The Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM) is a legally required meeting for PCCs. It is normal for the Election of Churchwardens and the APCM to be held at the same time, so information on both is offered here. Please find downloads of all of the forms etc at the bottom of the page.The Church Representation Rules state:
Election of Churchwardens The Churchwardens Measure 2001, which came into force on 1 January 2002, states:
Subject to the provisions of this Measure, the churchwardens of a parish shall be elected by a meeting of the parishioners. Note also that the Election of Churchwardens can be attended by people who are not on the Electoral Roll. They can attend and vote, but are not entitled to attend the APCM and they may be excluded from that meeting, however, there is nothing to stop a parish allowing such people to attend the APCM, and this may be pastorally advantageous. Candidates for election at the meeting must be nominated and seconded in writing by persons entitled to attend the meeting and each nomination paper must include a statement, signed by the person nominated, to the effect that that person is willing to serve as a churchwarden and is not disqualified. A nomination shall not be valid unless —
If it appears to the minister of the parish that the election of any particular person nominated might give rise to serious difficulties between the minister and that person in the carrying out of their respective functions, the minister may, before the election is conducted, make a statement to the effect that only one churchwarden is to be elected by the meeting. In that event, one churchwarden shall be appointed by the minister from among the persons nominated, the name of the person so appointed being announced before the election is conducted, and the other shall then be elected by the meeting.
Notices for Election of Churchwardens Although it is normal for the Election of Churchwardens and the APCM to be held at the same time, the Statutory Notice for the APCM, as laid down in the Rules, makes no provision for the Election of Churchwardens, so there have to be two notices. The Statutory Notice as laid down by the Rules is available below. Also available are a Notice and a nomination form which satisfy the new Churchwardens Measure. Both Notices have to be displayed for a period of at least 14 days, including the two Sundays before the Meeting. Terms of office Prospective Churchwardens must be members of the Electoral Roll. They can hold office for an uninterrupted period of six years if re-elected each year, but must step down after that unless the APCM has voted to suspend this provision at least a year ahead of the six year limit being reached. Downloads:
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