This is the month when you must decide: is God calling you to use your gifts to serve us, your local church? It is time that you became a lay leader?
The Anglican Church has not always welcomed laity in positions of leadership but things changed in 1919, when Parochial Church Councils were given a legal status for the first time.
So - how does a PCC get there in the first place? Well, the basis of the whole scheme is the electoral roll. An electoral roll is found in every parish. It is simply the list of people who are qualified electors in any given parish.
But how do you get from the electoral roll to the PCC?
Well, this all happens at the Annual General Meeting which must be held not later than the 30th April every year, and everyone whose name is on the electoral roll of the parish is invited to attend.
This AGM elects lay members of the parochial church council, as well as other business: the election (triennially) of lay representatives to the deanery synod, the appointment of sidesmen, - the receiving of parochial and other reports, - and the general discussion of church and parochial affairs.
So when you attend the AGM, should you stand also for the PCC this year? It is something to pray about, and to consider before God whether your gifts might not be of use to the local church.
Your PCC has a number of duties and responsibilities: the financial affairs of the church, the care, maintenance and insurance of the fabric of the church and its goods and ornaments, and the care and maintenance of the churchyard.
If you think this might be you, please contact the vicar for further details.