Conversations with PCC members and the Ordained:
I have had some difficulty identifying people to talk to for these activities and I have had to seek advice from my vicar and look around the wider benefice. As a parish we have been focussing on fundraising and building issues, and services are few and far between. I was invited onto the PCC as a willinging helper, and have taken on the role of Lay Deanery Rep. In November I led the Remembrance Service as there was no vicar available, and no-one else wanted to do it. Even so, having moved here during the last lockdown I haven't yet developed the deeper friendships that I feel would be necessary to have these conversations. I feel I am just seen as an extra pair of hands, and willinging to stand at the front! The rest of the PCC have lived here all their lives and are focussed on the church as belonging to the village. Don't get me wrong, they are a very dedicated group of people and fantastic fundraisers, but I do think it's fair to say we are still lacking spirtually. My vicar is very supportive, she understands the difficulties, and she has helped me identify people I can speak to in the wider benefice. We will be having a conversation about my role, but I have chosen not to overburden her with respect to completing these tasks as she has 3 of us in training, and the benefice has 10 churches in 9 parishes. I've been visiting the other churches, as I feel I need to attend church more regularly than I can in my own parish, so this will help me cement those connections.
Once I've had those conversations I will post again...
Amanda