Synodical Government Measure 1969

[F1 M35 (1) If there are in the parish two or more churches or buildings licensed for public worship, the annual meeting may make a scheme for— E

(a) the establishment of a body called a “district church council”, the purpose of which is to carry out in relation to a specified district in the parish in which there is at least one church or building licensed for public worship such functions of the PCC as are delegated to it, and

(b) the election by the annual meeting of the district of representatives of the laity to the district church council.

(2) A scheme under this Rule must include provision for—

(a) ex officio membership of the district church council, and

(b) the chairing of the council.

(3) A scheme under this Rule may include provision delegating to the district church council such functions of the PCC as are specified in the scheme.

(4) Where there is a scheme under this Rule, the PCC may, subject to the provisions of the scheme, delegate one or more of its functions to the district church council.

(5) But none of the following functions may be delegated under paragraph (3) or (4)—

(a) functions relating to producing the financial statements of the parish;

(b) functions under Part 2 of the Patronage (Benefices) Measure 1986 (exercise of rights of presentation);

(c) functions as an interested party under Part 3 of the Mission and Pastoral Measure 2011 (pastoral schemes etc.).

(6) Where a scheme under this Rule is in operation, the PCC may exercise a function delegated to the district church council under paragraph (3) or (4) despite the delegation.

(7) A scheme under this Rule may provide for—

(a) the election or choice of one or two deputy churchwardens,

(b) the delegation by the churchwardens to the deputy or deputies of such functions relating to a church or building licensed for public worship as are specified in the scheme, and

(c) the deputy or each of the deputies to be an ex officio member of the PCC.

(8) A scheme under this Rule may include provision under Rule M34.

(9) A scheme under this Rule comes into operation on the day specified in the scheme.

(10) Where a scheme is made under this Rule, a copy of the scheme—

(a) must be filed in the diocesan registry, and

(b) must be sent to the secretary of the bishop's council and standing committee.

(11) If the parish is in the area of a benefice for which there is a team ministry, each member of the team may attend the meetings of a district church council elected for a district in the parish.

(12) This Rule does not affect the appointment, in parishes with more than one parish church, of two churchwardens for each church under section 1(2)(a) of the Churchwardens Measure 2001.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Sch. 3 substituted (1.1.2020) by Church Representation and Ministers Measure 2019 (No. 1), s. 1(3), Sch. 1 (with Sch. 3); S.I. 2019/1460, art. 2