PCCs may have to secure the support of more members before carrying out their business via correspondence, after the principles were tightened up by the General Synod on Tuesday morning.
The item, Clive Scowen (London) explained, had been placed on the agenda due to a priority that the present rules gave excessive discretion to the chair of the PCC to interact in business via correspondence and choose what type of approval was needed by the remaining of the PCC to log off on this.
A recent draft rule requiring at the very least one third of the members to approve in writing the conduct of business via correspondence, without objection, would tighten this, Mr Scowen said.
The Revd Barnaby Perkins (Guildford) warned: “One opposing voice, potentially vexatious, could thwart a swift and sensible movement for an entire PCC.”
Caroline Herbert (Norwich) said that business via correspondence was generally used for non-controversial, easy formalities. The change would also avoid any appearance of an “abuse of process”.
Dr Andrew Bell (Oxford) said that his PCC frequently used the correspondence rule, but shared the fear that this might be derailed by a single objection. Could this be decided via a majority somewhat than unanimity, he asked.
Jane Patterson (Sheffield) asked why no closing date can be written into this recent rule requiring positive responses to the chair’s request.
Dr Chris Angus (Carlisle), who was on the committee that wrote the unique rule, apologised for not realising the potential loophole that was now being filled. One objection wouldn’t necessarily derail business via correspondence, but simply force the PCC to debate it fully.
Dr Brendan Biggs (Bristol) said that there was a parallel with boards of directors in corporations, which could also make decisions via written resolutions, so long as they were unanimous. Hence, it was appropriate for a single objector to give you the chance to frustrate a proposal to conduct business by correspondence.
Dr Nick Land (York) said that many church bodies had rules on deemed business that would undergo routinely so long as no one objected. He supported the concept that a single objecting voice on a PCC would give you the chance to implement an in-person discussion at a gathering.
Chris Gill (Lichfield) welcomed the change, which, he said, would make sure that everyone on a PCC at the very least received the relevant email.
The recent rules were carried: Bishops 17-0; Clergy 94-6 with three recorded abstentions; Laity 104-1 with five recorded abstentions.
Read more reports from the General Synod Digest here
