Dear all,

I thought that I would use this month’s letter to mention an important piece of paperwork that needs to be done this year.

Every six years the church must prepare a new church electoral roll in time for the Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM); therefore this year (2007) we must prepare a new roll in readiness for the APCM on April 2^nd.A notice about this complete revision and compilation of a new electoral roll will be fixed to the church notice board on February 4^th 2007 and remain there until March 4^th 2007 in accordance to Church Representation Rules, and a letter sent to those currently on the Electoral Roll.(The church electoral roll is not to be confused with the local authority register of electors, the two are entirely separate.)

If you wish to be on the electoral roll of St. Matthew’s it is imperative that you complete an application form whether or not you have been on the electoral roll in the past, as names from previous rolls will not be carried over to the new one.If you do not fill in a new form you will not be on the roll.

Also, there are a number of people at church who I know are not on the roll, and this is the ideal time for everyone at church to fill out a form.As well as all the important church governance benefits of being on the electoral roll there is also a pastoral benefit.Having a list of the members of the church helps me greatly in my pastoral duties – for example if I know someone in the congregation needs a visit, but don’t have a record of where they live it is difficult to go and see them.I have spent a lot of time trying to track down where someone lives in order to visit them, which is not only a waste of time, but also delays giving the pastoral support that is needed.I have also included on the form space for additional details such as telephone number and email address.These are not mandatory fields which must be filled in, but I do hope that you will take this opportunity to enter those details too to help in the running of the parish.

There are also many good reasons for being on the electoral roll in terms of church governance: you will be eligible to attend and vote at the APCM where elections take place for membership of the PCC and Deanery Synod; be a part of the Synodical governance of the Church of England; you will be eligible to attend the APCM and may raise any question of parochial or general church interest; and people wishing to stand for various offices within the church must be on the electoral roll.

Forms will be available in church through the revision period for you to take home, fill in and then return.If you have any further questions about this, or need assistance in filling out the form please contact either Mrs. Morris or myself.

Yours in Christ

David

Creation date : 16/04/2007 - 21:53
Last update : 16/01/2009 - 21:44
Category : Church Magazine
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