PCC Interregnum Newsletter - November 2009

This is the first of a series of newsletters to keep you informed of what is happening in the Richmond Team Ministry following Julian's retirement.

Over 500 of us enjoyed the wonderful farewell service on Sunday 1st November. An evening of outstanding music, memories, and warmth of community spirit. Although, we will all miss Julian enormously, we are blessed in having 4 priests licensed to the Team so life in the parish will go on as near to normal as possible until our new Team Rector arrives.

You probably have many questions about what will happen now. Some of these will be answered in this Newsletter. If you have other questions or suggestions please contact one of our Parish Wardens or Churchwardens, who are all keen to hear from you, or, if you prefer, write to Teresa at the Parish Office. Contact details are at the end of this newsletter.

What Happens Next?

NOVEMBER 2009

A lot has already been done. Archdeacon Stephen Roberts came to September's meeting of the Parochial Church Council (PCC) to advise us what we need to do in the process of appointing a new Team Rector and Vicar of St Mary's. We will be following the procedures laid down for us by Southwark Diocese and our own Team Ministry constitution.

In early November, a Notice of Vacancy will be issued by the Diocese. This triggers the appointment process. Our most important immediate task is to produce a draft Parish Profile. Members of the PCC and of St Mary's Church Committee have been meeting in small groups to provide input to the Parish Profile and, through the pew sheet, everyone has been invited to put their ideas about the key attributes they would like to see in the new rector to one of the Wardens or in writing to Teresa Cross in the Parish Office.

During November, we will collate the input from everyone who has provided comments to the Wardens or Teresa, and from the small groups. The Standing Committee will then produce three short documents - a parish description, a job description and a person specification.

DECEMBER 2009

On 8 December the PCC will meet to review and agree the three documents. Once agreed, copies will be available in each church for you to read, and will be sent to the Diocese for use in the recruitment process. A comprehensive Parish Profile will then be produced based on these three documents and will be sent to people interested in applying for the position of Team Rector and Vicar of St Mary's. This document will contain a lot of information about Richmond, the parish, the Team and the job. It will be available in our three churches and on the Team web site. Applicants will also receive a copy of our DVD.

JANUARY 2010

We expect to advertise the vacancy by the middle/end of January, and then the recruitment process will start in earnest. Advertising during Advent or over Christmas would not be productive.

FEBRUARY / MARCH 2010

Short-listed candidates will be interviewed by the "Patronage Board" ....... full details of this will be in the next Newsletter!

In the meantime...

In the meantime, all services will continue as usual at all three churches, with the exception of the 08:00 Saturday morning services at St Mary's. Most services will be taken by one of the Team Clergy - a rota has been organised until the end of May 2010.

If you need help at any time, please contact a member of the clergy (on the usual number), one of the Wardens, or Teresa at the Parish Office. Contact details are below.

How can you help?

We really do need help from you at all three churches. There are many ways in which you can become involved in church activities:

Welcoming	Flower arranging	Tea & Coffee	Cleaning
Reading	Bell ringing	Intercessions	Chalice Assistants
Choirs	Maintenance	Visiting	Sacristy

If you can help in any way, please let us know.

Parish Wardens

St Mary Magdalene	Charles Stiller	07775 555367
St Matthias	Christopher Goodhart	8940 6008
St John the Divine	Graham Hunton	8892 8313

Church Wardens

St Mary Magdalene	John Buckingham Jackie Harrison	07836 534504 07747 111525
St Matthias	Serena Cook Sally Gill	8948 9284 8940 1661
St John the Divine	Kevin Norris Maureen Robinson	07970 153890

Parish Office

Monday - Friday 9.30 - 12.30
Teresa Cross - 8940 0362

© Richmond Team Ministry 2010 - Registered Charity No.1130018