Clergy Discipline (Amendment) Measure 2013

1 Misconduct

(1) Section 8 of the Clergy Discipline Measure 2003 (in this Measure referred to as “the Measure”) is amended as follows.

(2) In subsection (3), at the beginning there are inserted the words “Subject to subsection (4) below,”, after the word “unbecoming” there are inserted the words “or inappropriate” and immediately before the word “bishop” there is inserted the word “archbishop,”.

(3) After subsection (3) there are added the following subsections—

“(4) Notwithstanding subsection (3) above, it shall be unbecoming or inappropriate conduct for any archbishop, bishop, priest or deacon to be a member of, or to promote, or express or solicit support for, a political party or other organisation whose constitution, policies, objectives, activities or public statements are declared in writing by the House of Bishops to be incompatible with the teaching of the Church of England in relation to the equality of persons or groups of different races.

(5) It shall be the duty of the House of Bishops to take appropriate steps to publish any declaration made under subsection (4) above.

(6) Without prejudice to subsection (5) above, the House of Bishops shall lay any declaration made under subsection (4) above before the General Synod and, if 25 or more members of the Synod give notice in accordance with its Standing Orders that they wish the declaration to be debated, it shall come into force on the date on which the declaration is approved by the General Synod.

(7) Any declaration made under subsection (4) above which is not debated by the General Synod in accordance with subsection (6) above shall come into force at the expiry of the period required by the Standing Orders for the giving of the notice under subsection (6).

(8) Any declaration made under subsection (4) above may be revoked by a resolution of the House of Bishops and subsections (5), (6) and (7) above shall apply to any such resolution as they apply to a declaration under subsection (4).

(9) Any declaration made by the House of Bishops under subsection (4) above shall require the assent of a majority of not less than two-thirds of the members of the House present and voting.

(10) In subsection (4) above “races” shall be construed in accordance with section 9 of the Equality Act 2010.”.

(4) This section shall not have effect in relation to any misconduct which occurred before the date of the coming into force of this section.