SCHEDULES
C2SCHEDULE 3 Church Representation Rules
Part I Church Electoral Roll
Formation of Roll
1
1
There shall be a church electoral roll (in these rules referred to as “the roll”) in every parish, on which the names of lay persons shall be entered as hereinafter provided. The roll shall be available for inspection by bona-fide inquirers.
F12
A lay person shall be entitled to have his name entered on the roll of a parish if he is baptised, of sixteen years or upwards, has signed an application form for enrolment set out in Appendix I of these rules and declares himself either—
a
to be a member of the Church of England or of a Church in communion therewith resident in the parish; or
b
to be such a member and, not being resident in the parish, to have habitually attended public worship in the parish during a period of six months prior to enrolment; or
c
to be a member in good standing of a Church which subscribes to the doctrine of the Holy Trinity (not being a Church in communion with the Church of England) and also prepared to declare himself to be a member of the Church of England having habitually attended public worship in the parish during a period of six months prior to enrolment.
Provided that where a lay person will have his sixteenth birthday after the intended revision of the electoral roll or the preparation of a new roll but on or before the date of the annual parochial church meeting, he may complete a form of application for enrolment and his name shall be enrolled but with effect from the date of his birthday.
3
Where a person resides in an extra-parochial place he shall be deemed for the purposes of these rules to reside in the parish which it abuts, and if there is any doubt in the matter a determination shall be made by the bishop’s council and standing committee.
F2F34
A person shall be entitled to have his name on the roll of each of any number of parishes if he is entitled by virtue of F4. . . F5paragraphs (2) and (3)of this rule to have his name entered on each roll; but a person whose name is entered on the roll of each of two or more parishes must choose one of those parishes for the purpose of the provisions of these rules which prescribe the qualifications for election to a deanery synod, a diocesan synod or the General Synod or for membership F6of a parochial church council under rule F7. . . F814(1)(f)or of a deanery synod under rule F924(6)(b).
F35
The roll shall, until a parochial church council has been constituted in a parish, be formed and revised by the minister and churchwardens (if any), and shall, after such council has been constituted, be kept and revised by or under the direction of the council. Reference in this rule to a parochial church council shall, so far as may be necessary for giving effect to these rules, be construed as including references to the minister and churchwardens (if any).
F10F36
Where a new parish is created by a pastoral scheme, the roll of that parish shall in the first instance consist—
a
in the case of a parish created by the union of two or more former parishes, of the rolls of those parishes combined to form one roll;
b
in any other case, of the names of the persons whose names are at the date of the coming into existence of the new parish entered on the roll of a parish the whole or any part of which forms part of the new parish and who are either resident in the new parish or have habitually attended public worship therein.
F37
The parochial church council shall appoint F11a church electoral roll officer to act under its directions for the purpose of carrying out its functions with regard to the electoral roll.
F38
The names of persons who are entitled to have their names entered upon the roll of the parish shall, subject to the provisions of these rules, be from time to time added to the roll. F12. . . F13It shall be the duty of the electoral roll officer to keep the roll constantly up to date by the addition and removal of names as from time to time required by these rules and to report such additions and removals at the next meeting of the parochial church council.F14When additions and removals have been made by the electoral roll officer a list of such amendments shall be published by being exhibited continuously for not less than fourteen days on or near the principal door of every church in the parish and every building in the parish licensed for public worship in such manner as the Council may appoint and the list shall contain notification of the right of appeal referred to in rule 43.
F39
Subject to the provisions of this rule, a person’s name shall, as the occasion arises, be removed from the roll, if he:—
a
has died; or
b
becomes a clerk in Holy Orders; or
c
signifies in writing his desire that his name should be removed; or
F15d
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F16d
ceases to reside in the parish, unless after so ceasing he continues, in any period of six months F17habitually, to attend public worship in the parish, unless prevented from doing so by illness or other sufficient cause; or
F18e
is not resident in the parish and has not F19habituallyattended public worship in the parish during the preceding six months, not having been prevented from doing so by illness or other sufficient cause; or
F15g
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F18f
was not entitled to have his name entered on the roll at the time when it was entered.
F310
The removal of a person’s name from the roll under any of the provisions of these rules shall be without prejudice to his right to have his name entered again, if he F20has or acquires that right.
F311
The roll shall where practicable contain a record of the address of every person whose name is entered on the roll, but a failure to comply with this requirement shall not prejudice the validity of any entry on the roll.
Revision of Roll and Preparation of New Roll
2
1
Except in a year in which a new roll is prepared, the roll of a parish shall be revised annually by or under the direction of the council. Notice of the intended revision in the form set out in section 2 of Appendix I to these rules shall be affixed by the minister or under his direction on or near the principal door of every church in the parish and every building in the parish licensed for public worship and remain so affixed for a period of not less than fourteen days before the commencement of the revision. The revision shall be completed not less than fifteen days or more than twenty-eight days before the annual parochial church meeting.
2
Upon every revision all enrolments or removals from the roll which have been effected since the date of the last revision (or since the formation of the roll, if there has been no previous revision) shall be reviewed, and such further enrolments or removals from the rolls as may be required shall be effected.
3
After the completion of the revision, a copy of the roll as revised shall, together with a list of the names removed from the roll since the last revision (or since the formation of the roll, if there has been no previous revision), be published by being exhibited continuously for not less than fourteen days before the annual parochial church meeting on or near the principal door of the parish church in such manner as the council shall appoint. F21. . . F22During the period while the copy is so exhibited any errors and omissions in the roll may be corrected but subject thereto and to the provisions of rule 1(2), no names shall be added to or removed from the roll during the period in any year between the completion of the revision and the close of the annual parochial church meeting.
4
Not less than two months before the annual parochial church meeting in the year F5882007 and every succeeding sixth year notice in the form set out in section 3 of Appendix 1 to these rules shall be affixed by the minister or under his direction on or near the principal door of every church in the parish and every building in the parish licensed for public worship and remain so affixed for a period of not less than fourteen days. On the affixing of the notice a new roll shall be prepared.
F23At every service held on each of the two Sundays within the period of fourteen days beginning with the date of the affixing of the notice or, in the case of a church in which no service is held on either of those Sundays, at every service held in that church on the first Sunday after that date the person conducting the service shall inform the congregation of the preparation of the new roll.
F245
The parochial church council shall take reasonable steps to inform every person whose name is entered on the previous roll that a new roll is being prepared and that if he wishes to have his name entered on the new roll he must apply for enrolment. No such steps need be taken with respect to any person whose name could be removed from the previous roll under rule F251(9).
6
The new roll shall be prepared by entering upon it the names of persons entitled to entry under rule 1(2), and a fresh application shall be required from persons whose names were entered on the previous roll. A person whose name was so entered shall not be disqualified for entry on the new roll by reason only of his failure to comply with the conditions specified in rule F261(2)(b) and (c), if he was prevented from doing so by illness or other sufficient cause, and the circumstances shall be stated on the application form. The preparation of the new roll shall be completed not less than fifteen days or more than twenty-eight days before the annual parochial church meeting.
7
After the completion of the new roll, a copy shall be published by being exhibited continuously for not less than fourteen days before the annual parochial church meeting on or near the principal door of the parish church in such manner as the council shall appoint. F27. . . F28During the period while the copy is so exhibited any errors and omissions in the roll may be corrected but subject thereto and to the provisions of rule 1(2) no names may be added to or removed from the roll during the period in any year between the completion of the new roll and the close of the annual parochial church meeting.On the publication of the new roll F589it shall come into effect and the previous roll shall cease to have effect
8
Upon the alteration of the boundaries of any parishes the parochial church council of the parish from which any area is transferred shall enquire from the persons resident in that area whose names are entered on the roll of the parish, whether they wish to have their names transferred to the roll of the other parish. The parochial church council shall remove the names of persons answering in the affirmative from its own roll and shall inform the parochial church council of the parish in which such persons now reside, which shall enter the names on its roll without any application for enrolment being required.
Procedural provisions relating to entry and removal of names
3
1
When a person applying for enrolment on the roll of any parish signifies his desire that his name should be removed from the roll of any other parish, notice of that fact shall be sent by the parochial church council receiving the application to the parochial church council of that other parish.
2
When the name of any person is removed from the roll of the parish owing to his having become resident in another parish, notice of that fact shall, whenever possible, be sent by the parochial church council of the first mentioned parish to the parochial church council of the last mentioned parish.
3
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F29
Certification of Numbers on Rolls
F304
Not later than the 1st June the chairman, vice-chairman, secretary or church electoral roll officer of the parochial church council shall notify in writing the secretary of the diocesan synod of the number of names on the roll of each parish as at the date of the annual meeting and a copy of such notification shall be affixed at or near to the principal door of every church in the parish and every building licensed for public worship in the parish when notification is sent to the secretary of the diocesan synod, and shall remain so affixed for a period of not less than fourteen days.
F31F325
1
A person whose name is entered on the roll of a guild church shall for the purpose of the provisions of these rules which prescribe the qualifications for election to a deanery synod, a diocesan synod or the House of Laity of the General Synod, or for membership of a deanery synod under rule F3324(6)(b), be deemed to be a person whose name is on the roll of the parish in which the guild church is, and references in those provisions or in rule F331(4) to a person whose name is on the roll of a parish or on the roll of each of two or more parishes, and in rule F3346 to entry on the roll of a parish, shall be construed accordingly.
2
In this rule “guild church” means a church in the City of London designated and established as a guild church under the City of London (Guild Churches) Acts 1952 and 1960.
Part II Parochial Church Meetings and Councils Annual Meetings
F346
1
In every parish there shall be held not later than the 30th April in each year the annual parochial church meeting (hereafter in these rules referred to as “the annual meeting”).
2
All lay persons whose names are entered on the roll of the parish shall be entitled to attend the annual meeting and to take part in its proceedings, and no other lay person shall be so entitled.
3
A clerk in Holy Orders shall be entitled to attend the annual meeting of a parish and take part in its proceedings—
a
if he is either beneficed in or licensed to the parish or any other parish in the area of the benefice to which the parish belongs; or
b
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F35
F36b
if he is resident in the parish and is not beneficed in or licensed to any other parish.
F37c
if he is not resident in the parish and is not beneficed or licensed to any other parish, the parochial church council with the concurrence of the minister has declared him to be a habitual worshipper in the parish, such declaration being effective until the conclusion of the annual meeting in the year in which a new roll is prepared under rule 2 or his ceasing to be a habitual worshipper in the parish whichever is the earlier, but without prejudice to a renewal of such declaration; or
F404
Without prejudice to paragraphs (2) and (3) of this rule—
a
all the members of the team of a team ministry shall be entitled to attend, and take part in the proceedings of, the annual meeting of the parish or each of the parishes in the area of the benefice for which the team ministry is established, and where the area of a group ministry includes the area of a benefice for which a team ministry is established, all the vicars in that ministry shall be entitled to attend, and take part in the proceedings of, the annual meeting of each of the other parishes in the area for which the group ministry is established;
b
all the incumbents and priests in charge in a group ministry shall be entitled to attend, and take part in the proceedings of, the annual meeting of each of the parishes in the area for which the group ministry is established.
5
Where two or more benefices are held in plurality and a team ministry is, or is to be, established for the area of one of those benefices, then, if a pastoral scheme provides for extending the operation of the team ministry, so long as the plurality continues, to the area of any other benefice so held, paragraph (4) of this rule shall have effect as if the references to the area of the benefice were references to the combined area of the benefices concerned.
Convening of Meeting
F417
1
The annual meeting shall be convened by the minister of the parish by a notice in the form set out in section 4 of Appendix 1 to these rules affixed on or near to the principal door of every church in the parish and every building licensed for public worship in the parish, for a period including the last two Sundays before the day of the meeting.
2
The annual meeting shall be held at such place on such date and at such hour as shall be directed by the previous annual meeting, or by the parochial church council (which may vary any direction given by a previous annual meeting) or in the absence of any such direction as shall be appointed by the minister.
3
During the vacancy of the benefice or curacy or when the minister is absent or incapacitated by illness or any other cause, the vice-chairman of the parochial church council, or if there is no vice-chairman, or if he is unable or unwilling to act, the secretary of or some other person appointed by that council shall have all the powers vested in the minister under this rule.
4
The annual meeting shall be held at a place within the parish unless the parochial church council decide otherwise.
F425
The minister of a new parish created by a pastoral scheme, or, in the absence of the minister, a person appointed by the bishop, shall as soon as possible after the scheme comes into operation convene a special parochial church meeting, and, subject to paragraph (6) of this rule, the provisions of these rules relating to the convening and conduct of the annual general meeting shall apply to a special meeting convened under this paragraph.
6
A special meeting so convened and held in the month of November or the month of December may, if the meeting so resolves, be for all purposes under these rules the annual meeting for the succeeding year, and a special meeting so convened shall in any event be for all such purposes the annual meeting for the year in which it is so convened and held.
Chairman
F438
F441
The minister, if present, or, if he is not present, the vice-chairman of the parochial church council, or, subject to paragraph (2) of this rule, if he also is not present, a chairman chosen by the annual meeting shall preside thereat.
2
Where a parish is in the area of a benefice for which a team ministry is established, and a vicar in that ministry is entitled to preside at an annual meeting of that parish by virtue of a provision in a pastoral scheme or the bishop’s licence assigning to the vicar the duties, or a share in the duties, of the chairmanship of the annual meeting of that parish, then, if both he and the vice-chairman of the parochial church council are not present at that meeting, but the rector in that ministry is present, the rector shall preside thereat.
F453
Business
F489
1
The annual meeting shall receive from the parochial church council and shall be free to discuss:—
F49a
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F50a
a report on changes in the roll since the last annual parochial church meeting or, in a year in which a new roll is prepared, a report on the numbers entered on the new roll;
F51b
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F51c
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F51d
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F51e
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F52b
an annual report on the proceedings of the parochial church council and the activities of the parish generally;
c
the financial statements of the parochial church council for the year ending on the 31st December immediately preceding the meeting, independently examined or audited as provided by paragraph (3) hereof;
F53d
a report upon the fabric, goods and ornaments of the church or churches of the parish F54, under section 5 of the Care of Churches and Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction Measure 1991; and
F53e
a report on the proceedings of the deanery synod.
F552
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F553
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F562
The council shall cause a copy of the said roll to be available for inspection at the meeting.
F563
The said financial statements shall—
a
be independently examined or audited in such manner as shall be prescribed in accordance with rule 54(8);
b
be considered and, if thought fit, approved by the parochial church council and signed by the chairman presiding at the meeting of the council; and
c
be displayed for a continuous period of at least seven days before the annual meeting, including at least one Sunday when the church is used for worship, on a notice-board either inside or outside the church.
F564
The annual report referred to in paragraph (1)(b) above and the said financial statements shall be prepared in such form as shall be prescribed in accordance with rule 54(8) hereof for consideration by the annual meeting. Following such meeting the council shall cause F590copies of the annual report and statement to be sent within twenty eight days of the annual meeting to the secretary of the diocesan board of finance for retention by the board.
F574
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F585
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F59F605
The annual meeting shall in the manner provided by rule 11—
a
elect in every third year parochial representatives of the laity to the deanery synod;
b
elect parochial representatives of the laity to the parochial church council;
c
appoint sidesmen;
F61d
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F62d
appoint the independent examiner or auditor to the council for a term of office ending at the close of the next annual meeting, provided that such person shall not be a member of the council.
and the elections and appointments shall be carried out in the above order.
F63F646
Without prejudice to the foregoing provisions and rule F657(6), a special parochial church meeting convened under rule F657(5) shall, in addition to other business,—
a
decide on the number of members of the parochial church council who are to be the elected representatives of the laity;
F607
Any person entitled to attend the annual meeting may ask any question about parochial church matters, or bring about a discussion of any matter of parochial or general interest, by moving a general resolution or by moving to give any particular recommendation to the council in relation to its duties.
F608
The annual meeting shall have power to adjourn and to determine its own rules of procedure.
F609
The secretary of the parochial church council (or another person appointed by the meeting in his place) shall act as a clerk of the annual meeting, and shall record the minutes thereof.
Qualifications of persons to be chosen or elected by annual meetings
F6610
F671
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F681
Subject to the provisions of rule 1(4) and paragraph (3) of this rule, the qualifications of a person to be elected a parochial representative of the laity to either the parochial church council or the deanery synod are that—
a
his name is entered on the roll of the parish F565and, unless he is under the age of eighteen years at the date of the election, has been so entered for at least the preceding period of six months;
b
he is an actual communicant as defined in rule 54(1); and
F576c
he is of sixteen years or upwards.
F671A
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F671B
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2
F713
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F723
No person shall be nominated for election under rule 9—
a
to serve on either the parochial church council, or the deanery synod unless he has signified his consent to serve, or there is in the opinion of the meeting sufficient evidence of his willingness to serve;
b
to serve on the parochial church council, if he has been disqualified F73under rule 46A;
c
F74. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Conduct of Elections at Annual Meetings
F7511
1
2
All candidates for election at an annual meeting must be nominated and seconded by persons entitled to attend the annual meeting, and in the case of parochial representatives of the laity, by persons whose names are entered on the roll of the parish. A candidate shall be nominated or seconded either before the meeting in writing or at the meeting.
3
If the number of candidates nominated is not greater than the number of seats to be filled, the candidates nominated shall forthwith be declared elected.
4
If more candidates are nominated than there are seats to be filled, the election shall take place at the annual meeting.
5
No clerk in Holy Orders shall be entitled to vote in the election of any parochial representatives of the laity.
6
Each person entitled to vote shall have as many votes as there are seats to be filled but may not give more than one vote to any one candidate.
F5917
Votes may be given—
a
by show of hands, or
b
if one or more persons object—
i
on voting papers signed by the voter on the reverse thereof; or
ii
if at least one tenth of the persons present and voting at the meeting so request, on numbered voting papers.
8
F79a
Where owing to an equality of votes an election is not decided, the decision between the persons for whom the equal numbers of votes have been cast shall be taken by lot.
F80b
When an election or any stage of an election is recounted, either on appeal or at the request of the presiding officer or of a candidate, if the original count and the re-count are identical at the point when a lot must be drawn to resolve a tie, the original lot shall be used to make the determination.
9
The result of any election by an annual meeting shall be announced as soon as practicable by the person presiding over the election, and a notice of the result shall in every case be affixed on or near the principal door of every church in the parish and every building licensed for public worship in the parish, and shall bear the date on which the result is declared. The notice shall remain affixed for not less than fourteen days. F81Thereafter the secretary of the parochial church council shall hold a list of the names and addresses of the members of the council which shall be available for inspection on reasonable notice being given by any person who either is resident in the parish or has his name on the electoral roll, but the secretary shall not be bound to provide a copy of such list.
F8210
Names and addresses, of parochial representatives of the laity elected to the deanery synod shall be sent by the secretary of the parochial church council to the diocesan electoral registration officer appointed in accordance with rule F8329 and to the secretary of the deanery synod.
F59211
Where a vote is conducted in accordance with paragraph (7)(b)(ii) above, a record shall be made of the identity of each person to whom a numbered voting paper is issued and any such record, so long as it is retained, shall be kept separate from the voting papers.
F92 Variation of method of election by scheme
Rule 10A and heading inserted by S.I. 1980/178, para. 3(1)
F8412
1
The annual meeting may F85. . . F86pass a resolutionwhich provides that the election of parochial representatives of the laity to the parochial church council or to the deanery synod or to both that council and that synod shall be conducted F87by the method of the single transferable vote under rules, with the necessary modifications, made by the General Synod under rule F8839(7) and for the time being in force F593, except that where the vote is conducted in accordance with Rule 11(7)(b)(ii), those rules shall have effect with the omission of any requirement that the voting paper be signed by the voter.
F892
The annual meeting may F85. . . F86pass a resolutionwhich provides that any person entitled to attend the annual meeting and vote in the elections of parochial representatives of the laity to the parochial church council or to the deanery synod or to both that council and that synod may make application in the form set out in section 4A of Appendix I for a postal vote.
3
Where applications for postal votes have been received by the date specified in the notice convening the annual meeting and where the number of candidates nominated for an election referred to in paragraph (2) of this rule is greater than the number of seats to be filled, the annual meeting shall appoint a presiding officer who shall not be a candidate in the election. Voting papers shall be distributed to each person present at the meeting entitled to vote and completed papers shall be returned into the custody of the presiding officer before the close of the meeting. The presiding officer shall ensure that persons who have made application for a postal vote shall be sent or have delivered a voting paper within 48 hours of the close of the meeting such paper to be returned to the presiding officer within such period of not less than 7 days nor more than 14 days from the date of the meeting as the presiding officer shall specify.
F904
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F914
A resolution passed under this rule shall be invalid unless approved by at least two thirds of the persons present and voting at the annual meeting nor shall it be operative until the next ensuing annual meeting. Such resolution may be rescinded by a subsequent resolution passed in the same manner.
Conduct of Elections of Churchwardens
F9313
1
F94Elections of Churchwardens under the Churchwardens Measure 1999 shall be conducted, announced and notified in the same manner as elections under F95rule F9611 except that all persons entitled to attend the meeting of parishioners other than the minister shall be entitled to nominate and vote at such elections of churchwardens.
F972
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Parochial Church Council Members
F9814
1
F99Subject to the provisions of rule F1001(4)F101and paragraph (3) of this rule, the parochial church council shall consist of:—
a
all clerks in Holy Orders beneficed in or licensed to the parish, . . . F102
F566aa
any clerk in Holy Orders who is duly authorised to act as chairman of meetings of the council by the bishop in accordance with paragraph 5(b) of Appendix II to these rules;
F103b
any deaconess or lay worker licensed to the parish;
F104F105c
in the case of a parish in the area of a benefice for which a team ministry is established, all the members of the team of that ministry;
F105d
F109d
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F110F105e
such, if any, of the readers who are licensed to that parish or licensed to an area which includes that parish and whose names are on the roll of the parish as the annual meeting may determine.
F105f
all persons whose names are on the roll of the parish and who are lay members of any deanery synod, diocesan synod or the General Synod;
g
F567six representatives of the laity where there are not more than fifty names on the electoral roll, nine such representatives where there are not more than one hundred names on the roll and, where there are more than one hundred names on the roll, a further three such representatives for every one hundred (or part thereof) names on the roll up to a maximum of fifteen such members, and so that the aforesaid numbers “six”, “nine”, “three” and “fifteen” may be altered from time to time by a resolution passed at any annual meeting, but such resolution shall not take effect before the next ensuing annual meeting; and
F105h
co-opted members, if the parochial church council so decides, not exceeding in number one-fifth of the representatives of the laity elected under the last preceding sub-paragraph of this paragraph F111or two persons whichever shall be the greater,, and being either clerks in Holy Orders or F112. . . F113actual lay communicants of sixteen years of age or upwards. The term of office of a co-opted member shall be until the conclusion of the next annual meeting; but without prejudice to his being co-opted on subsequent occasions for a similar term, subject to and in accordance with the provisions of these rules.
F114F1152
Any person chosen, appointed or elected as a churchwarden of a parish, being an F116. . . F117actual communicantwhose name is on the roll of the parish, shall as from the date on which the choice, appointment or election, as the case may be, is made be a member of the parochial church council of the parish by virtue of this paragraph until he is admitted to the office of churchwarden, and he shall thereafter continue to be a member of that council by virtue of F118paragraph 1(d) of this rule unless and until he ceases to be qualified for membership by virtue of that sub-paragraph.
F1193
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F1203
A person shall cease to be a member of a parochial church council—
a
if his name is removed from the roll of the parish under rule 1, on the date on which his name is removed;
b
if he refuses or fails to apply for enrolment when a new roll is being prepared, on the date on which the new roll is completed;
F121c
if he is or becomes disqualified under rule 46A, from the date on which the disqualification takes effect;
but, so far as the provisions of (a) and (b) above are concerned, shall be without prejudice to any right which that council may have to make that person a co-opted member.
F1154
Where a group ministry is established the incumbents of all benefices in the group F122every priest in charge of any benefice therein and where the area of the group ministry includes the area of a benefice for which a team ministry is established, all the vicars in that ministry shall be entitled to attend meetings of the parochial church councils of all the parishes in the area for which the group ministry is established. They shall be entitled to receive documents circulated to members of councils of which they are not themselves members and to speak but not to vote at meetings of such councils.
F123F1155
Where two or more benefices are held in plurality and a team ministry is, or is to be, established for the area of one of those benefices, then, if a pastoral scheme provides for extending the operation of the team ministry, so long as the plurality continues, to the area of any other benefice so held, paragraphs F1241(c) and (4)of this rule shall have effect as if the references to the area of the benefice were references to the combined area of the benefices concerned.
General Provisions relating to Parochial Church Councils
F12515
The provisions in Appendix II to these rules shall have effect with respect to parochial church councils, and with respect to the officers, the meetings and the proceedings thereof:
Provided that a parochial church council may, with the consent of the diocesan synod, vary the said provisions, in their application to the council.
Term of office
F56816
1
Subject to the following provisions of these rules, representatives of the laity serving on the parochial church council by virtue of rule 14(1)(g) shall hold office from the conclusion of the annual meeting at which they were elected until the conclusion of the third annual meeting thereafter, one third retiring and being elected each year, but, subject to rule 17, shall on retirement be eligible for re-election.
2
Where a representative of the laity resigns or otherwise fails to serve for his full term of office the casual vacancy shall be filled for the remainder of his term of office in accordance with rule 48(1).
3
Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this rule an annual meeting may decide that the representatives of the laity serving by virtue of rule 14(1)(g) shall retire from office at the conclusion of the annual meeting next following their election, but any such decision shall not affect the terms of office as members of the parochial church council of those due to retire from office at the conclusion of an annual meeting held after that at which the decision was taken.
4
A decision taken under paragraph (3) above shall be reviewed by the annual meeting at least once every six years; and on any such review the annual meeting may revoke the decision, in which case paragraph (1) above shall apply unless and until a further decision is taken under paragraph (3).
5
Persons who are members of a parochial church council by virtue of their election as lay members of a deanery synod shall hold office as members of the council for a term beginning with the date of their election and ending with the 31st May next following the election of their successors.
6
At an annual meeting at which all the representatives of the laity serving by virtue of rule 14(1)(g) are elected to hold office in accordance with paragraph (1) above, lots shall be drawn to decide which third of the representatives is to retire in the first year following that in which the meeting is held, which third is to retire in the second year and which third is to retire in the third year.
Limitation on years of service
F12617
The annual meeting may decide that no representative of the laity F127being a member of the parochial church council by virtue of rule 14(1)(g) may hold office after the date of that meeting for more than a specified number of years continuously and may also decide that after a specified interval a person who has ceased to be eligible by reason of such decision may again stand for election as a representative of the laity on the council.
Parishes with more than one Place of Worship
F12818
1
In any parish where there are two or more churches or F129places of worship the annual meeting may make a scheme, F130which makes provision for either or both of the following purposes, that is to say:—
a
F133b
for the election by the annual meeting for any district in the parish in which a church or place of worship is situated of a district church council for that district
2
A scheme for the election of any district church council or councils under the preceding paragraph shall provide for the election of representatives of the laity on to such council, for ex-officio members and for the chairmanship of such council and shall contain such other provisions as to membership and procedure as shall be considered appropriate by the annual meeting.
F1343
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F1353
Such a scheme may also provide for the delegation by the parochial church council to a district church council of such functions as may be specified in the scheme and, subject to the provisions of the scheme, the parochial church council may by resolution also delegate to a district church council such of its functions as it shall think fit but not including (in either case) the functions of the parochial church council—
i
in respect of producing the financial statement of the parish F569...;
ii
as an interested party under Part I of the Pastoral Measure 1983;
iii
under Part II of the Patronage (Benefices) Measure 1986;
iv
under section 3 of the Priests (Ordination of Women) Measure 1993.
4
F136A scheme may provide for the election or choice of one or two deputy churchwardens . . . F137, and for the delegation to him or them of such functions of the churchwardens relating to F138any church or place as the scheme may specify, and the churchwardens may, subject to the scheme, delegate such of their said functions as they think fit to the deputy churchwarden or churchwardens. F139The scheme may also provide for the deputy churchwardens to be ex officio members of the parochial church council.
F1405
No scheme under this rule shall be valid unless approved by at least two-thirds of the persons present and voting at the annual meeting nor shall the scheme provide for it to come into operation until such date as the bishop’s council and standing committee may determine being a date not later than the next ensuing annual meeting. Every such scheme shall on its approval be communicated to the bishop’s council and standing committee of the diocesan synod which may determine—
a
that the scheme shall come into operation; or
b
that the scheme shall not come into operation; or
c
that the scheme shall come into operation with specified amendments, if such amendments are approved by an annual or special parochial church meeting and the scheme as amended is approved by at least two-thirds of the persons present and voting at that meeting.
F5705A
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F141F1426
A special parochial church meeting of a parish to which this rule applies may be convened for the purpose of deciding whether to make such a scheme F571..., and where such a meeting is convened the foregoing provisions shall have effect with the substitution for references to the annual meeting of references to the special meeting.
F1436
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F144
F1427
Where a pastoral scheme establishing a team minstry, or an instrument of the bishop made by virtue of that scheme, makes, in relation to a parish in the area of the benefice for which the team ministry is established, any provision which may be made by a scheme under this rule, no scheme under this rule relating to that parish shall provide for the scheme to come into operation until on or after the date on which the provisions in question of the pastoral scheme or of the instrument, as the case may be, cease to have effect.
F1428
F1429
Every member of the team of a team ministry shall have a right to attend the meetings of any district church council elected for any district in a parish in the area of the benefice for which the team ministry is established.
F14210
F14211
In this rule “place of worship” means a building or part of a building licensed for public worship.
Joint Parochial Church Councils
F148F14919
1
Where there are two or more parishes within the area of a single benefice or two or more benefices are held in plurality, the annual meetings of all or some of the parishes in the benefice or benefices may make a joint scheme to provide—
a
for establishing a joint parochial church council (hereinafter referred to as “the joint council”) comprising the ministers of the parishes and such numbers of representatives of each of those parishes elected by and from among the other members of the parochial church council of the parish as may be specified in the scheme;
b
for the chairmanship, meetings and procedure of the joint council;
c
F150subject to paragraph 20 of Schedule 2 to the Patronage (Benefices) Measure 1986 for the delegation by the parochial church council of each such parish to the joint council of such of its functions, other than its functions as an interested party under Part I of the Pastoral Measure F1511983F152and its functions under section 3 of the Priests (Ordination of Women) Measure 1993, as may be so specified.
2
Subject to the scheme and to any pastoral scheme or order made under paragraph 13 of Schedule 3 to the said Measure F153and to paragraph 20 of Schedule 2 to the Patronage (Benefices) Measure 1986, the parochial church council of any such parish may delegate to the joint council such of its functions, other than its functions as an interested party under the said Part 1 F154and its functions under section 3 of the Priests (Ordination of Women) Measure 1993, as it thinks fit.
3
The joint council shall meet from time to time for the purpose of consulting together on matters of common concern.
F1554
No scheme under this rule shall be valid unless approved by at least two-thirds of the persons present and voting at the annual meeting nor shall the scheme provide for it to come into operation until such date as the bishop’s council and standing committee may determine being a date not later than the next ensuing annual meeting. Every such scheme shall on its approval be communicated to the bishop’s council and standing committee of the diocesan synod which may determine—
a
that the scheme shall come into operation; or
b
that the scheme shall not come into operation; or
c
that the scheme shall come into operation with specified amendments, if such amendments are approved by an annual or special parochial church meeting and the scheme as amended is approved by at least two-thirds of the persons present and voting at the meeting.
5
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F156
F1575
A special parochial church meeting of a parish to which this rule applies may be convened for the purpose of deciding whether to join in making such a scheme, and where such a meeting is convened the foregoing provisions shall have effect with the substitution for references to the annual meeting of references to the special meeting.
F1576
Where a pastoral scheme or order, or any instrument of the bishop made by virtue of such a scheme or order, establishes a joint parochial church council for two or more of the parishes in a single benefice or two or more of the parishes in benefices held in plurality, no scheme under this rule relating to those parishes shall provide for the scheme to come into operation until on or after the date on which the provisions of the pastoral scheme, pastoral order or instrument, as the case may be, establishing the joint parochial church council cease to have effect.
F1577
Where the provisions of a pastoral scheme or order for the holding of benefices in plurality are terminated under section F15818(2) of the Pastoral Measure 1983, any provision of a scheme under this rule establishing a joint parochial church council for all or some of the parishes of those benefices and the other provisions thereof affecting that council shall cease to have effect on the date on which the first mentioned provisions cease to have effect.
F1578
F176 Team councils
Rules 17A, 17B inserted by S.I. 1981/959, para. 9(1)
F16120
1
Where a team ministry is established for the area of a benefice which comprises more than one parish the annual meetings of the parishes in that area may make a joint scheme to provide—
F162a
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F163a
for establishing a team council comprising—
i
the team rector;
ii
the members of the team other than the team rector;
iii
every assistant curate, deaconess and lay worker licensed to a parish within the team who are not members of the team;
iv
such number of lay representatives elected by and from among the lay representatives of the parochial church council of each parish in the area as may be specified in the scheme.
Provided that where the total number of persons in sub-paragraphs (ii) and (iii) above would otherwise number more than one quarter of the total membership of the team council they may, and where those persons number more than one third they shall select among themselves which members shall be members of the team council so that the total number of those persons shall not exceed more than one third of the council.
b
for the chairmanship, meetings and procedure of the team council; and
c
F164subject to paragraph 19 of Schedule 2 to the Patronage (Benefices) Measure 1986 for the delegation by the parochial church council of each such parish to the team council of such functions, other than its functions as an interested party under Part I of the Pastoral Measure F1651983F166as may be so specifiedF167and its functions under section 3 of the Priests (Ordination of Women) Measure 1993, as may be so specified
C12
Subject to the scheme and to any pastoral scheme relating to the team council made under F168paragraph 4(3) of Schedule 3 to the said Measure F169and to paragraph 19 of Schedule 2 to the Patronage (Benefices) Measure 1986, the parochial church council of any such parish may delegate to the team council such of its functions, other than its functions as an interested party under the said Part I F170and its functions under section 3 of the Priests (Ordination of Women) Measure 1993, as it thinks fit.
3
The team council shall meet from time to time for the purpose of consulting together on matters of common concern.
F1714
No scheme under this rule shall be valid unless approved by at least two-thirds of the persons present and voting at the annual meeting nor shall the scheme provide for it to come into operation until such date as the bishop’s council and standing committee may determine being a date not later than the next ensuing annual meeting. Every such scheme shall on its approval be communicated to the bishop’s council and standing committee of the diocesan synod which may determine—
a
that the scheme shall come into operation; or
b
that the scheme shall not come into operation; or
c
that the scheme shall come into operation with specified amendments, if such amendments are approved by an annual or special parochial church meeting and the scheme as amended is approved by at least two-thirds of the persons present and voting at that meeting.
5
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F172
F1735
A special parochial church meeting of a parish to which this rule applies may be convened for the purpose of deciding whether to join in making such a scheme, and where such a meeting is convened the foregoing provisions shall have effect with the substitution for references to the annual meeting of references to the special meeting.
F1736
Where a pastoral scheme establishing a team ministry, or an instrument of the bishop made by virtue of that scheme, establishes a team counil for that ministry, no scheme under this rule relating to that ministry shall provide for the scheme to come into operation until on or after the date on which the provisions of the pastoral scheme or of the instrument, as the case may be, establishing the team council to have effect.
F1737
F185 Group councils
Crossheading and rules 17A, 17B inserted by S.I. 1981/959, para. 9(1)
F17721
1
Where a pastoral scheme establishes a group ministry, the annual meetings of the parishes in the area for which the group ministry is established may make a joint scheme to provide—
a
for establishing a group council comprising—
i
all the members of the group ministry,
ii
every assistant curate, deaconess, and lay worker licensed to any such parish, and
iii
such number of lay representatives elected by and from among the lay members of the parochial church council of each such parish as may be specified in the scheme;
b
for the chairmanship, meetings and procedure of the group council; and
c
for the delegation by the parochial church council of each such parish to the group council of such functions, other than its functions as an interested party under Part I of the Pastoral Measure F1781983F179and its functions under Part II of the Patronage (Benefices) Measure 1986F180and section 3 of the Priests (Ordination of Women) Measure 1993 as may be so specified.
2
If the area of a group ministry includes the area of a benefice for which a team ministry is established, a scheme under this rule shall provide for the vicars in that ministry, as well as the rector, and all the other members of the team to be members of the group council.
3
Paragraphs (2) to F181(7) of rule F18220 shall apply in relation to a scheme under this rule as they apply in relation to a scheme under this rule as they apply in relation to a scheme under that rule with the modification that for the references toa team ministry and a team council there shall be substituted references to a group ministry and a group council respectively F183except that the functions of a parochial church council under Part II of the Patronage (Benefices) Measure 1986 F184and section 3 of the Priests (Ordination of Women) Measure 1993 may not be delegated to a group council.
F188 Special Meetings
Sch. 3 rules 18 and 18A substituted for rule 18 by S.I. 1989/2094, para. 5
F18622
1
In addition to the annual meeting the minister of a parish may convene a special parochial church meeting, and he shall do so on a written representation by not less than one-third of the lay members of the parochial church council; and the provisions of these rules relating to the convening and conduct of the annual meeting shall, with the necessary modifications, apply to a special parochial church meeting.
2
All lay persons whose names are entered on the roll of the parish on the day which is twenty-one clear days before the date on which any special parochial church meeting is to be held shall be entitled to attend the meeting and to take part in its proceedings, and no other lay person shall be so entitled.
3
A clerk in Holy Orders shall be entitled to attend any such meeting and to take part in its proceedings if by virtue of rule F1876(3), (4) or (5) he would have been entitled to attend the annual meeting of the parish had it been held on the same date, and no other such clerk shall be so entitled.
Extraordinary Meetings
F18923
1
On a written representation made to the archdeacon by not less than one-third of the lay members of the parochial church council, or by one tenth of the persons whose names are on the roll of the parish, and deemed by the archdeacon to have been made with sufficient cause, the archdeacon shall convene an extraordinary meeting of the parochial church council or an extraordinary parochial church meeting, and shall either take the chair himself or shall appoint a chairman to preside. The chairman, not being otherwise entitled to attend such meeting, shall not be entitled to vote upon any resolution before the meeting.
2
In any case where the archdeacon is himself the minister, any representation under paragraph (1) of this rule shall be made to the bishop, and in any such case the references to the archdeacon in paragraph (1) of this rule shall be construed as references to the bishop, or to a person appointed by him to act on his behalf.
3
Paragraphs (2) and (3) of rule F19022 shall apply in relation to an extraordinary parochial church meeting under this rule as they apply in relation to a special parochial church meeting under that rule with the modification that for the word “special” in F190paragraph (2) of that rule there shall be substituted the word “extraordinary”.
Part III Deanery Synods
Membership
F19124
1
A deanery synod shall consist of a house of clergy and a house of laity.
2
The members of the house of clergy of a deanery synod shall consist of—
a
the clerks in Holy Orders beneficed in or licensed to any parish in the deanery;
b
any clerks in Holy Orders licensed to institutions in the deanery under the M2Extra-Parochial Ministry Measure 1967;
c
any clerical members of the General Synod or diocesan synod resident in the deanery;
F192d
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F192e
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F193d
such other clerks in Holy Orders holding the bishop’s licence to work throughout the diocese or in more than one deanery and resident in the deanery subject to any direction which may be given by the members of the House of Clergy of the bishop’s council that, having regard to the number of parochial and non-parochial clergy in the deanery, such clerk shall have membership of a specified deanery synod other than the deanery where he resides provided that no person shall thereby be a member of more than one deanery synod in the diocese.
F577e
one or more clerks in Holy Orders holding permission to officiate in the diocese who are resident in the deanery or who have habitually attended public worship in a parish in the deanery during the preceding six months. One clerk may be elected or chosen for every ten such clerks or part thereof, elected or chosen in such manner as may be approved by the bishop by and from such clerks
F194F1953
Where an extra parochial place is not in a deanery it shall be deemed for the pruposes of these rules to belong to the deanery which it abuts and if there is any doubt in the matter a determination shall be made by the bishop’s council and standing committee.
F196F1954
For the purposes of F197paragraph F198(2)(e) of this rule the relevant date shall be the 31st December in the year immdiately preceding any eleciton of the parochial representatives of the laity, and as soon as possible after that date the rural dean of the deanery shall inform the bishop of the number of clerks in Holy Orders who are qualified for membership of the deanery synod by virtue of that sub-paragraph.
F199F1955
Not later than 1st July following the election of parochial representatives of the laity to the deanery synod the secretary of the said synod shall send to the diocesan electoral registration officer appointed in accordance with rule F20029 a list of the names and addresses of the members of the house of clergy, specifying the class of membership, and shall keep the said officer informed of subsequent changes in membership.
F1956
F201Subject to the provisions of rule F2021(4) the members of the house of laity of a deanery synod shall consist of F203the following persons, that is to say—
a
the parochial representatives elected to the synod by the annual meetings of the parishes of the deanery;
b
F205c
if in the opinion of the bishop of the diocese any community of persons in the deanery who are in the spiritual care of a chaplain licensed by the bishop should be represented in that house, one lay person, being an actual communicant member of the Church of England of F578sixteen years or upwards, chosen in such manner as may be approved by the bishop by and from among the members of that community
F206d
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F207d
the deaconesses and lay workers licensed by the bishop to work in any part of the deanery;
e
such other deaconesses or lay workers holding the bishop’s licence to work throughout the diocese or in more than one deanery and resident in the deanery subject to any direction which may be given by the members of the House of Laity of the bishop’s council that, having regard to the number of deaconesses or lay workers in the deanery, such person shall have membership of a specified deanery synod other than the deanery where they reside provided that no person shall thereby be a member of more than one deanery synod in the diocese.
F1957
The house of clergy and house of laity of a deanery synod may co-opt additional members of their respective houses, being clerks in Holy Orders or, as the case may be, lay persons who shall be actual communicant members of the Church of England of F208F579sixteen years or upwards:
F209Provided that the number of members co-opted by either house shall not exceed five per cent. of the total number of members of that house or three, whichever is the greater.
F210The names and addresses of co-opted members shall be sent by the secretary of the deanery synod to the diocesan electoral registration officer appointed in accordance with rule F21129.
Election and choice of members
F21225
1
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F213 The parochial representatives of the laity elected by annual meetings shall be so elected every three years, and shall hold office for a term of three years beginning with the 1st June next following their election.
2
The numbers to be so elected from the several parishes shall be determined by resolution of the diocesan synod not later than the F21431st December in the year preceding any such elections, and those numbers F580shall be calculated by reference to the numbers of names on the rolls of the parishes as certified . . . F215under rule 4 F581or the number of parish churches or districts in each parish or a combination of both such methods, in each case in such manner as the diocesan synod shall determineF216. . . F217provided that such resolution shall not make it possible for a parish with fewer than 26 names on the roll to have more than one representative.
3
Not later than the 31st December in the year preceding any such elections, the secretary of the diocesan synod shall certify to the secretary of each parochial church council the number of such representatives to be elected at the annual meeting of the parish F218. . . and shall send to the secretary of each deanery synod copies of the certificates and information relating to the parishes of the deanery.
F2194
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F213 Any person to be chosen as mentioned in rule F220F22124(2)(e) orF22124(6)(c) shall be so chosen every three years and shall hold office for a term of three years beginning with the 1st June next following the date on which he is so chosen.
F2225
F223. . . F224A direction by the appropriate members of the Bishop’s Council making provision under rule 24(2)(d) or 24(6)(e)for the membership of the clerks in Holy Orders or the deaconesses or lay workers therein mentioned may provide for the choice by a class of such persons of some of their number to be members, and for the term of office of persons so chosen.
F2256
The diocesan synod shall exercise their powers under this and the last preceding rule so as to secure that the total number of members of any deanery synod in the diocese shall not be more than 150 and, so far as practicable, shall not be less than 50:
Provided that the maximum number of 150 may be exceeded for the purpose of securing that the house of laity is not less in number than the house of clergy.
F226For the avoidance of doubt it is hereby declared that the number 150 specified in this paragraph includes the maximum number of members who may be co-opted by each house.
20A
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F227
Variation of Membership of Deanery Synods by Scheme
F22826
1
If it appears to the diocesan synod that the preceding rules in this Part relating to the membership of deanery synods ought to be varied to meet the special circumstances of the diocese or the deaneries and to secure better representation of clergy or laity or both on the deanery synods, they may make a scheme for such variation, and, if the scheme comes into operation under this rule, the said rules shall have effect subject to the scheme:
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F229
2
Copies of every such scheme must be sent to members of the diocesan synod at least fourteen days before the session at which they are considered, and every such scheme shall require the assent of the F230house of bishops and of a two-thirds majority of the members of each of the other houses of the synod present and voting.
F2313
A scheme approved by the diocesan synod as aforesaid shall be laid before the General Synod.
4
If a member of the General Synod gives notice in accordance with the Standing Orders of that Synod that he wishes such a scheme to be debated, the scheme shall not come into operation unless it is approved by the General Synod.
5
If no notice is given under paragraph (4) of this rule with respect to any such scheme, or such notice having been given, the scheme is approved by the General Synod, it shall come into operation on the day after the end of the group of sessions during which it was laid before, or approved by, the General Synod or on such date as may be specified in the scheme.
Representation of Cathedral Clergy and Laity
F23227
1
Any diocesan synod may provide by scheme for the representation on such deanery synod as may be determined by or under the scheme—
a
of the dean or provost, the residentiary canons and other ministers of the cathedral church of the diocese, or any of them; and
F582b
in the case of a cathedral church which is not a parish church, of lay persons who are on the roll of members of the cathedral community (hereinafter in these rules referred to as “the community roll”) required to be kept under section 9 of the Cathedrals Measure 1999 or, in the case of Westminster Abbey, St George’s Chapel, Windsor and the cathedral church of Christ in Oxford, who are declared by the dean to be habitual worshippers at the cathedral church and whose names are not entered on the roll of any parish.
2
F233The provisions of rule 21(2) shall apply to schemes made under this rule.
Procedure
F23428
1
The diocesan synod shall make rules for deanery synods which shall provide—
a
that the rural dean and a member of the house of laity elected by that house shall be joint chairmen of the deanery synod F235and that they shall agree between them who shall chair each meeting of the synod or particular items of business on the agenda of the synod.;
b
that there shall be a secretary of the deanery synod;
c
that a specified minimum number of meetings shall be held by the deanery synod in each year;
d
that on such matters and in such circumstances as may be specified in the rules, voting shall be by houses, but that otherwise decisions shall be taken by a majority of the members of the synod present and voting;
e
that there shall be a standing committee of the synod with such membership and functions as the rules may provide;
f
that the synod shall prepare and circulate to all parochial church councils in the deanery a report of its proceedings;
and may provide for such other matters consistent with these rules as the diocesan synod think fit.
2
Subject to any such rules, the deanery synod shall have power to determine its own procedure.
F239 Diocesan Electoral Registration Officer
Sch. 3 rule 23A inserted by S.I. 1989/2094, para. 7.
F23629
F2371
In every diocese, there shall be a diocesan electoral registration officer who shall be appointed by the bishop’s council and standing committee of the diocesan synod and who shall record the names and addresses of all members of the House of Clergy and House of Laity of the deanery synods in the diocese in two registers (in these rules respectively referred to as “the register of clerical electors” and “the register of lay electors”); the members co-opted to the house shall be listed separately in the appropriate register.
F2382
The diocesan electoral registration officer shall not later than twenty one days before the nomination papers are circulated send a copy of the names and addresses of clerical electors and lay electors as recorded by him to the secretary of the deanery synod of which those electors are members and the secretary of the deanery synod shall within seven days of receipt certify in writing to the electoral registration officer that the names and addresses are correct or notify him in writing of any necessary corrections.
F2383
The diocesan electoral registration officer shall, not later than seven days before nomination papers are circulated, send a copy of the corrected names and addresses of electors to the appropriate presiding officer in the election.
Part IV Diocesan Synods
Membership of Diocesan Synods
F24030
1
A diocesan synod shall consist of F241a house of bishops, a house of clergy and a house of laity.
F242F2432
The members of the house of bishops shall consist of the bishop of the diocese, every suffragan bishop of the diocese and such other person or persons, being a person or persons in episcopal orders working in the diocese, as the bishop of the diocese, with the concurrence of the archbishop of the province, may nominate.
F2433
The bishop of the diocese shall be the president of the diocesan synod.
F2434
The members of the house of clergy shall consist of—
a
the following ex-officio members, that is to say:—
F244i
any person or persons in episcopal orders nominated by the bishop of the diocese, other than a suffragan bishop or a person nominated under paragraph F245(2) of this rule;
ii
the dean or provost of the cathedral (including in appropriate dioceses, the Dean of Westminster, the Dean of Windsor and the Deans of Jersey and Guernsey);
iii
the archdeacons;
iv
F248v
any other member of that House, being the person chosen by and from among the clerical members of religious communities in the Province, who resides in the diocese;
F249vi
the chancellor of the diocese (if in Holy Orders); and
b
members elected by the houses of clergy of the deanery synods in the diocese in accordance with the next following rules; and
c
not more than five members (being clerks in Holy Orders) co-opted by the house of clergy of the diocesan synod.
F2435
The members of the house of laity shall consist of:—
a
the following ex-officio members, that is to say:—
i
the chancellor of the diocese (if not in Holy Orders);
ii
the chairman of the diocesan board of finance F250and the chairman of the diocesan advisory committee(if not in Holy Orders);
iii
the members elected from the diocese to the House of Laity of the General Synod F251. . .;
b
members elected by the houses of laity of the deanery synods in the diocese in accordance with the next following rules; and
F2436
The bishop of the diocese may nominate ten additional members of the diocesan synod, who may be of the clergy or the laity and shall be members of the appropriate house. F256Except in regard to their appointment the nominated members shall have the same rights and be subject to the same rules as elected members. Where necessary the bishop’s council and standing committee shall designate the deanary synod of which the nominated member shall be a member and, where a nominated lay person is on more than one electoral roll, he shall choose the parochial council of which he is to be a member.
F257F243F2587
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F2587
No person shall be entitled to be a member of more than one diocesan synod at the same time except—
a
the chancellor of the diocese;
b
a suffragan bishop appointed to act as a provincial episcopal visitor for the purposes of the Episcopal Ministry Act of Synod 1993 who, in addition, to membership of the diocesan synod of the diocese of which he is suffragan, may be invited by the bishop of the diocese where he resides to be a member of that diocesan synod in accordance with paragraph (2) or paragraph (4)(a)(i) of this rule provided that he shall exercise his vote on a matter referred by the General Synod under Article 8 of the Constitution only in the diocesan synod of the diocese of which he is suffragan.
F2598
The registrar of the diocese and any deputy registrar of the diocesan synod shall be disqualified from standing for election to the diocesan synod or from being a nominated, co-opted or ex officio member of that synod.
Elections of Members of Diocesan Synods by Deanery Synods
F26031
1
2
Any clerk in Holy Orders who is a member of the deanery synod F263. . . shall be qualified to be so elected by the house of clergy of a deanery synod, and the electors shall be F264those whose names and addresses are recorded in the register of clerical electors. . . F265being the persons referred to in rule 24(2) and not including the persons co-opted to the deanery synod under rule 24(7):
Provided that no clerk shall stand for election by more than one deanery synod.
3
F266Subject to the provisions of rule F2671(4) any lay person who is an actual communicant F268. . . F269as defined in rule 54(1)of F270F594sixteen years or upwards and whose name is entered on the roll of any parish in the deanery or who is F595on the community roll or, in the case of Westminster Abbey, St George’s Chapel, Windsor and the cathedral church of Christ in Oxford declared by the dean to be an habitual worshipper at the cathedral church, shall be qualified to be so elected by the house of laity of a deanery synod, and the electors shall be F271those whose names and addresses are recorded in the register of lay electors other than F268. . ..F272persons co-opted to the deanery synod under rule 24(7)
. . . F273
F274F2754
The qualifying date for electors under paragraphs (2) and (3) of this rule and when a casual vacancy is being filled shall be 6.00 a.m. on the date on which the nomination papers are issued F276in accordance with rule 32(4).
F2755
The register of clerical electors and the register of lay electors shall be open to inspection at the diocesan office and any errors and omissions in the list may be corrected until the close of nominations. Thereafter no names may be added or removed until the declaration of the result of the election and those persons whose names are entered in the register shall be the qualified electors entitled to vote in that election.
F2756
The diocesan synod shall, not later than the F27731st December in the year preceding any such election determine the numbers of members to be so elected by the houses of the several deanery synods in the diocese, and the numbers shall—
a
in the case of elections by the houses of clergy, be related to the numbers of members of those houses in the respective deanery synods;
b
in the case of elections by the houses of laity, be related to the total numbers of names on the rolls of the parishes in the respective deaneries as certified . . . F278under rule 4:
Provided that at least two members shall be elected by each house of every deanery synod.
F2797
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F2807
For the purpose of such determination by the diocesan synod, the secretary of every deanery synod shall, not later than the 1st June, certify to the secretary of the diocesan synod the number of members of the house of clergy of the synod as at the 30th April.
F2758
The diocesan synod shall so exercise their powers under this rule as to secure that the number of members of the synod is not less than F572120 and not more than 270 and that the numbers of the F281. . . F282houses of clergy and laity are approximately equal:
. . . F283
F284For the avoidance of doubt it is hereby declared that the F285number 270 specified in this paragraph includes the maximum number of members who may be co-opted by each house or nominated by the bishop.
F2759
Not later than the 31st December in each year preceding any such elections, the secretary of the diocesan synod shall certify to the secretary of every deanery synod the numbers determined under this rule for that deanery synod.
F28632
F2871
Elections of members of the diocesan synod by the houses of the deanery synods shall be completed by the 15th day of July, the period and dates of the election being fixed by the bishop of the diocese and communicated to the secretaries of the deanery synods.
2
The bishop shall appoint the presiding officers for the elections by the houses of the deanery synods, provided that no person shall be appointed as a presiding officer for an election by a house F288. . .of which he is a member. The expenses of elections shall be paid out of diocesan funds.
F2893
The diocesan electoral registration officer shall furnish the presiding officer with the names and addresses of the qualified electors and the presiding officer shall ensure that the persons qualified to nominate and vote in elections to the diocesan synod, and only such persons, shall be sent or given nomination and voting papers in respect of the said election at the address entered against their names in the register of electors.
F2894
Every candidate must be nominated and seconded by a qualified elector. A notice in the form set out in section 5 of Appendix I indicating the number of seats to be filled and inviting nominations shall be dispatched to every elector F290together with a form of nomination in the form set out in section 6 of Appendix I shall be F291. . . F292delivered either by post, by facsimile transmission or in person to the presiding officer of the area within such period, being a period of not less than fourteen days ending on a date specified by the presiding officer, provided that where a nomination paper has been sent by facsimile transmission the name of the candidate shall not appear on the voting paper unless the original nomination paper has been received by the presiding officer within three days of the closing date for nominations.The nomination form shall be accompanied by a statement signed by the candidate stating his willingness to serve if elected and, if he so desires, setting out in not more than 100 words a factual statement for circulation with the voting papers of the candidate’s professional qualifications, present office and any relevant past experience.
F293F2895
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F2945
It shall be the duty of the presiding officer—
a
to scrutinise nomination papers as soon as they have been lodged and shall, without delay, inform the candidate concerned whether the nomination is valid.Where the nomination is invalid the presiding officer shall give his reasons for so ruling and if, by the close of the nomination period, no valid nomination is received, the candidate shall be excluded from the election;
b
to supply free of charge to a duly nominated candidate in the election one copy of the names and addresses of the qualified electors within seven days of receiving his written request.
F2896
If more candidates are nominated than there are seats to be filled the names of the candidates nominated shall be circulated on a voting paper in the form set out F295either in section 7 or in section 8 of Appendix I to every qualified elector. The diocesan synod shall, not later than the 31st December in each year preceding any such election as is referred to in rule F29631, F297make a determination as to which form of voting paper is to be used by the deaneries in that election, and that determination shall apply to any election to fill a casual vacancy which occurs during the next ensuing three years.
F2897
The voting paper marked and F298, on the reverse thereof, signed by the elector and with his full name written. shall be returnable to the presiding officer within such period not being less than 14 days as he shall specify . . . F299No vote shall be counted if given on a voting paper not in accordance with this paragraph.
F2898
Where F300voting papers in the form set out in section 7 of Appendix I have been used and owing to an equality of votes an election is not decided, the decision between the persons for whom the equal numbers of votes have been cast shall be taken by lot by the presiding officer.
F301F2899
Where voting papers in the form set out in section 8 of Appendix I are used, the election shall be conducted under rules, with the necessary modifications, made by the General Synod under rule F30239(7) and for the time being in force.
F303F28910
Variation of Membership of Diocesan Synods by Scheme
F30633
1
If it appears to the diocesan synod that the preceding rules in this Part relating to the membership of diocesan synods ought to be varied to meet the special circumstances of the diocese and to secure better representation of clergy or laity or both on the diocesan synod, they may make a scheme for such variation, and if the scheme comes into operation in accordance with the provisions hereinafter applied, the said rules shall have effect subject to the scheme:
. . . F307
2
Procedure of Diocesan Synods
F31034
1
The diocesan synod shall make standing orders which shall provide—
a
that the bishop need not be chairman of its meetings if and to the extent that standing orders otherwise provide;
b
that there shall be a secretary of the diocesan synod;
c
d
that a meeting of the diocesan synod shall be held if not less than a specified number of members of the synod so request;
e
that subject to the F312three next following sub-paragraphs, nothing shall be deemed to have the assent of the diocesan synod unless the three F313houses which constitute the synod have assented thereto F314but that if in the case of a particular question F315(except a matter referred to the diocesan synod by the General Synod under the provisions of Article 8 of the Constitution) the diocesan bishop (if present) so directs, that question shall be deemed to have the assent of the house of bishops only if the majority of the members of that house who assent thereto includes F315the diocesan bishop;
f
that questions relating only to the conduct of business shall be decided by the votes of all the members of the diocesan synod present and voting, . . . F316
F317g
that every other question shall be decided by the votes of all the members of the diocesan synod present and voting, the assent of the three Houses being presumed, unless the diocesan bishop (if present) requires or any ten members require that a separate vote of each House be taken.
F318h
that if the votes of the houses of clergy and laity are in favour of any matter referred to the diocesan synod by the General Synod under the provisions of Article 8 of Schedule 2 to this Measure, that matter shall be deemed to have been approved for the purposes of the said Article;
F319i
that where there is an equal division of votes in the house of bishops, F320the diocesan bishop shall have a second or casting vote;
F319j
that F321the diocesan bishop shall have a right to require that his opinion on any question shall be recorded in the minutes;
F322k
that there shall be a bishop’s council and standing committee of the diocesan synod with such membership as may be provided by standing orders and with the functions exercisable by it under section 4(4) of the Measure and such other functions as may be provided by the standing orders or by these rules or by any Measure or Canon;
and may contain such further provisions consistent with these rules as the diocesan synod shall consider appropriate.
F3232
No person shall be entitled to serve as a member of more than one bishop’s council and standing committee at the same time.
F3243
The registrar of the diocese shall be the registrar of the diocesan synod, and may appoint a deputy.
Part V House of Laity of General Synod
F32535
1
The House of Laity of the General Synod shall consist of—
a
the members elected by the diocesan electors of each diocese as hereinafter provided;
b
F326three members, two from the Province of Canterbury and one from the Province of York, chosen by the lay members of religious communities from among their number in such manner as may be provided by a resolution of the General Synod;
c
such ex-officio and co-opted members as are hereinafter provided.
F327F3282
For the purposes of this Part of these rules the diocese in Europe shall be deemed to be a diocese in the province of Canterbury.
F3283
For the purposes of this Part of these rules, the diocesan electors of a diocese F329other than the diocese in Europe shall be the members of the houses of laity of all the deanery synods in the diocese other than F330. . .:
F331a
persons co-opted to the deanery synod under rule 24(7); or
b
persons who are lay members of a religious community with separate representation in the General Synod under paragraph (1)(b) of this rule.
. . . F332
F333F3284
The diocesan electors of the diocese in Europe shall be such number of persons elected by the annual meetings of the chaplaincies in the said diocese as may be determined by the bishop’s council and standing committee of the said diocese, and any lay person who is:
b
of eighteen years or upwards, and
c
a person whose name is entered on the electoral roll of such a chaplaincy,
shall be qualified for election as a diocesan elector by the annual meeting of that chaplaincy.
F336F3285
The qualifying date for lay members of religious communities under paragraph (1)(b) of this rule and for diocesan electors under paragraphs F337(3) and (4) of this rule shall be 6.00 a.m. on the date of the dissolution of the General Synod, save that when a casual vacancy is being filled, the qualifying date shall be 6.00 a.m. on the date on which the nomination papers are issued.
F3286
The register of lay electors shall be open to inspection at the diocesan office and any errors and omissions in the list may be corrected until the close of nominations. Thereafter no names may be added or removed until the declaration of the result of the election and those persons whose names are entered in the register shall be the qualified electors entitled to vote in that election.
Elections of Members Number of Elected Members
F33836
F3391
The total number of members directly elected and specially elected from the dioceses in the Province shall not exceed one hundred and seventy for Canterbury and eighty for York and no diocese shall have fewer than three directly elected members (except the diocese in Europe which shall elect two members, and the diocese of Sodor and Man which shall elect one member). Ex officio and co-opted members (as defined in rule F34042) shall be additional to the said total number. In this rule the term “specially elected” means the representatives of the religious communities referred to in rule F34035(1) and the representatives of the Channel Islands elected in accordance with the Channel Islands (Representation) Measure 1931 and such persons shall be included in the said total number.
F3412
The total number of members to be elected by the diocesan electors of all the dioceses shall be fixed by resolution of the General Synod not later than the last day of November in the fourth year after the last preceding election of the house of Laity (but subject as hereinafter provided), and the resolution shall apportion the number so fixed to the Provinces of Canterbury and York in a proportion of sixty eight to thirty two or as nearly as possible thereto and shall divide the number among the dioceses so that the number of members to be elected by the several dioceses are as nearly as possible proportionate to the total number of names certified for them under the following paragraph.
F3413
The secretary of each diocesan synod shall, not later than the first day of August in the fourth year after the last preceding election of the House of Laity, certify to the secretary of the General Synod the total number of names on the rolls of the parishes of the diocese . . . F342
F3414
The number of members of the House of Laity to be elected by each diocese, when fixed by the General Synod as aforesaid, shall forthwith be certified to the secretaries of the diocesan synods.
F3415
If the General Synod is at any time dissolved before the fourth year after the last preceding election of the House of Laity or before the fixing of numbers under this rule by the General Synod during that year, the General Synod or the Presidents thereof may give directions with respect to the fixing and certifying of the numbers of members to be elected to the House of Laity by each diocese, and the directions may provide that the numbers so fixed and certified on the last previous occasion shall be deemed to have been fixed and certified for the purpose of the election following the dissolution, and the directions may, if the dissolution is known to be impending, be given before it occurs.
Qualification of Elected Members
F34337
F3441
Subject to the provisions of rule 1(3) and of F345rule 46A, a lay person shall be qualified for election for any diocese by the diocesan electors of the diocese if—
b
he is of eighteen years of age on the date of the dissolution of the General Synod F348or, when a casual vacancy is being filled on the date on which the nomination papers are issued in accordance with rule 39(3);
c
his name is at 6.00 a.m. on the date of dissolution of the General Synod F349or, when a casual vacancy is being filled, on the date on which the nomination papers are issued in accordance with rule 39(3) entered on the roll of any parish in the diocese or who at any time within the period of two months beginning one month immediately before that date is declared by the dean of the cathedral church to be a habitual worshipper at that cathedral church.
F3501A
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F3512
F352. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F353F3543
Where a diocese is divided into two or more areas in accordance with rule F35538(2), any person who under this rule is qualified for election for the diocese shall be qualified for election for any such area whether or not the parish on whose roll his name is entered, or the cathedral church at which he is a habitual worshipper, is situated in that area, but no person shall be nominated for more than one such area at the same time.
Electoral Areas
F35638
1
Subject to any division of a diocese under this rule every diocese shall be an electoral area for the purposes of elections to the House of Laity.
2
So far as is consistent with any rule made under the Standing Orders of the General Synod under F357rule 39(8)F358and subject to paragraph (3) of this rule a diocesan synod may, for the purposes of any election, divide a diocese into two or more areas, and apportion the number of members of the House of Laity to be elected for the diocese among such areas, and the election shall be conducted in each area as if such area were a separate diocese. Where a diocese is so divided, a diocesan elector who is a representative of the laity shall vote in the area to which the body by which he was elected belongs, and a diocesan elector who is not a representative of the laity shall vote in such area as the diocesan synod may decide. Any such division shall remain in force until it is revoked by the diocesan synod.
F3593
If a diocesan synod decides to divide the diocese into two or more areas in pursuance of this rule the division shall be made in such manner that the number of members to be elected in any such area will be not less than three.
Conduct of Elections
F36039
1
Subject to any directions by the General Synod or the Presidents thereof, elections to the House of Laity shall be carried out during the three months immediately following any dissolution of the General Synod and shall be so carried out in each each diocese during such period within the said three months as shall be fixed by the archbishops of Canterbury and York.
2
The presiding officer in each diocese or each area of a diocese shall be the registrar of the diocese or a person appointed by him F361with the approval of the registrar of the province, except that, if the said registrar is a candidate in the election, the presiding officer shall be a person appointed by the registrar of the province. The expenses of the elections shall be paid out of diocesan funds.
F3622A
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F3633
On receipt of the names and addresses of the qualified electors from the diocesan electoral registration officer the presiding officer shall ensure that in respect of the election—
i
those persons are sent or given nomination papers; and
ii
only such persons are sent or given voting papers at the address entered against their names in the register of electors.
The presiding officer shall also send nomination papers to any other person who requests them.
F3643
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F3643A
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F3643B
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F3644
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F3645
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F3646
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F3654
Every candidate must be nominated and seconded by diocesan electors qualified to vote in the area in which the candidate is seeking to be elected. All nominations shall be in writing, shall include the year of the candidate’s birth and shall be delivered either by post, by facsimile transmission or in person to the presiding officer of the area, together with evidence of the candidate’s consent to serve, within such period, being a period of not less than twenty-eight days ending on a date specified by the presiding officer, provided that where a nomination paper has been sent by facsimile transmission the name of the candidate shall not appear on the voting paper unless the original nomination paper has been received by the presiding officer within three days of the closing date for nominations.
5
It shall be the duty of the presiding officer—
a
to scrutinise nomination papers as soon as they have been lodged and he shall, without delay, inform the candidate concerned whether the nomination is valid.Where the nomination is invalid the presiding officer shall give his reasons for so ruling and if, by the close of the nomination period, no valid nomination is received, the candidate shall be excluded from the election;
b
to supply free of charge to a duly nominated candidate in the election one copy of the names and addresses of the qualified electors within seven days of receiving his written request.
6
If any of the candidates so request the presiding officer shall despatch to every elector election addresses from those candidates being not more than one sheet of A4 paper. Sufficient copies of the addresses shall be provided by the candidates at their own expense and be delivered to the presiding officer by such date as he shall determine being not less than seven days after the close of nominations. The presiding officer shall be under no obligation to despatch to electors election addresses which are received after the due date or which are not in the prescribed form.
7
It shall be the duty of the presiding officer in any election under these rules to seek to ensure that during the period beginning with the date on which nominations are invited and ending on the last date for the return of voting papers, no papers or other literature except election addresses prepared by the candidates under paragraph 6 of this rule shall be circulated to the electors by him or by or under authority of the diocesan synod or the deanery synod or distributed at a synod meeting which in his opinion are likely to prejudice the election. The rural dean and the lay chairman and secretary of the deanery synod shall also be under a duty to seek to ensure that during the election period no papers or other literature form part of an official circulation or are distributed at a synod meeting which in the opinion of any of them are likely to prejudice the election.
8
Subject to rule 51, if more candidates are nominated for any area than there are seats to be filled, the election shall be conducted by voting papers by the method of the single transferable vote under rules to be made from time to time as provided by the Standing Orders of the General Synod.Every voting paper, which shall include the year of birth of each candidate, shall be marked and signed on the reverse thereof by the elector and shall be returnable to the presiding officer within such period, being a period of not less than twenty-one days after the date on which the voting paper is issued, as that officer may specify, provided that a voting paper sent by facscimile transmission shall not be counted as a valid vote.
9
A candidate or a person nominated by him has the right to be present at the counting of the votes in order to scrutinise the count but shall take no part in it. The presiding officer shall give not less than seven days notice in writing to each candidate of the time and place at which the votes are to be counted.
10
Where within seven days of a count being completed the presiding officer is of the opinion that a recount should take place because of a possible irregularity or inaccuracy in the count, he may, with the concurrence of the registrar of the province, order such a recount and shall give notice in writing to each candidate of the time and place at which the votes are to be recounted.
11
A full return of the result of any election and of the result sheet shall be sent by the presiding officer within four working days of the declaration of the result to every F366in the election, the Clerk to the General Synod and an election scrutineer appointed by the Business Committee of the General Synod. The scrutineer shall have power within ten days of the declaration of the result to order a recount of the voting papers if in his opinion this might be material to the result of the election.
12
The result sheet shall be publicly displayed in the diocesan office in such manner as the bishop may approve and at the General Synod office until the end of the first group of sessions of the new Synod as the F367Clerk to the General Synod may direct.
F368F36913
The presiding officer in each area shall ensure that the valid voting papers received by him for the purposes of any election to the House of Laity are preserved for a period of not less than two years beginning with the date of the election.
F370F37140
1
Rules defining the duties to be undertaken by the presiding officers in connection with elections to the House of Laity shall be prepared by the provincial registrars acting jointly, but no such rules shall have effect unless approved by the F372F373lay members of the Business Committee of the General Synod.
2
A presiding officer shall be entitled to such fees for the performance by him of the duties aforesaid as may be specified in any order for the time being in force made under F374. . . F375the Ecclesiastical Fees Measure 1986; and where with the prior agreement in writing of the bishop’s council and standing committee the presiding officer or any other person performs any other duties in connection with elections to the House of Laity he shall be entitled to such fees as may be specified in the agreement.
F379. . . F380Term of Office of membership of General Synod and other bodies
Sch. 3 rule 41 title omitted (1.1.1995) by virtue of S.I. 1994/3118, para. 38.
Words in Sch. 3 rule 41 title inserted (1.1.1995) by S.I. 1994/3118, para. 38.
F37641
The term of office of elected members of the House of Laity and of members chosen by the lay members of religious communities shall be for the lifetime of the General Synod for which they are elected or chosen, but without prejudice to their acting under Article 3(4) of the Constitution during the period of the dissolution of the General Synod F377. . . F378or to their continuing to beex-officio members of other bodies constituted under these rules during that period.
Ex-officio and Co-opted Members of the House of Laity
F38142
1
The following persons, if they are not in Holy Orders, shall be ex-officio members of the House of Laity;—
a
the Dean of the Arches and Auditor;
F382b
the Vicar-General of the Province of Canterbury;
F383c
the Vicar-General of the Province of York;
F383d
the three Church Estate Commissioners;
F383e
the Chairman of the Central Board of Finance.
F384(f) the Chairman of the Church of England Pensions Board.
F385g
the members of the Archbishops’ Council who are actual communicants
2
The House of Laity shall have power to co-opt persons who are F386. . . F387actual lay communicantsof F388eighteen years or upwards to be members of the House of Laity:
Provided that:—
a
the co-opted members shall not at any time exceed five in number; and,
b
no person shall be qualified to become a co-opted member unless not less than two-thirds of the members of the Standing Committee of the House of Laity shall have first consented to his being co-opted, either at a meeting of the Standing Committee or in writing.
3
Except in regard to their appointment, the ex-officio and co-opted members shall have the same rights and be subject to the same rules and regulations as elected members:
4
Co-opted members shall continue to be members of the House of Laity until the next dissolution of the General Synod, but without prejudice to their acting under Article 3(4) of the Constitution during the period of the dissolution F391or to their continuing to be ex-officio members of other bodies constituted under these rules during that period:
Provided that the House of Laity may, in the case of any co-opted member, fix a shorter period of membership.
5
The House of Laity may make standing orders for regulating the procedure of and incidental to the appointment of co-opted members and otherwise for carrying this rule into effect.
Part VI Appeals and Disqualifications
F394 Enrolment Appeal
Sch. 3 rules 36–36B substituted for rule 36 by S.I. 1989/2094, para. 12
F39243
1
There shall be a right of appeal with regard to—
a
any enrolment, or refusal of enrolment, on the roll of a parish or the registers of lay or clerical electors;
b
the removal of any name, or the refusal to remove any name, from the roll of a parish or the registers of lay or clerical electors.
2
The following persons shall have a right of appeal under this rule—
a
a person who is refused enrolment on the roll or register;
b
a person whose name is removed from the roll or register; or
c
any person whose name is entered on the roll or register who wishes to object to the enrolment or removal of the name of any other person on that roll or register.
3
In an appeal concerning the roll of a parish, notice of the appeal shall be given in writing to the lay chairman of the deanery synod and in an appeal concerning the register of lay or clerical electors notice of the appeal shall be given in writing to the Chairman of the House of Laity or the Chairman of the House of Clergy of the diocesan synod as the case may be.
4
Notice of appeal shall be given not later than fourteen days after the date of F393notification of the enrolment, removal or refusal or not later than fourteen days after the last day of the publication (as provided by rule 2(3)) of a new roll or register or of a list of additions or removals from such roll or register.
5
In any appeal arising under this rule the chairman of the House concerned of the Diocesan Synod or the lay chairman of the deanery synod, as the case may be, shall within fourteen days refer any appeal to the bishop’s council and standing committee of the diocese unless within that period the appellant withdraws the appeal in writing. The said bishop’s council shall appoint three or a greater number being an odd number of their lay members or clerical members as the case may be to consider and decide the appeal.
F414 Election Appeals
Sch. 3 rules 36–36B substituted for rule 36 by S.I. 1989/2094, para. 12
F39544
1
There shall be a right of appeal with regard to—
a
the allowance or disallowance of any vote given or tendered in an election of a churchwarden or in an election under these rules or to a body constituted under or in accordance with these rules;
b
the result of any election of a churchwarden or of any election or choice held or made or purporting to be held or made under these rules, or any election or choice of members of a body constituted under or in accordance with these rules.
2
The following persons shall have a right of appeal under this rule—
a
an elector in the said election;
b
a candidate in the said election; or
3
The provisions of this rule (except paragraph F398(6) of this rule), insofar as they confer a right of appeal by any person referred to in paragraph (2) above against the result of an election and provide for notice of an appeal and the determination thereof, shall apply in relation to an election to the House of Laity of the General Synod by the diocesan electors of the diocese in Europe.
4
F399Subject to paragraph (6) of this rulein the case of an appeal arising out of an election to the House of Laity of the General Synod or the diocesan synod notice of the appeal shall be given in writing to the chairman of the House of Laity of the diocesan synod. In any other case concerning the laity, notice of the appeal shall be given in writing to the lay chairman of the deanery synod. Notices under this paragraph shall be given:
a
in the case of an appeal against the allowance or disallowance of a vote, not later than fourteen days after such allowance or disallowance;
b
in the case of an appeal against the result of an election or choice, not later than fourteen days after F400the day on which the result is declared by the presiding officer.
F4015
The Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the House of Laity of the General Synod shall each have a right of appeal under this rule in accordance with paragraph (1) of this rule in respect of any election to the House of Laity of the General Synod in either of the Provinces of Canterbury and York and he shall give notice in writing of such appeal to the presiding officer concerned not later than three months after the result of the election has been declared by the said presiding officer. Provided that if the office of Chairman or Vice-Chairman is vacant when the result of the election is published the person who last held office shall be deemed to hold that office for the purposes of this rule.
F4026
An error in the electoral roll or the registers of clerical or lay electors shall not be a ground of appeal against the result of any election unless—
a
either it has been determined under this rule that there has been such an error or the question is awaiting determination under rule F40343; and
b
the error would or might be material to the result of the election;
and the allowance or disallowance of a vote shall not be a ground of appeal against the result of an election unless the allowance or disallowance would or might be material to the result of the election.
F4027
An error in the electoral roll of a chaplaincy or in the register of lay electors in the diocese in Europe shall not be a ground of appeal against the result of an election to the House of Laity of the General Synod by the diocesan electors of that diocese unless—
a
either it has been determined under the rule which applies in that diocese and corresponds with rule F40443 that there has been such an error or the question is awaiting determination under that rule; and
b
the error would or might be material to the result of that election;
and the allowance or disallowance of a vote shall not be a ground of appeal against the result of such an election unless the allowance or disallowance would or might be material to the result of the election.
F4058
An appeal arising out of an election or choice of members of the House of Laity of the General Synod shall, within the period of fourteen days of the appeal being lodged, be referred to the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of that House unless, within that period, the appellant withdraws the appeal in writing. Subject to paragraph (9) of this rule, the Chairman and Vice-Chairman acting jointly shall appoint three persons (one of whom shall be a qualified lawyer) from an appeal panel consisting of the Dean of the Arches and Auditor, the Vicar General of the Province of Canterbury, the Vicar General of the Province of York and twelve members of the House of Laity of the General Synod nominated by the Appointments Committee of the Church of England to consider and decide the appeal.
9
a
Where the Chairman or Vice-Chairman of the House of Laity has given notice of appeal under paragraph (5) above, or where he comes from the diocese to which the appeal relates he shall take no part in the appointing of the three persons to hear the appeal and he shall not be appointed to hear the appeal.
b
Where a member of the appeal panel comes from the diocese to which the appeal relates, or might otherwise have a benefit from the outcome of the election, he shall not be appointed to hear the appeal.
F40210
In any appeal arising under this rule except an appeal arising out of an election to the House of Laity of the General Synod, the Chairman of the House of Laity of the diocesan synod or the lay chairman of the deanery synod, as the case may be, shall refer any appeal to the bishop’s council and standing committee of the diocese F406who shall appoint three or a greater number, being an odd number, of their lay members to consider and decide the appeal..
F40211
In any appeal arising under this rule to the House of Clergy of the diocesan synod the Chairman of the House of Clergy of the said synod shall refer any appeal to the bishop’s council and standing committee of the diocese who shall appoint three or a greater number, being an odd number, of their clerical members to consider and decide the appeal.
F40712
Where an appeal is pending under this rule in respect of an election to any synod any person who was declared elected in accordance with rule 33 but whose election is or may be affected by the appeal shall for all purposes be deemed to be a member of that Synod until the appeal is heard and disposed of.
F408F40945
For the purpose of the consideration and decision of any appeal under rules F41043 and 44, the persons appointed to consider and decide the appeal—
a
shall consider all the relevant circumstances and shall be entitled to inspect all documents and papers relating to the subject matter of the appeal and be furnished with all information respecting the same which they may require;
b
shall give to the parties to the appeal an opportunity of appearing before them in person or through a legal or other representative;
c
shall have power at any time to extend the time within which a notice of appeal is given;
d
shall, unless by consent of the persons appointed the appeal is withdrawn, determine the matter at issue and, in an election appeal shall determine whether—
i
the person or persons whose election is complained of was or were duly elected;
ii
the facts complained of amount to a minor infringement of the rules which did not affect the outcome of the election in which event the appeal shall be dismissed; or
F411iii
the facts complained of amount to a procedural irregularity in the conduct of the election, but that in all the relevant circumstances the appeal shall be dismissed; or
F412iv
the election was void. The determination so certified shall be final as to the matters at issue and, in any case in which there has been no valid election, the members shall direct a fresh election to be held and shall give such directions in connection therewith as they may think necessary;
e
shall have power at any time to consent to the withdrawal of the appeal by an appellant subject to a determination in respect of costs in accordance with paragraph F413(f) of this rule;
f
shall have power to direct that any party to an appeal shall be entitled to payment of costs by any other party or by the diocesan board of finance and to direct that a party shall be responsible for the reasonable expenses of the persons appointed to hear the appeal; save that in so far as the same have not been paid by any other person, the diocesan board of finance shall pay all expenses of the persons appointed to hear the appeal provided that the said board shall first be satisfied that they are reasonable in amount.
Vacation of Seat by Member ceasing to be Qualified for Election
F41546
F4161
Where—
a
any lay member of a deanery synod, being a parochial representative or a representative under rule F41727, ceases to be entered on the roll of the parish by which he was elected or, as the case may be, to be declared under the said rule to be a habitual worshipper at the cathedral church;
b
any member of a diocesan synod elected by the house of clergy of a deanery synod ceases to be qualified for election by that house;
c
any lay member of a diocesan synod elected by the house of laity of a deanery synod ceases to have the qualification of entry on the roll of any parish in that deanery or (in appropriate cases) of being declared a habitual worshipper at the cathedral church of the diocese under rule F41727;
d
any elected member of the House of Laity of the General Synod ceases to have the qualification of entry on the roll of any parish in the diocese for which he was elected or of being declared a habitual worshipper as aforesaid;
F418e
any elected member of the House of Laity of the General Synod takes any paid office or employment as provided by rule F41946A(c);
F420f
F4262
If the name of a person to whom paragraph 1(a) of this rule applies is entered on the roll of any parish in the diocese other than that of the parish F427referred to in that paragraph or if he is declared under rule F42727 to be a habitual worshipper at the cathedral church of the diocese, his seat shall not be vacated under this rule if, before the vacancy occurs, the parochial church council so resolve.
3
If a person to whom paragraph (1)(b) of this rule applies continues to work or reside in the diocese, his seat shall not be vacated under this rule if, before the vacancy occurs, the clerical members of the standing committee of the deanery synod so resolve.
4
If the name of a person to whom paragraph (1)(c) of this rule applies is entered on the roll of any parish in the diocese other than that of the parish F428referred to in that paragraph or if he is declared under rule F42827 to be a habitual worshipper at the cathedral church of the diocese, his seat shall not be vacated under this rule if, before the vacancy occurs, the lay members of the standing committee of the deanery synod so resolve.
F4295
If F430the lay members of the bishop’s council and standing committee has determined F430before the vacancy occurs that a person to whom paragraph (1)(d) of this rule applies F431is able and willing to continue to discharge to their satisfaction the duties of a member of the House of Laity elected for that diocese,, F432neither his seat as a member of that House nor his seat as a lay member of the diocesan synod shall be vacated under this rule.
F4336
This rule shall apply in relation to a member of the House of Laity of the General Synod elected for the diocese in Europe with the substitution for the words in paragraph (1)(d) from “roll” to “aforesaid” of the words “electoral roll of any chaplaincy in that diocese”.
F43446A
a
A person shall be disqualified from being nominated, chosen or elected or from serving as a churchwarden, a member of a parochial church council, a district church council or any synod under these rules if he is disqualified from being a charity trustee under section 72(1) of the Charities Act 1993 and the disqualification is not for the time being subject to a general waiver by the Charity Commissioners under subsection (4) of that section or to a waiver by them under that subsection in respect of all ecclesiastical charities established for purposes relating to the parish concerned.
In this paragraph “ecclesiastical charity" has the same meaning as that assigned to that expression in the Local Government Act 1894;
b
A person shall also be disqualified from being nominated, chosen or elected or from serving as a churchwarden or member of a parochial church council if he has been so disqualified from holding office under section 10(6) of the Incumbents (Vacation of Benefices) Measure 1997;
c
A person shall be disqualified from being nominated for election or from continuing to serve as a member of the General Synod if he holds or takes any paid office or employment appointment to which is or may be made or confirmed by the General Synod, the Convocations, the Archbishops’ Council, the Central Board of Finance, the Church Commissioners for England (except that such disqualification shall not apply to any Commissioner so appointed in receipt of a salary or other emoluments), the Church of England Pensions Board or the Corporation of the Church House.
Ex-Officio Membership not to Disqualify for Election
F43547
No . . . F436 person shall be disqualified from being elected or chosen a member of any body under these rules by the fact that he is also a member ex-officio of that body; and no . . . F436 person shall be deemed to vacate his seat as such an elected or chosen member of any body by reason only of the fact that subsequently to his election or choice he has become a member of that body ex-officio.
Part VII Supplementary and Interpretation
Casual Vacancies
F43748
F438F4391
Casual vacancies among the parochial representatives elected to the parochial church council or deanery synod shall be filled as soon as practicable after the vacancy has occurred. Where the annual parochial church meeting is not due to be held within the next two months following the occurrence of the vacancy, a vacancy among the parochial representatives elected to the parochial church council may be filled, and a vacancy among the parochial representatives elected to the deanery synod shall be filled, by the election by the parochial church council of a person qualified to be so elected. Returns of parochial representatives of the laity elected to fill one or more casual vacancies on the deanery synod shall be sent by the secretary of the parochial church council to the diocesan electoral registration officer and to the Secretary of the deanery synod.
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 F440and elections to fill such casual vacancies shall be conducted in the same manner as ordinary elections. F441The qualifying date for diocesan electors shall be determined in accordance with rule 35(5).
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.
F4425
a
Subject to the provisions of this rule, an election to fill a casual vacancy in the House of Laity shall be completed, so far as possible, within six months from the occurrence of the vacancy and, in the event of the vacancy not being filled within that period, the Chairman of the House of Laity of the General Synod may give directions to the presiding officer as to the date by which the vacancy must be filled.
b
Where a casual vacancy occurs in the House of Laity of the General Synod and the period for holding a general election to that House is due to begin within twelve months of the vacancy, the vacancy shall not be filled unless the lay members of the bishop’s council and standing committee, acting in accordance with any directions of the diocesan synod, otherwise direct.
c
Where a casual vacancy in the House of Laity of the General Synod occurs within the period of two years—
i
beginning with 1st August in the year of the last general election to that House, or
ii
beginning with the date of the declaration of the result of an election to fill a casual vacancy where the election was conducted by voting papers in the same manner as a general election;
. . . F443the election to fill the casual vacancy shall be conducted by those papers in accordance with paragraph (6) of this rule..
F4446
a
Where the election is to be conducted by the voting papers of a general election, the number of persons to be elected shall be the same as in the general election, provided that no continuing candidate elected during the original count shall be excluded.
b
Where the election is to be conducted by the voting papers of an election other than the general election, the number of persons to be elected shall be calculated by adding together the number of persons previously elected using these voting papers who are still continuing as elected persons, and the number of casual vacancies to be filled, provided that no continuing candidate elected during the original count shall be excluded.
c
The presiding officer for the area in question shall ask every candidate not elected in the previous election who is still qualified for election for the diocese in question if he consents to serve.
d
If the number of candidates is the same as the places to be filled and he or they so consent or only one of those candidates so consents he shall be elected to fill the casual vacancy.
e
If more candidates than places to be filled so consent the votes validly cast in the preceding election shall be recounted from the beginning in accordance with the rules mentioned in rule 39(8), the presiding officer having first withdrawn those candidates who do not consent or are no longer eligible for election.
F4457
An election to fill a casual vacancy in either house of the diocesan synod shall be completed F446so far as possible within six months from the occurrence of the vacancy, provided that where a casual vacancy occurs in either house and the period for holding a general election to that house is due to begin within nine months of the vacancy, the vacancy shall not be filled unless the members of the bishop’s council and standing committee who are from the same house otherwise direct.
F4478
The preceding provisions of this rule shall apply, so far as applicable and with the necessary modifications, to the choosing of persons under these rules as it applies to the election of persons thereunder, and shall also apply to the election or choosing of members of any body constituted under or in accordance with these rules.
F4479
Any person elected to fill a casual vacancy shall hold office only for the unexpired portion of the term of office of the person in whose place he is elected or chosen.
F44810
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F449F45011
In calculating the period of six months referred to in paragraphs (5) and (7) of this rule—
a
where during the course of an election irregularities are found which are of such a kind that the presiding officer is of the opinion that he should declare the proceedings null and void, he shall so declare and shall notify all electors of the declaration and shall cause a fresh election to be held which shall be completed within the period of six months from the date of the notice to the electors of the fresh election;
b
where in an appeal a determination is made that there has been no valid election and the presiding officer is directed to hold a fresh election, the period of six months shall run from the date of such direction.
F45012
In this rule the expression “casual vacancy” includes the case where insufficient candidates have been nominated to fill the places available.
Resignations
F451F45249
Any person holding any office under these rules or being a member of any body constituted by or under these rules may resign his office or membership by notice in writing signed by him and sent or given to the secretary of the body of which he is an officer or member, as the case may be; and his resignation shall take effect on the date specified in the notice or, if no date is so specified, on the receipt of the notice by the secretary of that body.
Notices
F45350
Any notice or other document required or authorised to be sent or given under these rules shall be deemed to have been duly sent or given if sent through the post addressed to the person to whom it is required or authorised to be sent or given at that person’s last known address.
F456 Constraints in Elections
Sch. 3 rule 41A inserted by S.I. 1989/2094, para. 15
F45451
1
If in any election conducted in accordance with these rules it is a requirement that a given number or not less than a given number of places of those elected shall be filled by candidates of a named category, the presiding officer shall follow the procedure set out in paragraphs (2) to (4) of this rule.
2
The presiding officer shall examine the nomination papers to ascertain if the number of candidates nominated in any named category is less than or equal to the required given number.
3
If the number of candidates nominated in any named category is less than or equal to the required given number, those candidates shall be declared to be elected and their names shall not be included on the voting paper and thereafter the requirement shall be disregarded and the election shall proceed with the number of seats to be filled being reduced by the number of persons declared elected.
4
The presiding officer shall circulate with the voting papers a separate notice giving the names of any who have been declared elected in accordance with paragraph F455(3) of this rule.
Revocation and Variation of Rules, etc.
F45752
Subject to the provisions of these rules any power conferred by these rules to make, approve, frame, pass or adopt any rule, order, resolution, determination, decision, appointment or scheme, or to give any consent or settle any constitution, or to prescribe the manner of doing anything, shall be construed as including a power, exercisable in a like manner and subject to the like conditions, to revoke or vary any such rule, order, resolution, determination, decision, appointment, scheme, consent or constitution, or anything so prescribed.
Special Provisions
F45853
1
In the carrying out of these rules in any diocese the bishop of such diocese shall have power:—
a
to make provision for any matter not herein provided for;
b
to appoint a person to do any act in respect of which there has been any neglect or default on the part of any person or body charged with any duty under these rules;
c
so far as may be necessary for the purpose of giving effect to the intention of these rules, to extend or alter the time for holding any meeting or election or to modify the procedure laid down by these rules in connection therewith F459provided that such power shall not be exercised in relation to the conduct of the elections referred to in Rules F46039 and 48 of these Rules;
2
The powers of the bishop under this rule shall not enable him:—
a
to validate anything that was invalid at the time when it was done;
b
to give any direction that is contrary to any resolution of the General Synod.
3
No proceedings of any body constituted under these rules shall be invalidated by any vacancy in the membership of that body or by any defect in the qualification, election or appointment of any members thereof.
4
No proceedings shall be invalidated by the use of a form which differs from that prescribed by these rules if the form which has in fact been used is to a substantially similar effect. Any question as to whether the form which has been used is to a substantially similar effect shall be determined by the bishop.
5
In the case of an omission in any parish to prepare or maintain a roll or form or maintain a council or to hold the annual meeting, the rural dean upon such omission being brought to his notice shall ascertain and report to the bishop the cause thereof.
F4646
During a vacancy in an archbishopric or where by reason of illness an archbishop is unable to exercise his functions under these rules or to appoint a commissary under paragraph (10) of this rule the functions of an archbishop under these rules shall be exercisable by the other archbishop.
7
During a vacancy in a diocesan bishopric the functions of a diocesan bishop under these rules, including his functions as F465president of the diocesan synod, shall be exercisable by such person, being a person in episcopal orders, as the archbishop of the province may appoint.
8
Where by reason of illness a diocesan bishop is unable to exercise his functions under these rules or to appoint a commissary under paragraph (10) of this rule, the archbishop of the province may, if he thinks it necessary or expedient to do so, appoint a person in episcopal orders to exercise the functions mentioned in paragraph (7) of this rule during the period of the bishop’s illness.
9
If a person appointed in pursuance of paragraph (7) or (8) of this rule becomes unable by reason of illness to act under the appointment, the archbishop may revoke the appointment and make a fresh one.
10
An archbishop or diocesan bishop may appoint a commissary and delegate to him all or any of the functions of the archbishop or bishop under these rules, but if a bishop proposes to delegate to a commissary his functions as F465president of the diocesan synod he shall appoint a person in episcopal orders as commissary.
11
If a person appointed in pursuance of paragraph (7) or (8) of this rule, or a person to whom the functions of a bishop as F466president of the diocesan synod are delegated under paragraph F467 (10) of this rule, is a member of the house of clergy of the diocesan synod, his membership of that house shall be suspended during the period for which the appointment or delegation has effect..
F46812
The preceding provisions of this rule shall have effect in the diocese in Europe as if the references to such of these rules as apply in that diocese, and subject to paragraph (6) of the rule, the powers of an archbishop under this rule shall, as respects that diocese, be exercisable by the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Meaning of Minister, Parish and other words and phrases
F46954
1
F471“actual communicant” means a person who has received Communion according to the use of the church of England or of a Church in communion with the Church of England at least three times during the twelve months preceding the date of his election or appointment being a person whose name is on the roll of a parish and is either—
- a
confirmed or ready and desirous of being confirmed; or
- b
receiving the Holy Communion in accordance with the provisions of Canon B 15A paragraph 1(b)
- a
F472’auditor’ shall mean a person eligible as the auditor of a charity under section 43(2) of the Charities Act 1993 F473;
’independent examiner’ shall mean a person as defined in Section 43(3)(a) of the Charities Act 1993;
“the Measure” means the Synodical Government Measure 1969;
“minister” means:—
- a
the incumbent of a parish;
- b
a curate licensed to the charge of a parish or a minister acting as priest-in-charge of a parish in respect of which rights of presentation are suspended; and
- c
a vicar in a team ministry to the extent that the duties of a minister are assigned to him by a F474. . . F475pastoral scheme or orderor his license from the bishop;
“parish” means:—
- a
an ecclesiastical parish; and
- b
a district which is constituted a “conventional district” for the cure of souls . . . F476.
- c
F477in relation to the Diocese in Europe, a chaplaincy which is constituted as part of the diocese.
- d
F573...
“public worship” means public worship according to the rites and ceremonies of the Church of England.
2
Any reference in these rules to the laity shall be construed as a reference to persons other than Clerks in Holy Orders, and the expression “lay” in these rules shall be construed accordingly.
F4783
Where a person has executed a deed of relinquishment under the M5Clerical Disabilities Act 1870 and the deed has been enrolled in the High Court and recorded in the registry of a diocese under that Act then, unless and until the vacation of the enrolment of the deed is recorded in such a registry under the M6Clerical Disabilities Act 1870 (Amendment) Measure 1934, that person shall be deemed not to be a clerk in Holy Orders for the purpose of paragraph F479(2) of this rule or of any other provision of these rules which refers to such a clerk.
F4804
References in these rules to the cathedral church of the diocese shall include, in the case of the dioceses of London and Oxford, references to Westminster Abbey and St. George’s Chapel, Windsor, respectively.
F4805
F4806
In these rules words importing residence include residence of a regular nature but do not include residence of a casual nature.
F4807
Any reference herein to “these rules” shall be construed as including a reference to Appendices hereto.
F4828
a
In these rules any matters or regulations to be prescribed shall be prescribed by the F483Business Committee of the General Synod of the General Synod in accordance with the following procedure.
b
Any matters or regulations made under this rule shall be laid before the General Synod and shall not come into force until they have been approved by the General Synod, whether with or without amendment.
c
Where the F483Business Committee of the General Synod determines that matters or regulations made under this rule do not need to be debated by the General Synod then, unless—
i
notice is given by a member of the General Synod in accordance with Standing Orders that he wishes the business to be debated, or
ii
notice is so given by any such member that he wishes to move an amendment to the business,
the matters or regulations shall for the purposes of sub-paragraph (b) above be deemed to have been approved by the General Synod without amendment.
APPENDIX I
section 1
F484F485APPLICATION FOR ENROLMENT ON CHURCH ELECTORAL ROLE
SECTION 2 FORM OF NOTICE OF REVISION OF CHURCH ELECTORAL ROLL
Words inserted by S.I. 1989/2094, para. 17(1)
Sch. 3 Appendix I s. 2: Paragraph beginning “Under the Church Representation Rules” omitted (1.1.1995) by vitue of S.I. 1994/3118, para. 53.
Sch. 3 Appendix I s. 2: Paragraph beginning “Under the Church Representation Rules” inserted (1.1.1995) by S.I. 1994/3118, para. 53.
Words repealed by S.I. 1973/1865, para. 32(b)
Words substituted by S.I. 1989/2094, para. 17(2)
Word inserted by S.I. 1973/1865, para. 32(c)
Note inserted by S.I. 1984/1039, para. 29(2)
Diocese of
Parish of
*NOTE—The Revision must be completed not less than 15 days or more than 28 days before the Annual Parochial Church Meeting. | Notice is hereby given that the Church Electoral Roll of the above parish will be revised by the Parochial Church Council,* beginning on the day of 19 and ending on , the day of 19 After such Revision, a copy of the Roll will forthwith be exhibited F486for not less than 14 days on, or near to, the principal door of the Parish Church for inspection. |
F487. . .
F488Under the Church Representation Rules any persons are entitled to have their names entered on the roll, if they—
(i) are baptized and aged 16 or over;
(ii) have signed a form of application for enrolment;
and either
(iii) are members of the Church of England or of any Church in communion with the Church of England being resident in the parish or (not being resident in the parish) having habitually attended public worship in the parish during the six months prior to the application for enrolment; or;
(iv) are members in good standing of a Church (not in communion with the Church of England) which subscribes to the doctrine of the Holy Trinity declaring themselves to be also members of the Church of England and having habitually attended public worship in the parish during the period of six months prior to enrolment.
. . . F489
F490Forms of application for enrolment can be obtained from the undersigned. In order to be entitled to attend the annual parochial church meeting and to take part in its proceedings, forms of application for enrolment must be returned by the date shown above for the ending of the revision of the Church Electoral Roll by the Parochial Church Council.
Any error discovered in the Roll should at once be reported to the undersigned.
*Not less than 14 days notice must be given. | Dated this*........................ day of.................... 19..... |
F491ChurchElectoral Roll Officer | |
Address |
F492In this Notice “parish” means an ecclesiastical parish.
SECTION 3 FORM OF NOTICE OF PREPARATION OF NEW ROLL
Words repealed by S.I. 1989/2094, para. 17(3)
Words substituted by S.I. 1989/2094, para. 17(4)
Sch. 3 Appendix I s. 3: Paragraph beginning “Under the Church Representation Rules” omitted (1.1.1995) by virtue of S.I. 1994/3118, para. 53.
Sch. 3 Appendix I s. 3: Paragraph beginning “Under the Church Representation Rules” inserted (1.1.1995) by S.I. 1994/3118, para. 53.
Words repealed by S.I. 1973/1865, para. 32(b)
Word inserted by S.I. 1973/1865, para. 32(c)
Diocese of
Parish of
*NOTE—The new roll must be completed not less than 15 days or more than 28 days before the Annual Parochial Church Meeting. | Notice is hereby given that under the Church Representation Rules a new Church Electoral Roll is being prepared. All persons who wish to have their names entered on the new Roll, whether their names are entered on the present Roll or not, are requested to apply for enrolment . . . F494 not later than |
The new roll will come into operation on | |
F495The new Roll shall be published for not less than 14 days. Forms of application for enrolment can be obtained from the undersigned. In order to be entitled to attend the annual parochial church meeting and to take part in its proceedings, forms of application for enrolment must be returned by the earlier of the dates given above. |
F496. . .
F497Under the Church Representation Rules any persons are entitled to have their names entered on the roll, if they—
(i) are baptized and aged 16 or over;
(ii) have signed a form of application for enrolment;
and either
(iii) are members of the Church of England or of any Church in communion with the Church of England being resident in the parish or (not being resident in the parish) having habitually attended public worship in the parish during the six months prior to the application for enrolment; or;
(iv) are members in good standing of a Church (not in communion with the Church of England) which subscribes to the doctrine of the Holy Trinity declaring themselves to be also members of the Church of England and having habitually attended public worship in the parish during the period of six months prior to enrolment.
. . . F498
Any error discovered on the Roll should at once be reported to the undersigned.
Dated this.......................day of 19.....
F499ChurchElectoral Roll Officer
Address
F493In this Notice “parish” means an ecclesiastical parish.
SECTION 4 NOTICE OF ANNUAL PAROCHIAL CHURCH MEETING
Entries transferred by S.I. 1973/1865, para. 33(2)
Sch. 3 Appendix I s. 4: Words omitted (1.1.1995) by virtue of S.I. 1994/3118, para. 54.
Sch. 3 Appendix I s. 4: Words “For the appointment of sidesmen and the Auditor” expressed to be omitted (1.5.1997) by virtue of S.I. 1995/3243, para. 10.
Sch. 3 Appendix I s. 4: Words inserted (1.1.1995) by virtue of S.I. 1995/3243, para. 10.
Sch. 3 Appendix I s. 4 para. (a) omitted (1.1.1995) by virtue of S.I. 1994/3118, para. 55.
Sch. 3 Appendix I s. 4 para. (a) inserted (1.1.1995) by S.I. 1994/3118, para. 55.
Sch. 3 Appendix I s. 4 paras. (b)-(e) omitted (1.5.1996) by virtue of S.I. 1995/3243, para. 11.
Sch. 3 Appendix I s. 4 paras. (b)(c) inserted (1.5.1996) by S.I. 1995/3243, para. 11.
Sch. 3 Appendix I s. 4 paras. (d)(e) (originally (f)(g)) renumbered (1.5.1996) of S.I. 1995/3243, para. 11.
Word in Sch. 3 Appendix 1 s. 4 inserted (1.1.1995) by S.I. 1994/3118, para. 55
Sch. 3 Appendix 1 s. 4: paragraph beginning "All persons" renumbered (1.1.1995) as Note (1) by S.I. 1994/3118, para. 55
Para. repealed by S.I. 1973/1865, para. 33(3)
Sch. 3 Appendix I s. 4: Paragraphs beginning “Subject to” omitted (1.1.1995) by virtue of S.I. 1994/3118, para. 56.
Sch. 3 Appendix I s. 4: Paragraph beginning “Any person” omitted (1.1.1995) by virtue of S.I. 1994/3118, para. 56.
Sch. 3 Appendix 1 s. 4 Notes (2)(3) inserted (1.1.1995) by S.I. 1994/3118, para. 56
Words in Sch. 3 Appendix 1 s. 4 Note (2)(a) added (1.1.2005) by The Church Representation Rules (Amendment) Resolution 2004 (S.I. 2004/1889), paras. 17(a), 19(3)(b)
Sch. 3 Appendix 1 s. 4 Note (2)(c) substituted (1.1.2005) by The Church Representation Rules (Amendment) Resolution 2004 (S.I. 2004/1889), paras. 17(b), 19(3)(b)
Sch. 3 Appendix 1 s. 4 Note (2)(d) inserted (1.1.2000) by The Church Representation Rules (Amendment) Resolution 1999 (S.I. 1999/2112), paras. 21(a), 24(3)
Sch. 3 Appendix 1 s. 4 Note (3) inserted by (1.1.2000) by The Church Representation Rules (Amendment) Resolution 1999 (S.I. 1999/2112), paras. 21(b), 24(3)
Sch. 3 Appendix 1 s. 4 Notes (3), (4) renumbered as Notes (4), (5) (1.1.2000) by The Church Representation Rules (Amendment) Resolution 1999 (S.I. 1999/2112), paras. 21(b), 24(3)
Sch. 3 Appendix 1 s. 4 Note inserted by S.I. 1989/2094, para. 17(5) and renumbered (1.1.1995) as Note (4) by S.I. 1994/3118, para. 56
Parish of
The Annual Parochial Church Meeting will be held in
on day of
at
For the election of Parochial representatives of the laity as follows:—
F501*To the Deanery Synod representatives.
F501To the Parochial Church Council representatives.
F502. . . F503. . . F504For the appointment of Sidesmen and the Independent Examiner or Auditor.
For the consideration of:—
F505(a). . .
F506(a) A report on changes in the Roll since the last annual parochial church meeting.
F507(b). . .
F507(c). . .
F507(d). . .
F507(e). . .
F508(b) an Annual Report on the proceedings of the parochial church council and the activities of the parish generally;
F508(c) The Financial Statements of the Council for the year ending on the 31st December immediately preceding the meeting audited or independently examined.
F509(d) A Report upon the fabric, goods and ornaments of the church or churches of the parish;
F509(e) A Report on the proceedings of the Deanery Synod; and other matters of parochial or general Church interest.
F510Notes
F511(1) All persons whose names are entered upon the Church Electoral Roll of the parish (and such persons only) are entitled to vote at the election of parochial representatives of the laity.
F512 . . .
F513. . .
F513. . .
F514. . .
F515(2) Subject to the provisions of rule 12(2)(c), a person is qualified to be a parochial representative of the laity if—
(a) his name is entered on the church electoral roll of the parish F583and, unless he is under the age of eighteen years at the date of the election, has been so entered for at least the preceding period of six months;
(b) he is an actual communicant which means that he has received Communion according to the use of the Church of England or of a Church in communion with the Church of England at least three times during the twelve months preceding the date of the election; and
F584(c) he is of sixteen years or upwards;
F516(d) he is not disqualified as referred to in paragraph 3 of these Notes.
F517(3) (a) A person shall be disqualified from being nominated, chosen or elected or from serving as a churchwarden, a member of a parochial church council, a district church council or any synod under these rules if he is disqualified from being a charity trustee under section 72(1) of the Charities Act 1993 and the disqualification is not for the time being subject to a general waiver by the Charity Commissioners under subsection (4) of that section or to a waiver by them under that subsection in respect of all ecclesiastical charities established for purposes relating to the parish concerned.
In this paragraph “ecclesiastical charity" has the same meaning as that assigned to that expression in the Local Government Act 1894;
(b) A person shall also be disqualified from being nominated, chosen or elected from serving as a churchwarden or member of a parochial church council if he has been so disqualified from holding office under section 10(6) of the Incumbent (Vacation of Benefice) Measure 1997.
F518(4) Any person whose name is on the electoral roll may be appointed as a sidesman.
F519F518(5)** A scheme is in operation in this parish which provides that any person entitled to vote in the elections of parochial representatives of the laity to the parochial church council or to the deanery synod or to both that council and that synod may make application on the appropriate form to the undersigned for a postal vote. The completed form must be received before the commencement of the Annual Parochial Church Meeting.
** This paragraph should be deleted if no scheme for postal voting is in operation in the parish.
Signed
**Minister of the parish
**Include where applicable.
**Or “Vice-Chairman of the Parochial Church Council” as the case may be (see rule 6(3) of the Church Representation Rules).
F500In this Notice “parish” means an ecclesiastical parish.
F520SECTION 4A APPLICATION FOR A POSTAL VOTE
Section 4A inserted by S.I. 1989/2094, para. 17(6)
Parish of
I (Full Christian name and surname)
of (Full postal address)
declare that my name is entered on the church electoral roll of the above parish and I hereby make application for a postal vote in any elections to which postal voting applies to be held at the forthcoming annual parochial church meeting for the parish. The voting paper should be sent or delivered to me at the above address OR *at the following address
Dated ............................19
Signed
*delete as appropriate
SECTION 5 NOTICE OF ELECTION TO HOUSE OF CLERGY OR HOUSE OF LAITY OF DIOCESAN SYNOD
Diocese of
Deanery of
1
An election of......... members of the House of Clergy/Laity of the Diocesan Synod will be held in the above Deanery on
2
F5233
The election will be decided by simple majority/ F524the single transferable vote.
F5254
Nominations must be received by no later than 12 o’clock (noon) on
Date
Presiding Officer.
SECTION 6 FORM OF NOMINATION TO THE HOUSE OF CLERGY OR HOUSE OF LAITY OF THE DIOCESAN SYNOD
Words substituted by S.I. 1973/1865, para. 35
Words repealed by S.I. 1989/2094, para. 17(7)
Sch. 3 Appendix I s. 6: Column headed “Year for Birth” inserted (1.1.1995) by S.I. 1994/3118, para. 58.
Sch. 3 Appendix 1 s. 6: words inserted (1.1.2000) by The Church Representation Rules (Amendment) Resolution 1999 (S.I. 1999/2112), paras. 22(a), 24(3)
Para. inserted by S.I. 1973/1865, para. 35
Words in Sch. 3 Appendix I s. 6 omitted (1.1.1995) by virtue of S.I. 1994/3118, para. 56.
Sch. 3 Appendix 1 s. 6: words inserted (1.1.2000) by The Church Representation Rules (Amendment) Resolution 1999 (S.I. 1999/2112), paras. 22(b), 24(3)
Diocese of
Deanery of
Election of members of the House of Clergy/Laity of the Diocesan Synod
We the undersigned, being qualified electors, hereby nominate the following person as a candidate at the election in the above Deanery.
Proposer’s signature
Proposer’s full name
Address
Seconder’s signature
Seconder’s full name
Address
I, the above named .................... F529declare that I am not subject to any disqualification referred to in the Notes on this form and hereby signify my willingness to serve as a member of the House of Clergy/Laity of the Diocesan Synod if elected.
Candidate’s signature
Note: This nomination must be sent to
so as to be received no later than 12 noon on
F530All members, other than co-opted members F531. . ., of the House of Clergy/Laity of the deanery synod are qualified electors
F532Disqualifications from being nominated (rule 46A)
A person is disqualified from being nominated for membership of any Synod if he is disqualified from being a charity trustee under section 72(1) of the Charities Act 1993 and the disqualification is not for the time being subject to a general waiver by the Charity Commissioners under subsection (4) of that section or to a waiver by them under that subsection in respect of all ecclesiastical charities established for purposes relating to the parish concerned.
In this paragraph “ecclesiastical charity" has the same meaning as that assigned to that expression in the Local Government Act 1894.
SECTION 7 FORM OF VOTING PAPER FOR ELECTIONS TO THE HOUSE OF CLERGY OR THE HOUSE OF LAITY OF THE DIOCESAN SYNOD
Sch. 3 Appendix 1 s. 7 text amended (1.1.2005) by The Church Representation Rules (Amendment) Resolution 2004 (S.I. 2004/1889), paras. 17(d), 19(3)(b)
Words in Sch. 3 Appendix I s. 7 inserted (1.1.1995) by S.I. 1994/3118, para. 59.
Words repealed by S.I. 1989/2094, para. 17(8)
Words substituted by S.I. 1984/1039, para. 29(4)
Words inserted by S.I. 1980/178, para. 18(5)
Diocesan Synod
Election of members of the House of Clergy/Laity
Deanery of
members to be elected.
F585Mark your vote in this column | Candidates’ names, addresses F533and year of birth . . . F534 |
|---|
F535Guidance to Voters
1. This voting paper must be signed F535and the full name written on the reverse.
2. You have as many votes as there are members to be elected.
3. You may not give more than one vote to any one candidate.
4. You vote by placing an “X” opposite the name(s) of the candidate(s) of your choice.
5. If you inadvertently spoil your voting paper you may return it to the Presiding Officer who will give you another paper.
6. This voting paper duly F535completed on the reverse thereof must be delivered (by post or otherwise) to
so as to arrive by no later than
F536(To be printed on back of form)
Signature of Voter
Full name
Address
F538SECTION 8 FORM OF VOTING PAPER FOR ELECTION TO THE HOUSE OF CLERGY OR THE HOUSE OF LAITY OF THE DIOCESAN SYNOD
Form inserted by S.I. 1980/178, para. 18(6), Sch.
Sch. 3 Appendix 1 s. 8 text amended (1.1.2005) by The Church Representation Rules (Amendment) Resolution 2004 (S.I. 2004/1889), paras. 17(d), 19(3)(b)
Words in Sch. 3 Appendix I s. 8 inserted (1.1.1995) by S.I. 1994/3118, para. 59.
Words repealed by S.I. 1989/2094, para. 17(8)
Diocesan Synod
Election of members of the House of Clergy/Laity
Deanery of
members to be elected.
F537Guidance to Voters
1. This voting paper must be signed and the full name written on the reverse.
2. Use your single transferable vote by entering “1” against your first preference, and if desired, “2” against your second preference, “3” against your third preference, and so on as far as you wish. The sequence of your preferences is crucial. NO CROSS should be used.
3. You should continue to express preferences for as long as you are able to place successive candidates in order. A later preference is considered only if an earlier preference either has a surplus above the quota (the minimum number required to guarantee election) or has been excluded because of insufficient support.
4. The numbering of your preferences must be consecutive and given to different candidates. Remember that your making a second or subsequent preference cannot affect the chances of any earlier preference.
5. If you inadvertently spoil your voting paper you may return it to the Presiding Officer who will give you another paper.
6. The voting paper duly completed on the reverse thereof must be delivered (by post or otherwise) to
so as to arrive by no later than
(to be printed on back of form) | Signature of Voter |
Full name | |
Address |
APPENDIX II
general provisions relating to parochial church councils
1 Officers of the council.
a
The minister of the parish shall be chairman of the parochial church council (hereinafter referred to as “the council”).
b
A lay member of the council shall be elected as vice-chairman of the council.
c
F543d
i
The Council may appoint one of their number to act as secretary of the Council. Failing such appointment the office of secretary shall be discharged by some other fit person who shall not thereby become a member of the Council, provided that such person may be co-opted to the Council in accordance with the provisions of rule 14(1)(h);
ii
where a person other than a member of the Council is appointed to act as secretary, that person may be paid such remuneration (if any) as the council deems appropriate provided that such person shall not be eligible to be a member of the council;
F544iii
The secretary shall have charge of all documents relating to the current business of the council except that, unless he is the electoral roll officer; he shall not have charge of the roll. He shall be responsible for keeping the minutes, shall record all resolutions passed by the council and shall keep the secretary of the diocesan synod and deanery synod informed as to his name and address.
F545e
i
The council may appoint one or more of their number to act as treasurer solely or jointly. Failing such appointment, the office of treasurer shall be discharged either—
by such of the churchwardens as are members of the council or, if there is only one such churchwarden, by that churchwarden solely; or
by some other fit person who shall not thereby become a member of the council, provided that such person may be co-opted to the council in accordance with the provisions of rule 14(1)(h).
ii
where a person other than a member of the Council is appointed to act as treasurer that person may be paid such remuneration (if any) as the Council deems appropriate provided that such person shall not be eligible to be a member of the Council.
f
The council shall appoint an electoral roll officer, who may but need not be a member of the council and may be the secretary, and if he is not a member may pay to him such remuneration as it shall think fit. He shall have charge of the roll.
F546g
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F547g
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F548g
If an independent examiner or auditor to the Council is not appointed by the annual meeting or if an independent examiner or auditor appointed by the annual meeting is unable or unwilling to act, an independent examiner or auditor (who shall not be a member of the council) shall be appointed by the council for a term of office ending at the close of the next annual meeting. The remuneration (if any) of the independent examiner or auditor shall be paid by the council.
F549h
For the purposes of this paragraph, where a special cure of souls in respect of a parish has been assigned to a vicar in a team ministry, or where there has been no such assignment but a special responsibility for pastoral care in respect of the parish has been assigned to a member of the team under section 20(8A) of the Pastoral Measure 1983, that vicar or that member, as the case may be, shall be deemed to be the minister unless incapacitated by absence or illness or any other cause, in which case the rector in the team ministry shall be deemed to be the minister.
2 Meetings of Council.
The council shall hold not less than four meetings in each year. Meetings shall be convened by the chairman and if not more than four meetings are held they shall be at quarterly intervals so far as possible.
3 Power to call meetings.
The chairman may at any time convene a meeting of the council. If he refuse or neglect to do so within seven days after a requisition for that purpose signed by not less than one-third of the members of the council has been presented to him those members may forthwith convene a meeting.
4 Notices relating to meetings.
a
Except as provided in paragraph 8 of this Appendix, at least ten clear days before any meeting of the council notice thereof specifying the time and place of the intended meeting and signed by or on behalf of the chairman of the council or the persons convening the meeting shall be posted at or near the principal door of every church, or building licensed for public worship in the parish.
b
Not less than seven days before the meeting a notice thereof specifying the time and place of the meeting signed by or on behalf of the secretary shall be F550posted or delivered to every member of the council F587or, if the member has authorised the use of an electronic mail address, to that address. Such notice shall contain the agenda of the meeting including any motion or other business proposed by any member of the council of which notice has been received by the secretary.
F551The notice required by this sub-paragraph shall not be required for a council meeting immediately following the annual parochial church meeting being a council meeting which has been called solely for the purpose of appointing or electing any officers of the Council or the members of the standing committee thereof provided that the notice required by sub-paragraph (a) hereof has been given.
F552c
If for some good and sufficient reason the chairman, vice-chairman and secretary , or any two of them, consider that a convened meeting should be postponed, noitce shall be given to every member of the council specifying a reconvened time and place within fourteen days of the postponed meeting.
5 Chairman at meetings.
Subject to the provisions of F553rules F55422 and 23 the chair at a meeting of the council shall be taken:—
F574a
by the chairman of the council if he is present;
b
if the chairman is not present, by the clerk in Holy Orders, licensed to or with permission to officiate in the parish duly authorised by the bishop with the clerk’s agreement, following a joint application by the minister of the parish and the council or, if the benefice is vacant, by the council for the purposes of this sub-paragraph;
c
if neither the chairman of the council nor the clerk mentioned in sub-paragraph (b) above is present, by the vice-chairman of the council:
Provided that at any such meeting the chairman F555presiding shall, if he thinks it expedient to do so or the meeting so resolves, vacate the chair either generally or for the purposes of any business in which he has a personal interest or for any other particular business.
Should F575none of the persons mentioned above be available to take the chair for any meeting or for any particular item on the agenda during a meeting then a chairman shall be chosen by those members present from among their number and the person so chosen shall preside for that meeting or for that particular item.
6 Quorum and agenda.
No business shall be transacted at any meeting of the council unless at least one-third of the members are present thereat and no business which is not specified in the agenda shall be transacted at any meeting except by the consent of three-quarters of the members present at the meeting.
7 Order of business.
The business of a meeting of the council shall be transacted in the order set forth in the agenda unless the council by resolution otherwise determine.
8 Short Notice for emergency meetings.
In case of sudden emergency or other special circumstances requiring immediate action by the council a meeting may be convened by the chairman of the council at not less than three F556cleardays’ notice in writing to the members of the council but the quorum for the transaction of any business at such meetings shall be a majority of the then existing members of the council and no business shall be transacted at such meeting except as is specified in the notice convening the meeting.
9 Place of meetings.
The meeting of the council shall be held at such place as the council may direct or in the absence of such direction as the chairman may direct.
10 Vote of majority to decide.
The business of the Council shall be decided by a majority of the members present and voting thereon.
11 Casting vote.
In the case of an equal division of votes the chairman of the meeting shall have a second or casting vote.
12 Minutes.
a
The names of the members present at any meeting of the council shall be recorded in the minutes.
b
If one-fifth of the members present and voting on any resolution so require, the minutes shall record the names of the members voting for and against that resolution.
c
Any member of the council shall be entitled to require that the minutes shall contain a record of the manner in which his vote was cast on any resolution.
F557d
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F558d
Minutes of meetings of the council shall be available to all members of the Council.The members shall also have access to past minutes which the Chairman and Vice-Chairman jointly determine to be relevant to current Council business.
F559e
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F560e
The independent examiner or auditor of the council’s financial statements, the bishop, the archdeacon and any person authorised by one of them in writing shall have access to the approved minutes of council meetings without the authority of the council.
F558f
Other persons whose names are on the church electoral roll may have access to the approved minutes of Council meetings held after the annual parochial church meeting in 1995 except any minutes deemed by the Council to be confidential.
F558g
Other persons may have access to the minutes of Council meetings only in accordance with a specific authorisation of the Council provided that, where minutes have been deposited in the diocesan record office pursuant to the Parochial Registers and Records Measure 1978, the authorisation of the council may be dispensed with.
13 Adjournments.
Any meeting of the council may adjourn its proceedings to such time and place as may be determined at such meeting.
14 Standing committee.
a
The council shall have a standing committee consisting of not less than five persons. The minister and such of the churchwardens as are members of the council shall be ex-officio members of the standing committee, and the council shall by resolution appoint at least two other members of the standing committee from among its own members and may remove any person so appointed. F561Unless removed from office, the appointed members shall hold office from the date of their appointment until the conclusion of the next annual meeting of the parish.
b
The standing committee shall have power to transact the business of the council between the meetings thereof subject to any directions given by the council.
15 Other committees.
The council may appoint other committees for the purpose of the various branches of church work in the parish and may include therein persons who are not members of the council. The minister shall be a member of all committees ex-officio.
F56216
An independent examiner or auditor of the Council’s financial statements shall—
a
have a right of access with respect to books, documents or other records (however kept) which relate to the said financial statements;
b
have a right to require information and explanations from past or present treasurers or members of the council and, in case of default, the independent examiner or auditor may apply to the Charity Commissioners for an order for directions pursuant to section 44(2) of the Charities Act 1993 or any statutory modification thereof for the time being in force.
F56317 Validity of proceedings.
No proceedings of the council shall be invalidated by any vacancy in the membership of the council or by any defect in the qualification or election of any member thereof.
F56418 Interpretation.
Any question arising on the interpretation of this Appendix shall be referred to the bishop of the diocese and any decision given by him or by any person appointed by him on his behalf shall be final.
Sch. 3 modified by Cathedrals Measure 1963 (No. 2), s. 12(3) (as substituted (1.6.1992) by Church of England (Miscellaneous Provisions) Measure 1992 (No. 1), s. 17(1), Sch. 3 para. 10;Instrument dated 27.5.1992 made by Archbishops of Canterbury and York.
Sch. 3 modified (30.6.1999) by 1999 No. 1, ss. 12(4), 38(2)(3) (with ss. 33, 37, 38(5)(6))