Expecting a vacancy?
Expecting a Vacancy?
If you are a Churchwarden or PCC member of a church in which Simeon's or Hyndman's have a patronage interest and you are expecting a vacancy (interregnum), this is the place for you! We have a great deal of information on handling a vacancy with confidence and can help support you until a new priest is appointed. We believe patronage to be a special and valuable gift of God to the Church of England. The Patronage Benefices Measure (1986) guides our work.
Whenever a new vicar is appointed three parties are involved - the patron nominates a candidate, the PCC through its elected representatives and the bishop affirm or veto the patron's nomination and the Bishop institutes the candidate.
Where presentation is suspended and a Priest-in-Charge rather than an Incumbent is to be appointed we will still play a role in the appointment process.
As patron we will ensure a balanced collaborative approach to the appointment. Occasionally Parish Representatives can feel uncomfortable or even pressurised when faced with senior diocesan figures; we can offer 'critical friendship' and support and act as a bridge between parish and diocese.
These leaflets may be of help:
Each benefice in vacancy will be assigned a trustee who will work closely with the PCC and Diocese. The trustees are:
Men and women rooted in an evangelical heritage
Looking for leaders who are mission-hearted, prayerful, and visionary
Offering parishes prayerful and practical support
Able to draw on a large database and knowledge of available candidates, nationwide
Unconscious Bias
We have produced this short video which we hope PCCs and particularly those appointed as Parish Representatives will watch.