The Church Representation Rules (Amendment) Resolution 2014

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Resolution of the General Synod of the Church of England, which was passed in accordance with section 7(1) of the Synodical Government Measure 1969, amends the Church Representation Rules contained in Schedule 3 to that Measure.

Paragraph 1 deals with citation, interpretation and commencement.

Paragraph 2 replaces a reference to the Forces Synodical Council with a reference to the Armed Forces Synod.

Paragraph 3 removes the limit on the number of members of the House of Laity who may be elected from the Diocese in Europe.

Paragraph 4 re-inserts Rule 36(3) of the Church Representation Rules (which had previously been repealed) so as to require the secretary of each diocesan synod to certify the names on the electoral rolls of the parishes in the diocese by 1 August in the fourth year after the last election.

Paragraphs 5, 6, 8 and 10 provide for nomination papers to be sent and returned by email.

Paragraph 7 amends the rules for elections to the House of Laity to allow a voter to require a voting paper to be sent to an address other than that recorded in the register of lay electors.

Paragraph 9 amends the requirements as to the contents of nomination forms for elections to the House of Laity.

Paragraph 11 removes the requirement for the hard copy of a nomination paper to be returned when it has already been returned by fax.

Paragraph 12 imposes a new duty on presiding officers in elections to the House of Laity to publish candidates’ election addresses and lists of candidates on the diocesan website.

Paragraphs 13 and 14 require the full return of an election result and the result sheet to be displayed in the diocesan office, on the diocesan website and at the General Synod Office (in the case of a diocesan election) or at the General Synod Office and on the Church of England website (in any other case). In the case of an election to fill a casual vacancy in a diocese, the presiding officer must also notify those who are already members of the General Synod for that diocese.

Paragraph 15 defines the reference to the period when a general election to the House of Laity begins by reference to the time of dissolution under the Church of England Convocations Act 1966.

Paragraphs 16 to 18 amend a number of model forms relating to the church electoral roll of a parish to make it explicit that only lay persons can have their names entered on the roll.

Paragraphs 19 and 20 amend model forms relating to elections to a diocesan synod by removing the requirement to submit nomination forms by 12 noon.