Policies & PCC Matters

The trustee group (for example the PCC) and the policies of the church are the framework that shapes how a church acts, grows and responds to situations. Hopefully they lead to healthy, thriving and adaptable churches that are secure enough to love as God calls them to love.

I know that PCCs can be hard work. But they can be an amazing source of wisdom, inspiration and thoughtfulness, and I have learned to appreciate that the right kind of hard-work is worth it. There are many times I have failed to harness the potential of PCCs, but over time I have learnt lessons, and now nearly all our meetings are viewed as being 'positive' and 'constructive', and sometimes even'fun'. I dedicate these pages to the members of the St Denys PCC with whom I have walked for many years in different roles.

Policies meanwhile can feel like a collection of slippery fish. Someone tells you that a policy is 'there' somewhere, but you discover it's hard to actually get hold of. And once you do get hold of it, something changes which means it needs adapting. And agreeing to any changes can feel like it takes forever. Then on top of it all, there's the question of what policies you actually need. 

Yet policies are vital for accountability, purpose and identity, as well as ensuring we fulfill our legal responsibilites. When matched with procedures, they can help a church function in a way that is less about 'herding cats' and more about helping a team work well together. I am slowly building up the blogs for this page, and if you need more information on policies than I currently offer, I strongly recommend you go John Truscott's website for a checklist on policies.

As with all the other Practical Foundations, it is vital that your trustees and policies all comply with your national organisation and government directives, so make sure you are up to date with what your organisation requires of you.