Church of England (Miscellaneous Provisions) Measure 2024

General Synod

1 Remote meetings: indefinite application of special standing orders

(1) In section 1 of the General Synod (Remote Meetings) (Temporary Standing Orders) Measure 2020 (special standing orders)—

(a) omit subsection (5) (which prohibits business relating to Article 7 or 8 of the Constitution at a remote meeting), and

(b) omit subsection (7) (which defines “the Constitution” for the purposes of the Measure).

(2) In section 3 of that Measure (operation of special standing orders)—

(a) in subsection (5), for paragraph (b) substitute—

“(b) are instead to continue in operation (with or without amendment) either for such period as the General Synod may specify in the resolution or for an indefinite period.”,

(b) in subsection (6), for “for such period as the General Synod specifies in the resolution” substitute “either for such period as the General Synod may specify in the resolution or for an indefinite period”, and

(c) in subsection (7), after “inconsistent” insert “; and “the Constitution” means the Constitution of the General Synod set out in Schedule 2 to the Synodical Government Measure 1969”.

(3) The General Synod (Remote Meetings) (Temporary Standing Orders) Measure 2020 may be cited as the General Synod (Remote Meetings) Measure 2020; and, accordingly, in section 5(1) of that Measure (short title), omit “(Temporary Standing Orders)”.

2 Legislative Reform Measure 2018: removal of sunset

(1) Section 10 of the Legislative Reform Measure 2018 (which provides for the expiry of the power to make legislative reform orders five years after the first such order was laid before the General Synod) is repealed.

(2) If, when this section comes into force, sections 1 to 7 of the Legislative Reform Measure 2018 have already expired under section 10 of that Measure—

(a) subsection (1) of this section is itself repealed,

(b) sections 1 to 7 of the Legislative Reform Measure 2018 are revived and are to remain in force for an indefinite period, and

(c) in consequence of paragraph (b), in section 9 of that Measure (orders), before “8”, in each place it appears, insert “1 or”.

3 Safeguarding Code revisions: exceptions to requirement for Synod approval

In section 5C of the Safeguarding and Clergy Discipline Measure 2016 (Code of Practice: scrutiny and commencement), in subsection (5), at the end insert “; but subsection (1)(b) does not apply in the case of—

(a) proposed revisions to requirements imposed by the Code on relevant persons, if the House of Bishops considers that those proposed revisions are insubstantial, or

(b) proposed revisions to guidance given by the Code to relevant persons on compliance with requirements imposed by the Code on them.”

4 Change of name of suffragan see: removal of requirement for Synod approval

(1) In section 11 of the Dioceses, Pastoral and Mission Measure 2007 (change of name of see), in subsection (2), after “a petition under subsection (1) above” insert “to change the name of a diocesan see”.

(2) After that subsection insert—

“(2A) Before submitting a petition under subsection (1) to change the name of a suffragan see, the bishop shall first consult the Commission and obtain the approval of the diocesan synod of the diocese concerned; the bishop may then, if the bishop decides to proceed with the petition, forward it to His Majesty in Council.”

(3) In subsection (3) of that section, for “any such petition” substitute “a petition under subsection (1) to change the name of a diocesan see”.