news from the pcc
September 2011
PCC survey
In order to plan for the next few years with a new Rector, the PCC held a series of meetings over the summer where the fundamental character and activities of St James’s Piccadilly were discussed. Together with a facilitator, the PCC discussed what they valued about St James’s and also discussed how the PCC itself works. The areas of activity of St James’s were identified at further meetings both off site and here. Thanks to all those who gave so much of their time to think about and discuss the questions. Now, in the autumn of 2011 we are ready to run a survey and a consultation process so that anyone who has views about the church, what it should be doing and being, is able to make a contribution. A simple survey has been put together which will be available to the large number of people who belong to St James’s in different ways: worshippers, visitors, staff, counsellors, market traders, volunteers, musical performers, e-newsletter subscribers and so on. There will be a Community Meeting after the service on SUNDAY 16th OCTOBER to consult on what the PCC have identified as the underlying values on which to base the plan and these views, together with the survey, will be worked on by the PCC to formulate concrete actions as we look to the future. The budgetary considerations will be key too, as the PCC makes a plan which is affordable and as the activities, groups, projects and income generation of St James’s is all reviewed. All members of the community are invited to fill in a survey form, talk to members of the PCC and contribute to the community meeting. There are different ways to contribute as people will prefer to do this in ways that suit them. The survey forms will be available until 9th October but then the consultation will pause, so that there is a clear period in which views are being asked for.
London Citizens
St James’s is a member of a broad based community organising network called London Citizens. Community organising is a way of taking political action that aims to hold elected leaders more closely to account and aims to empower people to take political action themselves. Member institutions include churches, synagogues, temples, mosques, trades unions, schools, neighbourhood associations. It is a mechanism by which individuals can connect with others from other faiths, other parts of London, other interest groups to take collective action on an agreed agenda. London Citizens has been instrumental in the “London Living Wage” campaign, and is currently running a “Strangers into Citizens” campaign to chart a path into citizenship for long term undocumented migrants in the UK. Campaigns around the Olympics include “Our Homes Our London”, a campaign for affordable housing. See more at www.citizensuk.org/about/london-citizens
This autumn London Citizens are running a “Listening Campaign” so that an agenda can be brought together in time for the Mayoral elections in 2012. St James’s will play its part in this over the next three weeks. What are the issues that concern you in your neighbourhood? What are the main issues for London as a city? What are the issues that you’d like to raise concerning social justice and the exercising of power in London? After the service over the next 3 weeks, we will spend the time over tea and coffee discussing this. Some of the members of the community who attended a Citizens workshop on 11th September will be gathering views from St James’s people. Please discuss over tea and coffee your own experience of London and what you would like to see raised in next year’s election for Mayor.
These two consultation processes are happening at the same time; the first is about us and who we are as a church community, the second is about concrete political action in society as London Citizens is a key way in which St James’s as a whole community can have a voice politically. They are obviously very closely related and so it seemed to make sense to the PCC that these are happening at the same time. Some views will overlap, some responses will be similar in each consultation, other views will be quite different. However you choose to do it, over the next 3 weeks, until 9th October, have your say about St James’s and about the society in which we live.
Church garden
As has been previously reported, St James’s has been working with UPS, logistics sponsors for the Olympics as they have approached us wanting to refurbish our garden as part of their green legacy. Work will start in October of this year and run until Christmas and volunteer workers from UPS will give their time to work with the gardener and landscaper. Care is being taken to make the garden ecologically outstanding, with a clear maintenance plan that takes account of energy and water use. Many bee friendly plants will be used, and wildlife encouraged, with composting introduced too. The London Plane trees will be pruned as they are currently removing vast amounts of water from the soil but shade tolerant grass and plants will be planted in recognition that the trees shade the garden significantly. The fence will be replaced and the rubbish area behind the caravan will be completely re-landscaped with more benches introduced for people to sit. The garden will therefore be out of use from October to December and regular updates will be given to St James’s community by way of newsletters so that we are able to keep track of progress. The plans for this have been almost a year in the development and we would like to thank UPS for their generosity and commitment to this ecological project. During the Olympics itself we have agreed that in return for this investment, UPS can hold a series of receptions in our garden, for athletes and supporters, including a party for the volunteers themselves to thank them for their work. We look forward to a colourful and sustainable future for our garden.
Lucy
July 2011: The Church Council - the 'PCC' - is embarking on a major review of St James's mission. More news shortly.
The PCC holding a special meeting at BAFTA as part of the 're-visioning', 18 July 2011
