Last updated 22nd May 2023

Vacancy process

It's just been announced that our vicar is moving on. What happens next?

The diocesan vacancy process is as follows:

The PCC secretary will receive a Notice of Vacancy from the Diocesan Registry
The bishops appointments secretary will contact the churchwardens to arrange a pre-vacancy meeting with the PCC and the Archdeacon.
Approximately, one week before the pre-vacancy meeting the Bishops Appointment Secretary will send a letter to the churchwardens and PCC Secretary, outling the appointments process and provide a draft timeline.
Within six months of receiving the notice, the PCC should hold a 'Section 11' meeting at which your outgoing priest (and partner) and the parish patron must NOT be present. This meeting is to
- Approve your parsh profile
- Appoint two lay members of the PCC to act as representatives of the PCC in connection with selecting the next priest (neither of whom have to be a Churchwarden)
- Decide whether to request the parish patron(s) to advertise the vacancy
- Decide whether to request a 'Section 12' meeting with the parish patron(s) and a Suffragan Bishop (the Archdeacon, Area Dean and Deanery Lay Chair may also attend)
- Decide whether to review existing resolutions or consider passing a new resolution regarding the arrangements for parishes unable, on theological grounds, to accept the ministry of women as priests and bishops.
In line with the timeline provided send the following to the Bishops Appointments Secretary at appointments@bishopofblackburn.org.uk
- Complete Form 34 supplied by the Diocesan Registry
- Draft parish profile

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