The
Electoral Roll
The Parish of Wonersh
with Blackheath
The Parish Electoral Roll cover both Wonersh and Blackheath. The principal legislation regarding the
democratic governance of the Church of England is set out in the Church Representation Rules. This covers the Church Electoral Roll and the
Parochial Church Meetings and Councils.
A separate Electoral Roll (Blackheath District Roll) for
The Electoral Roll Officer for the PCC is Doug
Sudbury and he is supported by the Blackheath District Electoral Roll
Officer Alexandra Jones Any
applications to join or be removed from the roll, or changes to details, should
be addressed to them.
Renewal of the electoral roll took place in 2002 and then every six
years thereafter. At April 2006 there
were 284 names on the Electoral Roll of Wonersh and 44 on the Roll of
Blackheath. In a year of renewal, NO
names are carried over from the old roll and everyone must make a new
application to be included in the new roll.
This was due to take place next in 2008, however it was brought forward
by the Diocese to 2007. The process was
completed not less than 15 days or more than 28 days before the APCM, which
this year was held on April 25th 2007. The new Electoral Roll is 239 for Wonersh
and 50 for Blackheath, representing a division within the Parish of 83% Wonersh
and 17% Blackheath. The Electoral Roll
is now open again and applications should be made to the church office.
The Electoral Roll is the church’s register of electors; it is a list of
those qualified to attend and to vote at the Annual Parochial Church Meeting
(APCM) where the elections take place for the PCC and the Parish
representatives on Cranleigh Deanery Synod.
Any person entitled to attend the APCM may raise any question of
parochial (related to, supported by or located in the Parish) or church
interest.
By enrolling members help to ensure that all the Synodical Councils of
the church (the PCC, Deanery, Diocesan and General Synods) are fully
representative of its members. The
Church of England is governed by a synodical system which joins with the
Bishops to make decisions. Being on the Electoral Roll is the entry point and
Christians share an individual responsibility to be part of the “Body of
Christ”and to participate fully in our part of His Church. This system is
intended to enable church people at every level to be in touch with the Church
as a whole and to play their part in decision making. Also the system is intended to ensure that
the laity have their place in every aspect of church life, including doctrine
and services.
Numbers are important in the present climate in which the CofE needs to
be aware of the commitment of its people.
Church morale is affected by statistics and while it would be wrong to
inflate the significance of the Roll it would be a missed opportunity to ignore
it.
In the Diocese of Guildford, following the recent review, Electoral Roll
figures no longer have a direct bearing in the way the Parish
Share is assessed. The old
accusation that the Parish Share was a sort of tax on membership is no longer
relevant.
The Wonersh with Blackheath PCC have 9 lay
members, including 1 nominated from Blackheath DCC. They are elected for a period of three years,
with three members being up for election each APCM.