Synodical Government Measure 1969

[F1 65 (1) The seat of an elected member of the House of Laity of the General Synod is vacated in each of the following five cases. E

(2) The first case is where the member—

(a) qualified for election under Rule 50(5)(a) (parish roll), but

(b) ceases to have his or her name on the roll of a parish in the diocese concerned.

(3) The second case is where the member—

(a) qualified for election under Rule 50(5)(b) (cathedral church), but

(b) ceases to have his or her name on the community roll of the cathedral church of the diocese or, where the diocese has more than one cathedral church, on the community roll of any of them.

(4) The third case is where the member—

(a) qualified for election under Rule 50(6) (royal peculiar etc.), but

(b) ceases to be declared by the dean concerned to be a habitual worshipper.

(5) The fourth case is where the member—

(a) qualified for election under Rule 50(7) (mission initiative), but

(b) ceases to be declared by the leader of the mission initiative concerned to be part of the worshipping community involved in the initiative.

(6) The fifth case is where the member becomes a clerk in Holy Orders.

(7) But a member's seat is not vacated under paragraphs (2) to (5) if, before the vacancy arises, the lay members of the bishop's council and standing committee decide that the member is willing and able to discharge to their satisfaction the duties of a member of the House of Laity of the General Synod elected for that diocese.

(8) Where a decision under paragraph (7) is made, the lay members of the bishop's council and standing committee must, no later than one year after making the decision and annually after that—

(a) review the member's membership of the House of Laity of the General Synod, and

(b) decide whether he or she is still willing and able as mentioned in paragraph (7).

(9) The seat of an elected member of the House of Laity of the General Synod is vacated if the member is disqualified under Rule 62(1).

(10) The seat of an elected member of the House of Laity of the General Synod is vacated if it is decided on an appeal under rules under Rule 59 that the member's election is void.

(11) For further cases where a member's seat in the House of Laity of the General Synod is vacated, see Rule 68 (safeguarding etc.).]

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