Vacant Parishes
Information and resources relating to the HR function of Chester Diocese.
When a Parish is vacant
When a parish is vacant there is a legal process to follow, and the Designated Officer for Apointments (Mrs Elizabeth Geddes ) will send a letter and information pack to the PCC Secretary which explains the process and asks for certain information to be returned. The process starts with a Special Meeting of the PCC who will need to:
- Decide who will do the initial work in preparing the documents about the parish (the "Parish Profile and Parish Fact Sheet") in consultation with the Rural Dean
- Appoint lay members to act as your representatives in connection with the selection.
- Decide whether to ask the Bishop (or/and patron if this is not the Bishop) to advertise the vacancy
- Decide whether to request a joint meeting of the PCC with the Bishop;
- Decide whether to request a statement about the parish from the Bishop;
- Decide whether to pass Resolutions concerning women priests.
Preparing the Parish Documents
The Parish Fact Sheet provides the facts and figures relating to the parish. This document can then be used to inform the Parish Profile, which provides further details about the parish and can include photographs. These documents are an extremely important part of the selection process and are designed to give an over view of your parish in order to help you find the right incumbent. Details of the full process and how to complete these documents is given in the Vacancy Pack. A Vacancy Checklist is also provided which should help to guide you through the process. Please contact Liz Geddes at Church House 01244 681973 Ext 240 if you have any queries.
Parish Fact sheet for suspended benefices