of the House at the conclusion of their meeting the Archbishop of Canterbury Dr. Rowan Williams said:

“Before turning to the matters we have been discussing, I want to say, on behalf of the Bishops, that our thoughts and prayers are very much with the people of Liverpool and all affected by the Hillsborough tragedy on this day when the report is released. The Bishop of Liverpool has done a great service in steering this work to a conclusion and helping us as a nation to confront this deeply traumatic memory.”

Dr Williams continued:

“Since women were first made priests in the Church of England in 1994, their ministry has hugely enriched both church and society. It has become increasingly clear to most of us that barring women from becoming bishops is an anomaly that should be removed, for the good of the Church’s mission and service.

“In July this year, the General Synod asked the House of Bishops to reconsider an alteration it had made to the proposed legislation on this subject. The Bishops have taken very seriously the anxieties expressed about the possible implications of their amendment and there has been widespread consultation since then. We are very grateful for all the points and suggestions offered by synod members and others.

“In light of this consultation, the Bishops have discussed the measure again and are now bringing forward a new text that expresses both our conviction of the need to see this legislation passed and our desire to honour the conscience and contribution of those in the Church of England whose reservations remain.

“It is particularly significant and welcome that the new text emerged not from the House of Bishops itself but rather from a serving woman priest.

“I hope all members of Synod will now reflect carefully on what the Bishops have decided and will continue to give thought and prayer to how they will vote in November.”

“I am convinced that the time has come for the Church of England to be blessed by the ministry of women as bishops and it is my deep hope that the legislation will pass in November.”

At its meeting in July the General Synod asked the House of Bishops to reconsider a provision in the legislation – Clause 5(1)(c) of the draft measure.

The new amendment submitted by the Rev. Janet Appleby during the consultation process received overwhelming support from the House of Bishops in both their discussions and in the final vote.

In discussion the Bishops welcomed the simplicity of the new text, its emphasis on respect and the process of dialogue with parishes that it will promote.

The final text proposed by the House of Bishops is:

Substitute for the words in clause 5(1)(c):” the selection of male bishops and male priests in a manner which respects the grounds on which parochial church councils issue Letters of Request under section 3″

The House also agreed to establish a group to develop the illustrative draft Code of Practice published in January to give effect to the new provision.

Filed Under: Women Bishops

Church Representation Rules – online for first time

25 June 2012 By

The 2011 edition of the Church Representation Rules – a vital tool for clergy, churchwardens and PCC, deanery and diocesan synod members – is now available free on the Church of England website.

The free online version of the Rules – which govern matters such as the preparation of the church electoral roll, the membership and election of parochial church councils – mirrors the 2011 edition of the book – published in print and Kindle e-book format by Church House Publishing.

Making the Rules freely available online was a recommendation of the House of Bishops’/Archbishops’ Council’s Simplification Group, who are committed to reducing the time spent by clergy and church members on the management of structures and processes.

Mary Chapman, chair of the Simplification Group, said: “The online publication of the Church Representation Rules is welcome early fruit from work in response to requests for easier access to important information. Digital developments enable us to offer e-book, print and free download versions simultaneously and improve the prospect of more timely updates in the future.”

The online version of Church Representation Rules follows the recently published seventh edition of the Canons of the Church of England – the first full revision since 2000 – which can be found at www.churchofengland.org/about-us/structure/churchlawlegis/canons/canons-7th-edition.aspx

An easy-to-use binder with reference tags containing the Canons may be purchased from the Church House Publishing website, www.chpublishing.co.uk. A Kindle edition of the Canons is also available.

Filed Under: PCCs, Synod

Annual return 2012 information

23 March 2012 By

The Annual Return is the means of collecting from parishes/churches information required by the bishops, archdeacons, diocesan officers, and the committees of the Archbishops’ Council, to assist in their various responsibilities for planning and administering the affairs of the church at its different levels.

It is essential that the senior clergy and diocesan staff know the details of the appropriate contacts for any matter about which they may have dealings with your church, and accurate information on the life and finances of the parish/church is essential in reaching the right decisions to further the mission of the Church in your locality, and in the Diocese as a whole.

(The information is also statutorily required to comply with the provisions of the Churchwardens Measure 2001, the Synodical Government Measure 1969 and the Church Accounting Regulations 1997, as amended in 2001.)

Using the last 10 years’ returns to help you plan in your parish

The information provided through the annual return also helps churches plan for the future. A project has started to provide each parish, on request, with analysis of the last ten years’ annual return data. For more information, visit here.

Completing the annual return

People who hold a “principal minister position” (incumbent, priest in charge, minister in charge, team rector, team vicar, pioneer minister) or have an official parish role (churchwarden, PCC secretary, PCC treasurer, parish administrator) will be emailed separately by Area/archdeaconry offices with details of how to log in.

Other people can be given access to the online annual return. Instructions for doing that are on the annual return help page.

The online facility will be available straight after Easter – from Tuesday 10 April. Annual returns should be completed by 1 June.

Useful information and getting help

Help is available on the diocesan website, both for completing the annual return and for conducting APCMs:

Filed Under: DCG, Featured articles, PCCs, Synod

Report from Diocesan Synod 13 October 2011

13 October 2011 By

The London Diocesan Synod met tonight to debate the draft Bishops and Priests (Consecration and Ordination of Women) Measure, which was referred to the dioceses by the General Synod last September.

Following a constructive debate which saw a number of contributors speaking from differing viewpoints, the Synod voted against the legislation.

The next stage is that, if a majority of diocesan synods approve the draft legislation, it returns to the General Synod for the debate on the final approval of the Measure. The results of the voting in the Diocesan Synods from around the country are reported to General Synod at this stage.

The Measure will require a 2/3 majority in all three Houses (Bishops, Clergy and Laity) of General Synod at the final approval stage.

If approved, the legislation would then go to Parliament for consideration by the Ecclesiastical Committee and each House of Parliament.

The voting figures in the Diocesan Synod debate were:

Votes for Votes against Abstentions
House of Bishops 2 1 0
House of Clergy 39 41 0
House of Laity 45 37 0

The approval of the Diocesan Synod depends upon the motion being carried in the Houses of Clergy and Laity.

Filed Under: Synod, Women Bishops

Women in the Episcopate: guidelines for discussion

4 January 2011 By

Mitre and robesBackground

When major legislation (a measure or a canon) that makes changes to the ordinal (among other things) is going through General Synod, it requires what is known as an Article 8 Reference.

The legislation to provide for Women Bishops in the Church of England falls under this category.

The draft legislation is referred to the Dioceses for the legislation to be voted on at Diocesan Synod. Dioceses are strongly urged to refer the matter to Deanery Synods.

This paper sets out the process and provides resource materials for the discussion. Details of all this can be found here:

The Consecration of Women to the Episcopate (GS Misc 964) (pdf) [Read more...]

Filed Under: Ad clerum, Synod, Women Bishops

General Synod – What actually happened?

13 July 2010 By

The Bishop of London sent out the following announcement today:

Dear Friends,

General Synod – What actually happened?

Most of us get information about what is happening in the rest of the church beyond our own patch from the mass media. Understandably in a fierce ratings war and in the struggle to get religious news of any kind reported there is tendency to hype and dramatise and to give undue prominence to extreme voices.

Almost every week we are told that that the Church of England faces “the greatest crisis since the reformation” and “that a split is imminent”.

Actually the weather at the 2010 General Synod in York was much more temperate than in July 2009. I was very proud of the way in which your representatives from the London Diocese, speaking from different viewpoints, made a constructive contribution to many of the debates. The Bishop of Willesden in particular with his characteristic candour shone a bright light on the complex business before us. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Ad clerum, Featured articles, Synod

Annual Report to Parishes

25 June 2010 By

The Annual Report to Parishes for 2009 is now available at www.london.anglican.org/Finance, as are the 2009 Statutory Accounts.

The Report contains forewords from the Bishop of London and the General Secretary, an update on the London Challenge, a list of Mission Fund awards, a Common Fund statement and a summary of the London Diocesan Fund’s financial activities.

Paper copies will be sent to PCC treasurers over the next couple of weeks.

Filed Under: Featured articles, Finance, London Challenge, Synod

General Synod elections

15 June 2010 By

Elections to General Synod are taking place later this year. The Diocese of London elects 10 members of the clergy and 10 lay members.

The nomination period for the election is from 20 July to 3 September. Voting will take place between 17 September and 8 October and the votes will be counted on 11 October.

Please help spread the word about this election by:

How to stand for election

First of all, read this leaflet (pdf).

Nomination forms will be available from 20 July. In general, members of deanery synods will be sent a copy automatically by post. Otherwise, copies can be requested from the Synodical Secretary by t:  020 7932 1228, e: monica.bolley (Email: monica.bolley [at] london.anglican.org) or by post at London Diocesan House, 36 Causton Street, London SW1P 4AU.

Disclaimer: This article is intended as a rough guide only. Candidates and electors should carefully follow instructions on official notices, such as the nomination and voting papers, particularly with regard to timings and delivery methods.

Filed Under: Featured articles, Synod

Bishop’s Council report

13 May 2010 By

The Bishop of London sent out summary of the last Bishop’s Council to his clergy and to parish officers.

Dear Colleagues,

I want to get into the habit of reporting back to you after each Bishop’s Council.

We had a very good meeting last night. We remembered in particular Derek Hayward, former General Secretary, and Denzil Freeth, former Chair of the Finance Committee, who have passed away recently.

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Communications, Information, Synod

By-elections to Vacancy in See Committee and three Area Councils

22 March 2010 By

By-elections are being held to fill several lay vacancies on the Vacancy in See Committee (Stepney only) and Stepney, Edmonton and Willesden Area Councils.

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Information, Synod

Annual meetings

15 March 2010 By

Annual returns

The online system for completing 2010 Parish Annual Returns is now open.

As indicated in recent Area mailings, the Annual Return pack should be completed online following parishes’ APCMs. This is available at http://raphael.london.anglican.org. You may find it useful to have a downloaded paper copy of the Annual Return to use as a draft. This is particularly helpful for entering finance information and collecting up mission figures.

Whichever way you choose to complete the Annual Returns this year please remember that the information must be received not later than 1 June 2010.

Forms for APCMs

Many of the forms and notices that are needed for APCMs are available here, including:

  • Notice of Annual Meeting
  • Notice of Meeting of Parishioners to Elect Churchwardens
  • Nomination of PCC Member
  • Nomination of Churchwarden
  • Annual Parish Meeting Results
  • Notice of revision of Electoral Roll
  • Electoral Roll Application Form
  • Electoral Roll form for display in church

Download APCM forms.

Annual letter to PCC Secretaries

The Synodical Secretary’s letter to PCC Secretaries has been sent out. A copy can be downloaded below.

2010 PCC Secretaries letter
2010 PCC Secretaries letter (144 kB)

Previous years’ letters can be accessed from the APCM section of the diocesan intranet.

Filed Under: Information, Synod

Area Council and Vacancy in See Committee by-elections

21 December 2009 By

By-elections are taking place for Two Cities, Stepney, Edmonton and Willesden Area Councils, and also for the Vacancy in See Committee.

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Information, Synod

Diocesan budget 2010

15 December 2009 By

The budget for 2010 was received by the Synod on 12 December 2009. It is summarised at www.london.anglican.org/Budget-2010. The headlines are as follows.

The budget was developed in the context of the Diocese of London’s continuing success and growth. These have enabled the Bishop’s Council and Synod to approve a balanced budget as required by the London Challenge despite the very difficult economic background. However, adhering to the budget will be challenging.

  • Common Fund pledges up 2.8%, budget up by £0.3m
  • City Parochial Fund  and investment income down by £0.7m because of recession
  • Clergy costs up by £0.9m mainly because of increased pension contributions
  • No increase in stipends nor salaries in 2010
  • Balanced budget achieved by
    • reducing net expenditure on parochial clergy to save about £0.4m in a full year either by raising extra income or by reducing the number of stipendiary clergy deployed or by a combination of the two; and
    • reducing net other expenditure to save around £0.9m either by reducing expenditure or raising extra income or by a combination  of the two.

The comparison is to the authorised budget for 2009.

If you wish to see the full paper presented to Synod please contact your synodical representative or finance adviser.

Filed Under: Finance, Information, Synod

By-elections

26 November 2009 By

Please note that By-Elections are due to take place shortly to fill vacancies in relation to Area Councils and the Vacancy in See Committee.

Details of the Area Councils involved, of the vacancies to be filled and the timetables will be posted on the website during December.

Filed Under: Synod