Other committees 15. The council may appoint other committees for the purpose of the various branches of church work in the parish and may include therein persons who are not members of the council. The minister shall be a member of all committees ex-officio. Independent examiner or auditor 16. An independent examiner or auditor of the Council's financial statements shall - (a) have a of access with respect to books, documents or other records (however kept) which relate to the said financial statements; (b) have a right to require information and explanations from past or present treasurers or members of the council and, in case of default, the independent examiner or auditor may apply to the Charity Commissioners for an order for directions pursuant to section 44(2) of the Charities Act 1993 or any statutory modification thereof for the time being in force. Validity of proceedings 17. No proceedings of the council shall be invalidated by any vacancy in the membership of the council or by any defect in the qualification or election of any member thereof. PCCs and Charitable Status PCCs are charities established by the Parochial Church Councils (Powers) Measure 1956, which sets out the purpose of the PCC as "promoting in the parish the whole mission of the Church". The rest of the PCC’s ‘constitution’ is the Church Representation Rules (set out in Schedule 3 to the Synodical Government Measure 1969). As the annual income of most PCCs will be over £10,000 they should be registered on the Charity Commission website. The Charity Commission’s 6 core principles for charity trustees are as follows: 1. Ensure your charity is carrying out its purposes for the public benefit This is following the objects ie Mission, and it is essential to ensure that money is still being spent for public benefit – church is not a private club 2. Comply with your charity’s governing document ie PCC Measure and Church Rep Rules – and the wider law ie Church law, charity law and the range of other laws eg health and safety, safeguarding, employment (if applicable), planning etc 3. Act in your charity’s best interests
Other committees 15. The council may appoint other committees for the purpose of the various branches of church work in the parish and may include therein persons who are not members of the council. The minister shall be a member of all committees ex-officio. Independent examiner or auditor 16. An independent examiner or auditor of the Council's financial statements shall - (a) have a of access with respect to books, documents or other records (however kept) which relate to the said financial statements; (b) have a right to require information and explanations from past or present treasurers or members of the council and, in case of default, the independent examiner or auditor may apply to the Charity Commissioners for an order for directions pursuant to section 44(2) of the Charities Act 1993 or any statutory modification thereof for the time being in force. Validity of proceedings 17. No proceedings of the council shall be invalidated by any vacancy in the membership of the council or by any defect in the qualification or election of any member thereof. PCCs and Charitable Status PCCs are charities established by the Parochial Church Councils (Powers) Measure 1956, which sets out the purpose of the PCC as "promoting in the parish the whole mission of the Church". The rest of the PCC’s ‘constitution’ is the Church Representation Rules (set out in Schedule 3 to the Synodical Government Measure 1969). As the annual income of most PCCs will be over £10,000 they should be registered on the Charity Commission website. The Charity Commission’s 6 core principles for charity trustees are as follows: 1. Ensure your charity is carrying out its purposes for the public benefit This is following the objects ie Mission, and it is essential to ensure that money is still being spent for public benefit – church is not a private club 2. Comply with your charity’s governing document ie PCC Measure and Church Rep Rules – and the wider law ie Church law, charity law and the range of other laws eg health and safety, safeguarding, employment (if applicable), planning etc 3. Act in your charity’s best interests
Churchwardens-Induction-Handbook-2017.docx