Learn more about how Governance Structures would work in a larger parish

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Governance can often feel like a barrier to focusing on mission and ministry. To address this, Fit for Mission proposes a new approach to governance that simplifies structures, enabling parishes to spend more time growing faith and serving their communities.

Streamlined Governance

In the new model, each larger parish will have one Parochial Church Council (PCC). Acting as charity trustees, this central body will manage key responsibilities, including finance, buildings, safeguarding, and employment.

Individual churches will continue to have important local roles, such as a finance co-ordinator, warden, and safeguarding officer. These roles will contribute to three sub-committees that report into the larger PCC. This ensures every church has a voice in key governance decisions while simplifying overall processes.

Local Leadership Teams

While governance is streamlined, local leadership remains central. Each church will have its own leadership team focused entirely on mission and ministry. These teams will drive local initiatives in areas like faith development, justice, and community engagement.

To ensure flexibility, local teams will decide how frequently they meet and determine their own agendas, tailoring their work to meet the unique needs of their church and community.

Collaboration Across the Parish

Being part of a larger parish brings the benefit of collaboration. Churches can pool skills and resources to work on shared projects, such as creating a parish-wide youth and children’s ministry plan. This collective approach ensures that no church is working in isolation.

Support will also come from the Cultivate Team, who will assist local churches in exploring new missional opportunities and expanding their reach within the community.

Practical Support for Ministry

To allow leadership teams to focus on mission and ministry, practical tasks will be managed by sidespersons’ teams led by church wardens. These teams will handle responsibilities like setting up for services and ensuring everything runs smoothly, freeing local leaders to focus on their priorities.

Staying Connected

Connection is key to ensuring the success of larger parishes. Every church or worship community will have a named clergy member who oversees both the church and its local leadership team. This clergy member will maintain a close relationship with the parish rector, who sits on the larger PCC. Regular meetings between clergy members and the rector will ensure alignment, accountability, and collaboration across the parish.

Navigating the Transition

Transitioning to a larger parish structure is a significant process, and we want every member of our congregations to feel informed and involved. Each Fit for Mission group will have a navigation team composed of local clergy and laypeople. This team will oversee communication and coordination throughout the process, keeping everyone updated and addressing concerns.

As the two-year transition period progresses, a shadow PCC will begin preparing for the new governance model. This group will focus on developing policies, communication plans, and other practical elements to ensure a smooth transition to the new structure.

Shaping the Future Together

Local voices are at the heart of this process. Your insights, experience, and commitment will play a vital role in shaping the future of your parish. Together, we are building a structure that will strengthen our churches and support their mission to serve communities more effectively.

This journey is about more than governance—it’s about creating a vibrant and connected future for our Christian communities. Thank you for being part of this exciting transformation.