The Marriage and Civil Partnership (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2020

Meaning of “governing authority” of a religious body

4.—(1) The Marriage Order is amended as follows.

(2) In Article 2(2) (definitions), after the definition of “district” insert—

““governing authority”, in relation to a religious body, has the meaning given by Article 9A;”.

(3) Before Article 10 (but after the heading “Religious marriages”) insert—

“Governing authority of a religious body

9A.— (1) In this Order “governing authority”—

(a) in relation to a religious body listed in paragraph (2), has the meaning given by that paragraph, and

(b) in relation to any other religious body, means the person recognised by members of the body as competent for the purpose of giving consent, in respect of members of the body, for the purposes of Articles 10 and 14.

(2) The list is as follows—

(a) in relation to the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, and any presbytery or congregation or other part or constituent body of that Church, the governing authority is the General Assembly of that Church;

(b) in relation to the Church of Ireland, and any diocese or congregation or other part or constituent body of that Church, the governing authority is the General Synod of that Church;

(c) in relation to the Methodist Church in Ireland, and any district or circuit or congregation or other part or constituent body of that Church, the governing authority is the Conference of that Church;

(d) in relation to the Roman Catholic Church, and any part or constituent body of that Church, the governing authority is the Bishop, or the Apostolic or Diocesan Administrator, of a Roman Catholic diocese in Northern Ireland (wholly or partly).

(3) Regulations may amend this Article for the purpose of adding entries to or removing entries from, or altering entries in, the list in paragraph (2) as it has effect from time to time.”.