Church of England (Miscellaneous Provisions) Measure 2024

Section 20(1)

SCHEDULE 2 E Remote meetings

Diocesan synods, deanery synods, PCCs, parochial church meetings etc. E

1 After Rule 83 of the Church Representation Rules insert—

“83A Interpretation: remote meetings

(1) This Rule applies for the purposes of these Rules and for the purposes of any provision made by or under any other Measure or other instrument (whenever passed or made) about meetings of a body constituted by or under these Rules or about parochial church meetings.

(2) A reference to a meeting includes a reference to a meeting which persons may attend, speak at, vote in, or otherwise participate in without any, or without all, of the persons being together in the same place.

(3) A reference to a place where a meeting is held, or is to be held, includes a reference to more than one place, including electronic, digital or virtual locations, web addresses or conference call telephone numbers.

(4) A person is to be regarded as present at a meeting at any given time if the person is at that time able to hear and be heard by, and where practicable to see and be seen by, the other persons present.

(5) A reference to being present at a meeting includes a reference to being present by electronic means, including by telephone conference, video conference, live webcast or live interactive streaming.

(6) Relevant procedural rules are to be taken to provide, in so far as they do not already, for participation in meetings without any, or without all, of the persons being together in the same place; and for this purpose, “relevant procedural rules” are—

(a) in the case of a deanery synod, rules under Rule 26;

(b) in the case of a diocesan synod, standing orders under Rule 44;

(c) in the case of a parochial church meeting, rules of procedure under Rule M7.”

Commencement Information

I1 Sch. 2 para. 1 in force at 25.1.2024, see s. 22(2)(j)

2 In Form M1 of the Church Representation Rules (notice of annual meeting), in the sentence beginning “The Annual Parochial Church Meeting will be held”, for the words from “in” to “on” substitute “[in................................] [and] [if applicable, insert details of how to access remote meeting] on”.

Commencement Information

I2 Sch. 2 para. 2 in force at 25.1.2024, see s. 22(2)(j)

3 In section 12 of the Patronage (Benefices) Measure 1986 (joint meeting of PCC with bishop and patron), after subsection (9) insert—

“(10) Rule 83A of the Church Representation Rules (remote meetings) applies to a meeting under this section as it applies to a meeting of a parochial church council.”

Commencement Information

I3 Sch. 2 para. 3 in force at 25.1.2024, see s. 22(2)(j)

Churchwardens: parishioners’ meetings E

4 In section 13 of the Churchwardens Measure 2001 (interpretation), after subsection (1A) insert—

“(1B) A reference in this Measure to a meeting of parishioners includes a reference to a meeting which persons may attend, speak at, vote in or otherwise participate in without any, or without all, of the persons being together in the same place.

(1C) A reference in this Measure to the place where a meeting of parishioners is to be held includes a reference to more than one place, including electronic, digital or virtual locations, web addresses or conference call telephone numbers.

(1D) A person is to be regarded for the purposes of this Measure as present at a meeting of parishioners at any given time if the person is at that time able to hear and be heard by, and where practicable to see and be seen by, the other persons present.

(1E) A reference in this Measure to being present at a meeting of parishioners includes a reference to being present by electronic means, including by telephone conference, video conference, live webcast or live interactive streaming.”

Commencement Information

I4 Sch. 2 para. 4 in force at 25.1.2024, see s. 22(2)(j)

Cathedral bodies E

5 In section 32 of the Care of Cathedrals Measure 2011 (interpretation), after subsection (3) insert—

“(4) For the purposes of this Measure, where a meeting is held in more than one place (including electronic, digital or virtual locations, web addresses or conference call telephone numbers), and accordingly without any, or without all, of the persons being together in the same place—

(a) a reference to being present at the meeting includes a reference to being present by electronic means (including by telephone conference, video conference, live webcast or live interactive streaming), and

(b) a person is to be regarded as present at the meeting if the person is at that time able to hear and be heard by, and where practicable to see and be seen by, the other persons present.”

Commencement Information

I5 Sch. 2 para. 5 in force at 25.1.2024, see s. 22(2)(j)

6 In section 45 of the Cathedrals Measure 2021 (interpretation), after subsection (6) insert—

“(7) For the purposes of this Measure or any other Measure (whenever passed) which makes procedural provision about a body constituted by or under this Measure, where a meeting is held in more than one place (including electronic, digital or virtual locations, web addresses or conference call telephone numbers) and accordingly without any, or without all, of the persons being together in the same place—

(a) a reference to being present at the meeting includes a reference to being present by electronic means (including by telephone conference, video conference, live webcast or live interactive streaming), and

(b) a person is to be regarded as present at the meeting at any given time if the person is at that time able to hear and be heard by, and where practicable to see and be seen by, the other persons present.”

Commencement Information

I6 Sch. 2 para. 6 in force at 25.1.2024, see s. 22(2)(j)

Diocesan Boards of Education E

7 In section 20 of the Diocesan Boards of Education Measure 2021 (interpretation), after subsection (8) insert—

“(9) For the purposes of this Measure, where a meeting is held in more than one place (including electronic, digital or virtual locations, web addresses or conference call telephone numbers) and accordingly without any, or without all, of the persons being together in the same place—

(a) a reference to attending the meeting includes a reference to attending it by electronic means (including by telephone conference, video conference, live webcast or live interactive streaming), and

(b) a person is to be regarded as attending the meeting at any given time if the person is at that time able to hear and be heard by, and where practicable to see and be seen by, the other persons attending.”

Commencement Information

I7 Sch. 2 para. 7 in force at 25.1.2024, see s. 22(2)(j)

Dioceses Commission and Church Buildings Council E

8 In section 62 of the Dioceses, Pastoral and Mission Measure 2007 (interpretation), after subsection (6) insert—

“(7) For the purposes of this Measure, where a meeting is held in more than one place (including electronic, digital or virtual locations, web addresses or conference call telephone numbers), and accordingly without any, or without all, of the persons being together in the same place—

(a) a reference to being present at the meeting includes a reference to being present by electronic means (including by telephone conference, video conference, live webcast or live interactive streaming), and

(b) a person is to be regarded as present at the meeting if the person is at that time able to hear and be heard by, and where practicable to see and be seen by, the other persons present.”

Commencement Information

I8 Sch. 2 para. 8 in force at 25.1.2024, see s. 22(2)(j)

Boards of patronage under pastoral schemes E

9 In Schedule 3 to the Mission and Pastoral Measure 2011 (pastoral schemes), in paragraph 1, after sub-paragraph (15) insert—

“(16) Where a meeting of a patronage board constituted by a pastoral scheme is held in more than one place (including electronic, digital or virtual locations, web addresses or conference call telephone numbers) and accordingly without any, or without all, of the persons being together in the same place—

(a) a reference in this Schedule to being present at the meeting includes a reference to being present by electronic means (including by telephone conference, video conference, live webcast or live interactive streaming), and

(b) a person is to be regarded as present at the meeting at any given time if the person is at that time able to hear and be heard by, and where practicable to see and be seen by, the other persons present.”

Commencement Information

I9 Sch. 2 para. 9 in force at 25.1.2024, see s. 22(2)(j)

Power to make provision for remote meetings E

10 (1) The Archbishops’ Council may by order make provision for persons to attend, speak at, vote in, or otherwise participate in meetings of a body which has functions relating to matters concerning the Church of England without any, or without all, of the persons being together in the same place.

(2) An order under this paragraph may amend a provision made by or under any Measure (whenever passed).

(3) The power conferred by this paragraph is not restricted by any other provision of this Measure.

Commencement Information

I10 Sch. 2 para. 10 in force at 25.1.2024, see s. 22(2)(j)