The Church Representation Rules (Amendment) Resolution 2019

Mission initiative rolls: provision for 2019

2.—(1) After rule 29 of the Church Representation Rules insert—

“Mission initiative roll

29A.— (1) Where a bishop’s mission order is in force, the leader of the mission initiative must, at the direction of the bishop or bishops who made the order, establish and maintain a roll (a “mission initiative roll”) on which the names of lay persons are entered in accordance with this rule.

(2) If the mission initiative is represented on a deanery synod by virtue of a scheme under rule 27A, the bishop or bishops must give a direction under paragraph (1).

(3) A person is eligible to have the person’s name on the roll if the person—

(a) is baptised,

(b) is aged 16 or over, and

(c) has made a written application to have the person’s name on the roll.

(4) An application under paragraph (3)(c) must include a declaration that the applicant—

(a) either is a member of the Church of England or a Church in communion with it or is a member in good standing of a Church which is not in communion with the Church of England but which subscribes to the doctrine of the Holy Trinity, and

(b) has habitually attended public worship as part of the worshipping community involved in the initiative during the preceding six months.

(5) A person who is eligible to have the person’s name on more than one mission initiative roll is entitled to have the person’s name on each of the mission initiative rolls concerned.

(6) In the case of a mission initiative which is in more than one diocese, the function of giving a direction under paragraph (1) is exercisable by the diocesan bishops concerned acting jointly.

(7) A direction under paragraph (1) must be given on or before 15 September 2019; and where a direction under that paragraph is given—

(a) the function of establishing a mission initiative roll under that paragraph must be completed no later than 30 October 2019, and

(b) the leader of the mission initiative must, no later than 30 October 2019, give the secretary of the diocesan synod written notification of the number of names there are on the mission initiative roll as at the date on which the establishment of the roll was completed.

(8) In this rule, “mission initiative” has the meaning given in Part 7 of the Mission and Pastoral Measure 2011 (and, where a mission initiative has more than one leader, a reference to the leader is to be read as a reference to any of them).”

(2) In rule 36 of those Rules (House of Laity: number of elected members), after paragraph (3) insert—

“(3A) The secretary of each diocesan synod shall, no later than 30 November 2019, certify to the Clerk to the General Synod the total number of names on mission initiative rolls (within the meaning given in rule 29A) maintained in the diocese, as notified to the secretary under rule 29A(7)(b).

(3B) For the purposes of paragraph (3A), if a mission initiative is in more than one diocese, the number of names on the mission initiative roll for that initiative is to be divided equally between each diocese (but if it is not so divisible without remainder, the remainder is to be ignored); and the reference to the number of names on the mission initiative roll maintained in the diocese for that initiative is to be construed accordingly.”