The Church Representation Rules (Amendment) Resolution 1973

Casual vacancies

27.—(1) For rule 39(1) there shall be substituted the following paragraphs:—

“(1) Where a casual vacancy among the parochial representatives elected to the parochial church council or deanery synod occurs, the vacancy may be filled by the election by the parochial church council of a person qualified to be so elected.

(2) Where a casual vacancy among the members of a diocesan synod elected by either house of a deanery synod occurs, the vacancy may be filled by the election by that house of a person qualified to be so elected, and a meeting of the members of that house who are electors may be held for that purpose.

(3) Subject to paragraphs (1), (2) and (6) of this rule, casual vacancies among persons elected under these rules shall be filled by elections conducted in the same manner as ordinary elections.

(4) Elections to fill casual vacancies shall, where possible, be held at such times as will enable all casual vacancies among representatives of the laity who are electors to be filled at the time of every election to the House of Laity of the General Synod, but no such election shall be invalid by reason of any casual vacancies not having been so filled.”

(2) The present paragraph (2) of rule 39 shall be re-numbered (5), and for the proviso to that paragraph there shall be substituted the following provision:—

“Provided that where a casual vacancy occurs in any of these three houses and the period for holding a general election to that house is due to begin, in the case of a general election to the House of Laity, within twelve months of the vacancy, and, in the case of a general election to either house of the diocesan synod, within nine months of the vacancy, the vacancy shall not be filled unless, in the first-mentioned case, the bishop's council and standing committee acting in accordance with any directions of the diocesan synod, otherwise direct or, in the last-mentioned case, the bishop otherwise directs.”

(3) After paragraph (5) of rule 39 there shall be inserted the following paragraphs:—

“(6) If a casual vacancy in the House of Laity of the General Synod occurs within the period of two years beginning with the date of the last preceding general election to that House or the date of any subsequent election to fill a casual vacancy and that election was conducted by voting papers upon the principle of proportional representation in the same manner as a general election, then, provided that the bishop's council and standing committee acting in accordance with any directions of the diocesan synod agree, the election to fill the casual vacancy shall be conducted by those papers in accordance with paragraph (1) of this rule.

(7) The presiding officer for the area in question shall ask every candidate not elected in the preceding election who is still qualified for election for the diocese in question if he consents to serve. If there is only one such candidate and he so consents or only one of those candidates so consents he shall be elected to fill the casual vacancy. If two or more of those candidates so consent the votes validly cast in the preceding election shall be recounted from the beginning in accordance with the rules mentioned in rule 33(4).”

(4) The present paragraphs (3) and (4) of rule 39 shall be re-numbered (8) and (9) respectively.