Duties of Parish Warden
Duties of Parish Warden
The following extracts are taken from the Parish Governance Statute 2016:
11.2 Subject to the provisions in Part 15 of this Statute, every parish must have a council comprising:
(a) the Rector;
(b) any other clergy licensed to work in the parish;
(c) two or three wardens;
(d) not fewer than four councillors and not more than eight councillors, except with the prior approval of the Archbishop;
(e) the parish’s lay members of Synod, who may also hold office as wardens or councillors; and
(f) a secretary and the Treasurer.
12 The Wardens
12.1 Wardens must at the time of their nomination and throughout their term of office be lay enrolled members of the parish and not be a warden for any other parish.
12.2 Wardens must have attained the age of eighteen years.
12.3 A warden must not be a parent, sibling, spouse, partner or child of the Rector or another warden.
12.4 Not more than two wardens are to be elected at the annual meeting.
12.5 One warden is to be appointed by the Rector.
12.6 The term of office for the wardens is until the end of the annual meeting subsequent to their election or appointment.
12.7 A warden may not hold the position of Treasurer except with the permission of Diocesan Council.
58 Duties of the wardens
58.1 Subject to section 59.2 the wardens must:
(a) generally, with the Rector give leadership to the congregation in promoting the mission of the Church;
(b) in conjunction with the Rector furnish to the Diocesan Registrar any returns that may be called for by Diocesan Council;
(c) ensure that the parish has paid all insurance premiums as required by the Trustees under insurance policies arranged by the Trustees to keep all Church buildings, furniture and other property of which the parish is the beneficial owner sufficiently insured;
(d) see that an appropriate risk management plan for the parish is in place;
(e) ensure that any Diocesan Council policies which relate to parishes are implemented;
(f) report promptly to the parish council all repairs required in the fabric and furniture of the church, rectory or any other building of the parish;
(g) keep an inventory of all goods and movable property belonging to the parish and on demand hand it over to their successors;
(h) report to the Archbishop any grave irregularities in the performance of worship, any wilful neglect of duty or any flagrant misconduct on the part of the Rector;
(i) report to the Archbishop any clerical vacancy occurring in the parish;
(j) see that no person officiates without the Archbishop's licence and inform the Archbishop immediately if anyone proposes to officiate as a member of the clergy whose name does not appear in the clergy list in the last published on the official website of the Diocese, or who does not produce the Archbishop's licence; and
(k) attend the Archbishop on official visits to the parish.
74 Maintenance, alterations and replacement of Church property
74.1 The parish council, except as otherwise ordered in this Statute, is responsible for the general control, maintenance and management of all Church buildings, rectories and other buildings of which the parish is the beneficial owner, subject to and in accordance with Diocesan policies, standards and guidelines.
74.2 The Rector and wardens must send to the Trustees at least annually, a report (the Property Report) on the condition of all property of which the parish is the beneficial owner.
74.3 The Property Report shall be on the form provided by the Trustees for the purpose and shall contain full answers to the particulars required by the Trustees.
74.4 If, from the Property Report or upon an independent inspection arranged by the Trustees, it appears to the Trustees that any property of which the parish is the beneficial owner is not in good order and repair, the Trustees must make and send an order to the parish council (the Order) setting out the work that the Trustees require to be effected.
74.5 Within 30 days of receipt of the Order, the parish council must begin to affect the work.
74.6 Within 30 more days the parish council must report progress of the work to the Trustees.
74.7 Upon the completion of the work, the Rector and wardens must send to the Trustees a statement signed by them that the work has been affected satisfactorily.
74.8 If the parish council fails to comply with the Order or to report progress of the work, or if the Trustees consider that the work is not being effected or completed satisfactorily or is being unduly delayed, the Trustees may pay to have the necessary work effected or completed, and the cost thereof and all expenses incurred in connection therewith must be refunded by the parish council when required by the Trustees.
74.9 Before a parish may undertake the following acts in relation to property of which a parish is the beneficial owner:
(a) the erection of a new Church building, rectory or other building;
(b) alteration of any kind to the internal or external appearance of an existing church or building;
(c) the erection, renewal, removal or alteration of monuments or plaques; or
(d) alterations or additions to any fittings or ornaments of a Church building, the Rector and wardens of the parish must apply for the issue of a faculty by the Archbishop and the Diocesan Secretary.
74.10 If the parish receives a faculty (being permission for those works) for any maintenance, alteration or replacement of Church property or otherwise undertakes any building or maintenance project, it must adhere to any relevant Diocesan policies and any specific conditions for the approval of those works.
Delegated Authority of a Warden
In addition to the responsibilities of a Warden noted above, an elected parish Warden is the only person within a parish, including the Priest in Charge/Rector, that has a delegated authority by the Trustees to enter into/accept/approve any sundry contract for works undertaken by Diocesan approved contractors up an amount of $20,000 for the total project costs.
All contract works above $20,000 can only be entered and agreed by a representative of the Diocese under their delegated authority limit ie. if the total cost of a bathroom renovation for all contractor works, fixtures etc is $22,000 then the parish warden should discuss the works with their respective Archdeacon and advise the Diocesan Property Services Manager who will in consultation with the Archdeacon, arrange for the contract to be agreed on behalf of the parish.
All wardens are expected to familiarise themselves with their authorisation limits, along with related policies, and to exercise a duty of care with respect to decisions made and commitments and contracts entered into on behalf of the PDT.