Section 26.
1(1)A Diocesan Board of Patronage (hereinafter referred to as “the Board”) shall consist of—U.K.
(a)the bishop of the diocese;
(b)three clerks in Holy Orders beneficed in or licensed to any parish in the diocese elected by the house of clergy of the diocesan synod by the method of the single transferable vote;
(c)five lay persons elected by the house of laity of that synod by the method of the single transferable vote; and
(d)for the purpose of transacting any business relating to a particular benefice, the archdeacon in whose archdeaconry, and both chairmen of the deanery synod of the deanery in which, that benefice is.
(2)An archdeacon shall not be qualified to be elected under sub-paragraph (1)(b).
2U.K.The bishop of the diocese may nominate any suffragan bishop or assistant bishop holding office in the diocese to act in his place as a member of the Board on such occasions as he may determine.
3U.K.The Board shall elect one of its members other than the bishop to be the chairman of the Board.
4(1)The election of members of the Board shall take place every six years in the same year as, but after, the election of members of the diocesan synod, and the elected members of the Board shall hold office for a term of six years beginning with 1st January next following their election.U.K.
(2)Where a casual vacancy occurs among the elected members of the Board, then—
(a)if the vacancy is among the members elected under paragraph 1(1)(b) above, the vacancy shall be filled by the election by the elected clerical members of the Bishop’s Council of a person qualified to be elected under that paragraph,
(b)if the vacancy is among the members elected under paragraph 1(1)(c) above, the vacancy shall be filled by the election by the elected lay members of the Bishop’s Council of a lay person.
(3)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.
(4)An elected member of the Board, if qualified for election, shall be eligible for re-election on the termination of any period of office.
5(1)The quorum of the Board shall be six.U.K.
(2)Subject to sub-paragraph (1), the Board may act notwithstanding any vacancy in its membership.
6U.K.A clerical member of the Board shall not take part in any proceedings of the Board connected with the exercise of a right of presentation in favour of himself.
7U.K.Subject to the preceding provisions and to any directions as to procedure given by the diocesan synod, the Board shall have power to regulate its own procedure.
8U.K.No election shall be held under this Schedule until after the election of members of the diocesan synod to be held in the year 1988 and any member of a diocesan board of patronage who holds office on the date on which this Schedule comes into force shall, subject to paragraph 4(2) and (3) above, continue in office until the 31st December 1988.