Electoral Roll Updates,
and announcement of our AGM on Sunday May 15th
In the run up to our AGM, now is the perfect time for anyone who has joined us during the last year to consider becoming part of our electoral roll. If you consider yourself part of our church family, and hold the Christian faith, you should probably be on this list!
The deadline for additions to the Electoral Roll to vote in the AGM or stand for Council is 23rd April 2022
When you complete the form, you will need to indicate that you meet a number of specific requirements. Those with a strong legal disposition can read more about these online; our Bishop’s Mission Order closely mirrors, with minor differences which I am happy to discuss, the Church Representation Rules here. But, in summary, the rules ask if you have “habitually attended worship” with us over the last six months; are baptised, a lay person, and over the age of 16, and are either a member of the Church of England, a Church in communion with the Church of England, or a church which subscribes to the doctrine of the Holy Trinity. If you are unclear about these legal phrases, please contact us so we can ensure we get you included!
Join the Electoral Roll Here:
bit.ly/PathfinderChurchElectoralRoll
Council Make up, Commitment, and Nomination process:
Please be praying for the right people to join our Church Council
The church council works with the minister in promoting the mission of the church; is responsible for the maintenance and repair of church property; has overall charge of all expenditure; and members are Trustees of the church.
The Council consists of between 3 and 12 individuals, of which 6 can be elected by our local electoral roll. Under our BMO, members, who must be residents of Northstowe or regular worshipping members of the congregation and on our Electoral Roll, each stand for a term of one year, and may be re-appointed for a maximum of three consecutive years. Each Council member must adhere to the Christian Faith.
Full Council meets roughly every 6 week, with the possibility to add extra meetings in extraordinary situations; between full meetings the Standing Committee meet electronically in response to circumstances. The council have then delegated some of their responsibility to The Building Team and Ministry Team (with a pastoral brief ). Two members of full council sit on each of those subcommittees; other attendance at those meetings can then be varied as needed, drawing many more people into shaping our church while keeping formal council meetings lightweight.
We are grateful to the following for serving as elected Full Council Members this last year, supported by Susie Willis on the Building Team, Rachel Addison as our Deanery Link, and Sam Goldsworthy as Safeguarding Officer.
Hannah Mellows (who has also served as Church Warden, on the standing Committee, and Ministry Team)
Becky Eccleston (also Treasurer, on the Standing Committee, and on the Building Team)
Will Addison (also part of the Building Team)
Peter Cope (also part of the Building Team)
There will therefore be at least two electable vacancies, and potentially more as we can co-opt some of the fixed roles.
In addition, I (Beth) hold office ex-officio.
Potential candidates for church council should talk this through with Beth and/or existing council members before standing, and should read through the role description carefully. They should also affirm the code of conduct for council members by signing a copy and submitting it alongside their nomination form.
Candidates need to be on the church electoral roll and will need a proposer and a seconder, who are also on the church electoral roll. Nomination forms will be available nearer the time.
Nomination forms, together with a photograph and short biography of not more than 100 words indicating who they are and why they are standing will be required before the published closing date.
As a BMO, we have no legal requirement for a church warden, but we find it helpful for good integration with the diocese to have someone in this position, and especially to hold the pastoral brief of care for the minister, and promotion of unity within the church. We are very grateful to Hannah for serving several year as Warden: she stands down from this role within Council with our gratitude and blessing.
We are therefore seeking a new Warden. The Canons of the Church of England [Canons E1.4 and E1.5] give us guidance here: explaining that churchwardens shall be foremost in representing the laity and in cooperating with the incumbent; they shall use their best endeavours by example and precept to encourage the parishioners in the practice of true religion and to promote unity and peace among them. They shall also maintain order and decency in the church and churchyard, especially during the time of divine service. The property, in the plate, ornaments and other moveable goods of the church, is vested in them, and they should keep an up-to-date inventory of these items, and deliver them to their successors. The church warden must be over 21, and in the habit of receiving communion. You can see how we have interpreted this role for our context in the role descriptions.
I hope that this explains the process ahead of us. Much of what I have written has, of necessity, been focussed on procedures and legalities. However, we must not let that distract us from the fact that these are decisions that are matters for prayer and spiritual discernment. The health of our church relies much on the quality of its leadership.
God bless,
Beth
Revd Dr Beth Cope (Minister)
