Synodical Government Measure 1969

[F1 The annual meeting E

Textual Amendments

F1 Sch. 3 substituted (1.1.2020) by Church Representation and Ministers Measure 2019 (No. 1), s. 1(3), Sch. 1 (with Sch. 3); S.I. 2019/1460, art. 2

Timing and attendance E

M1 (1) In every parish, the annual parochial church meeting (referred to in this Part of these Rules as “the annual meeting”) must be held in the period which begins with 1 January and ends with 31 May. E

(2) The following persons are entitled to attend the annual meeting and take part in its proceedings—

(a) every lay person whose name is on the roll of the parish,

(b) every clerk in Holy Orders to whom paragraph (3) applies,

(c) where the parish is in the area of a benefice for which there is a team ministry, every member of the team,

(d) where the parish is in the area of a group ministry, every incumbent and priest in charge in the group ministry, and

(e) where the parish is in the area of a group ministry which includes the area of a benefice for which there is a team ministry, every vicar in the team ministry.

(3) This paragraph applies to a clerk in Holy Orders if he or she—

(a) is beneficed in or licensed to the parish or to another parish in the area of the benefice to which the parish belongs,

(b) is resident in the parish and is not beneficed in or licensed to any other parish,

(c) does not come within sub-paragraph (a) or (b) but is declared by the PCC with the agreement of the minister to be a habitual worshipper in the parish, or

(d) is a co-opted member of the PCC under Rule M15(1)(k).

(4) A declaration under paragraph (3)(c) has effect until the earlier of—

(a) the conclusion of the annual meeting in the year in which a new roll is prepared under Rule 7, and

(b) the clerk in question ceasing to be a habitual worshipper in the parish.

Convening meeting E

M2 (1) The minister must convene the annual meeting by displaying a notice in Form M1— E

(a) in the case of the parish church or, where there is more than one church in the parish, each of those churches, on or near the principal door, and

(b) in the case of each building in the parish licensed for public worship, in a location readily visible to members of the congregation.

(2) The period for which a notice under paragraph (1) is on display must include the last two Sundays before the day of the meeting.

(3) The annual meeting must be held at a place in the parish unless the PCC decides otherwise.

(4) In a case where the minister is absent or incapacitated by illness or for some other reason or where there is nobody who is the minister within the meaning of these Rules (see Rule 83(1)), the minister's function under this Rule is to be carried out by—

(a) the vice-chair of the PCC, or

(b) if there is not a vice-chair or the vice-chair is unable or unwilling to act, the secretary of the PCC or some other person appointed by the PCC.

New parish: special meeting E

M3 (1) Where the parish is a new parish created by a pastoral scheme, the minister of the new parish or, in the absence of a minister, a person appointed by the bishop of the diocese must, as soon as possible after the scheme comes into operation, convene a special parochial church meeting (referred to as “the special meeting”). E

(2) The special meeting is to be treated for the purposes of these Rules as the annual meeting for the year in which it is held.

(3) Subject to that, the provisions of these Rules relating to the convening or conduct of the annual meeting apply to the special meeting.]