Church of England (Miscellaneous Provisions) Measure 2018

9 Timing of sessions and membership of House committees

(1) The Constitution of the General Synod, as set out in Schedule 2 to the Synodical Government Measure 1969, is amended as follows.

(2) In Article 3 (meetings of Synod, etc.), after paragraph (1) insert—

“(1A) The General Synod may vary any provision which it has made under paragraph (1) including, in the case of provision for the Synod to meet in session, by cancelling the meeting.

(1B) The Presidents may vary any direction which they have given under paragraph (1) including, in the case of a direction for the Synod to meet in session, by cancelling the meeting.

(1C) The power of the General Synod under paragraph (1A) may be exercised on its behalf by the Presidents and Prolocutors of the Houses of the Convocations and the Prolocutor and Pro-Prolocutor of the House of Laity of the General Synod acting jointly.

(1D) The requirement under paragraph (1) for the General Synod to meet in session at least twice a year shall not apply in so far as a failure to satisfy the requirement is attributable to a cancellation under paragraph (1A) or (1B).”

(3) In Article 10 (appointment of committees), in paragraph (3), for “of their members” substitute “, which may include persons who are not members of that House,”.

(4) Each of the powers under Article 3(1) of the Constitution is to be regarded as having always, until the commencement of subsection (2), included a power to cancel a meeting which had been provided for or directed under Article 3(1); and the requirement under Article 3(1) for the Synod to meet in session at least twice a year is to be regarded as not having applied in so far as a failure to satisfy the requirement was attributable to such a cancellation.