What is the Electoral Roll

What is the Electoral Roll?

It is the parish church’s register of electors. In the same way that being on the civic Electoral Roll allows you to vote in parliamentary and local elections and referenda, joining the Church Electoral Roll means that you can vote on Church matters, attend the Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM) and stand for election to the PCC.
Being on the Electoral Roll does NOT make you a “member” of the Church; simply regarding St Michael’s as your spiritual home does that.

Do I have to join?

You can, of course, be a full and active member of our Church without joining the Roll. Being on the Electoral Roll does not entail signing up to any additional commitments, however, it does help the Church show its strength. Representation on the governing bodies of the church depends on the number on the Electoral Roll.

You WILL need to go on the Roll if you wish to:

         ·   Stand for election to the Parochial Church Council (PCC) or other councils (such as the Deanery, Diocesan or General              Synod)

         ·   Attend the APCM and participate in votes

What does the Electoral Roll affect?

The maximum number of PCC lay members. If the Roll is not representative this means that the PCC is too small for the workload involved, putting heavy strain on the members. Representation on the governing bodies of the Church (PCC, Plumstead Deanery Synod, Southwark Diocesan Synod and General Synod).

The Electoral Roll does NOT have a direct bearing in the way the Parish Share is assessed – this is based on estimated membership and socio-economic factors.

Do I qualify for the Roll?

To apply for the Electoral Roll you must meet ALL the following conditions:

  •       You must be aged 16 or over (though you can apply in the year you become 16 and your name will be entered once     your birthdate has passed).
  •       You must be baptised.
  •       You must be a member of the Church of England and EITHER live in the parish OR have attended a church in the     parish regularly for at least 6 months.

The phrase “member of the Church of England” requires further explanation:

  •       Member of the Church of England
  •       Member of a Church in communion with the Church of England. The only Churches at present in communion with the Church of England are other Anglican Churches (excepting the so-called Anglican continuing Churches in North America) and some other foreign churches.
  •       Member of a Church not in communion with the Church of England but which subscribes to the doctrine of the Holy Trinity; you must be prepared to also declare yourself a member of the Church of England. This category includes other Protestant denominations such as Moravian, Methodist, Presbyterian and Baptist, as well as Roman Catholic, URC, Russian/Greek Orthodox etc.
  •       If you are a parish resident you do not have to actually attend the Church of which you consider yourself a member; but if you live outside the parish, the 6 months’ regular attendance at a church inside the parish is a requirement.

NOTE

You can be on the Electoral Roll of more than one Church, but you can only serve on the PCC of one Church at a time. If you are not resident in the parish but were a habitual worshipper in the parish, and have been prevented by sickness or absence or other essential reason from worshipping for the past six months, you may write ‘would’ before ‘have habitually attended’ on the form and add ‘but was prevented from doing so because’ and then state the reason.   In these notes, ‘parish’ means ecclesiastical parish.

Why join the Electoral Roll?

Joining the electoral roll is an important way of confirming your commitment to St John the Baptist Parish Church community and to the vision of the church. But it also opens up the way for greater involvement in the life of the Church of England, at Deanery, Diocesan and national levels. By joining, you become entitled to participate in the government of the church and to vote at the Annual Parochial Church Meeting, where the elections take place for:

  •       the Parochial Church Council
  •       the parish’s representatives on the deanery synod.

Any person entitled to attend the APCM may raise any question of parochial or general church interest.

In addition, those who live outside the Parish but are on the Electoral Roll enjoy all the rights and privileges that go with being resident in the parish (for example, baptisms and weddings). However, if you live outside the Parish and want to come onto the Electoral Roll, you have to have been worshipping at in the Parish for a minimum period of six months.

Joining the roll is an important statement of witness and a step along the path of discipleship. With your name on the electoral roll, the strength of the Church can be seen in our local area, and across the Diocese. If you’re a regular at worshippers with us, you should be on the electoral roll!

How do I join?

Application forms are available in the church in hard copy, on our website, or by email from admin@stmichaelew.co.uk  Fill in your full name and address; tick the appropriate boxes (see the explanations on the form, or ask the Rector or a Churchwarden); and sign and date the form.   Please hand your completed hard copy forms to Margaret Conway (our Electoral Roll officer, or to a member of the Clergy, or send an electronic copy to admin@stmichaelew.co.uk  

How can I find out the results of the Renewal?

The Electoral Roll Officer will report at the APCM on Sunday, 27 April 2025.  A copy of the new Roll will be available on the Noticeboard in the church porch from 12 April.   Only names appear on the Roll.