http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukcm/1977/1/section/18Incumbents (Vacation of Benefices) Measure 1977A Measure passed by the General Synod of the Church of England to make provision, including provision for the vacation of the benefice, where there has been a serious breakdown of the pastoral relationship between an incumbent and his parishioners or where an incumbent is unable by reason of age or infirmity to discharge adequately the duties attaching to his benefice, and for purposes connected therewith.1977-12-01texttext/xmlenStatute Law Database2021-07-07Expert Participation2021-04-29 Part IV181There shall be a committee, to be known as the Vacation of Benefices Rule Committee, which shall consist of a chairman and four other members appointed by the Standing Committee of the General Synod.2The Vacation of Benefices Rule Committee shall have power to make rules for carrying into effect the provisions of this Measure and, in particular, for—aregulating the procedure and practice (including the mode and burden of proof and admissibility of evidence) of provincial tribunals in connection with enquiries under this Measure;bobtaining medical evidence in connection with enquiries under this Measure.3Any three members of the Vacation of Benefices Rule Committee may exercise all the powers of the committee.4Any rules made under this section shall be laid before the General Synod and shall not come into force until approved by the General Synod, whether with or without amendment.5Where the Standing Committee determines that the rules do not need to be debated by the General Synod then, unless—anotice is given by a member of the General Synod in accordance with its Standing Orders that he wishes the rules to be debated, orbnotice is so given by any such member that he wishes to move an amendment to the rules and at least twenty-five other members of the General Synod indicate when the amendment is called that they wish the amendment to be moved,the rules shall for the purposes of subsection (4) above be deemed to have been approved by the General Synod without amendment.6The Statutory Instruments Act 1946 shall apply to any rules approved by the General Synod under subsection (4) above as if they were statutory instruments and were made when so approved, and as if this Measure were an Act providing that any such rules should be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.S. 18 substituted (1.9.1994) by 1993 Measure No. 1, s. 9 (with s. 15); Instrument dated 25.7.1994 made by Archbishops of Canterbury and YorkS. 18(1): functions transferred (1.1.1999) by S.I. 1998/1715, arts. 1(4), 2, Sch. 1; Instrument dated 14.10.1998 made by Archbishops of Canterbury and YorkS. 18(5): functions transferred (1.1.1999) by S.I. 1998/1715, arts. 1(4), 2, Sch. 1; Instrument dated 14.10.1998 made by Archbishops of Canterbury and YorkS. 18: By virtue of 1995 No. 2, s. 14 it is provided (1.9.1995) that, in para. (b) of subsection 5 the words from“and at least”to the end of that para. shall be omitted; Instrument dated 1.9.1995 made by Archbishops of Canterbury and York