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Synodical Government Measure 1969

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  1. Introductory Text

  2. 1. Vesting of functions and authority of Convocations in a General Synod.

  3. 2. Renaming and reconstitution of the Church Assembly as the General Synod.

  4. 3. Functions under the Prayer Book Measures and the Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction Measure.

  5. 4. Constitution and functions of Diocesan Synods.

  6. 5. Constitution and functions of Deanery Synods.

  7. 6. Functions of Parochial Church Councils.

  8. 7. Church Representation Rules.

  9. 8. Transitional Provisions.

  10. 9. Short title, interpretation and extent.

  11. SCHEDULES

    1. SCHEDULE 1

      Form of Proposed Canon

      1. Of the General Synod and the Convocations

        1. 1.On such day as may be appointed by the Archbishops...

        2. 2.Notwithstanding such vesting as aforesaid, the said Convocation may continue...

        3. 3.The said Convocation may, by their Standing Orders or otherwise,...

        4. 4.The vesting of rights and privileges of the said Convocation...

    2. SCHEDULE 2

      Constitution of the General Synod

      1. 1.The General Synod shall consist of the Convocations of Canterbury...

      2. 2.The House of Bishops and the House of Clergy shall...

      3. 3.(1) The General Synod shall meet in session at least...

      4. 4.(1) The Archbishops of Canterbury and York shall be joint...

      5. 5.(1) A motion for the final approval of any Measure...

      6. 6.The functions of the General Synod shall be as follows:—...

      7. 7.(1) A provision touching doctrinal formulae or the services or...

      8. 8.(1) A Measure or Canon providing for permanent changes in...

      9. 9.(1) Standing Orders of the General Synod may provide for...

      10. 10.(1) The General Synod shall appoint a Legislative Committee from...

      11. 11.(1) The General Synod may make, amend and revoke Standing...

      12. 12.(1) References to final approval shall, in relation to a...

      13. 13.Any functions exercisable under this Constitution by the Archbishops of...

    3. SCHEDULE 3

      Church Representation Rules

      1. PART 1 Church electoral roll

        1. Compilation of the roll

          1. 1.(1) In every parish there must be a church electoral...

        2. Additions to the roll

          1. 2.(1) The name of a person who is entitled to...

        3. Revision of the roll: notice

          1. 3.(1) The roll of a parish must be revised annually,...

        4. Revision of the roll: preparation

          1. 4.(1) On each revision of the roll of a parish—...

        5. Publication of revised roll

          1. 5.(1) After the completion of a revision of the roll...

        6. Preparation of new roll: notice

          1. 6.(1) Notice that a new roll for a parish is...

        7. Preparation of new roll: process

          1. 7.(1) The PCC of each parish must take reasonable steps...

        8. Publication of new roll

          1. 8.(1) After the completion of a new roll under Rule...

        9. Boundary changes

          1. 9.(1) On an alteration of the boundaries of parishes, the...

        10. Notification of number on roll

          1. 10.The chair, vice-chair, secretary or electoral roll officer of a...

      2. PART 2 Parish governance

        1. Model Rules

          1. 11.The Rules in Part 9 apply to each parish.

        2. Scheme for amendment

          1. 12.(1) The annual parochial church meeting or a special parochial...

        3. Procedure for making scheme

          1. 13.(1) A scheme under Rule 12 is valid only if...

      3. PART 3 Deanery synods

        1. Composition

          1. 14.A deanery synod consists of— (a) a house of clergy,...

        2. House of clergy

          1. 15.(1) The members of the house of clergy of a...

        3. House of laity

          1. 16.(1) The members of the house of laity of a...

        4. Direction to join a different deanery synod

          1. 17.(1) A clerk in Holy Orders, deaconess or lay worker...

        5. Co-option

          1. 18.(1) The house of clergy of a deanery synod may...

        6. Election of parochial representatives

          1. 19.(1) The parochial representatives of the laity on a deanery...

        7. List of members to be given to diocesan electoral registration officer

          1. 20.(1) The secretary of each deanery synod must, after the...

        8. Number of members

          1. 21.(1) A diocesan synod must exercise its powers under this...

        9. Scheme for variation of membership

          1. 22.(1) A diocesan synod may make a scheme to vary...

        10. Scheme for representation for cathedrals and royal peculiars

          1. 23.(1) In the case of the cathedral church of each...

        11. Scheme for representation for mission initiatives

          1. 24.(1) Where a bishop's mission order is in force, a...

        12. Schemes: approval

          1. 25.(1) A copy of a proposed scheme under Rule 22,...

        13. Procedure

          1. 26.(1) A diocesan synod must make rules for the deanery...

        14. Diocesan electoral registration officer

          1. 27.(1) In each diocese, a diocesan electoral registration officer is...

        15. Mission initiative roll

          1. 27A.(1) Where a direction is given under Rule 24(1), the...

        16. Additions to and revision of mission initiative roll

          1. 27B.(1) The name of a person who is eligible to...

        17. Preparation of new mission initiative roll

          1. 27C.(1) The leader of a mission initiative must, no later...

        18. Notification of number on mission initiative roll

          1. 27D.The leader of a mission initiative must, no later than...

        19. Casual vacancies

          1. 28.(1) A casual vacancy among the parochial representatives elected to...

      4. PART 4 Diocesan synods

        1. Membership

          1. Composition

            1. 29.(1) A diocesan synod consists of— (a) a house of...

          2. House of bishops

            1. 30.The members of the house of bishops of a diocesan...

          3. House of clergy

            1. 31.(1) The ex officio members of the house of clergy...

          4. House of laity

            1. 32.(1) The ex officio members of the house of laity...

          5. Power of bishop to nominate members

            1. 33.(1) The bishop of a diocese may nominate up to...

          6. Restrictions on membership

            1. 34.(1) A person may not be a member of more...

        2. Election of members

          1. Timing

            1. 35.(1) Every three years beginning with 2021, the house of...

          2. Eligibility

            1. 36.(1) A clerk in Holy Orders who is a member...

          3. Numbers

            1. 37.(1) A diocesan synod must, no later than 31 December...

          4. Presiding officers

            1. 38.(1) The bishop of a diocese must appoint the presiding...

          5. Qualified electors

            1. 39.(1) A person is a qualified elector in an election...

          6. Nomination

            1. 40.(1) A candidate for election to the house of clergy...

          7. Requirement for election

            1. 41.(1) If the number of candidates for an election to...

          8. Conduct of election

            1. 42.(1) Where an election to a diocesan synod is to...

          9. Scheme for variation of membership

            1. 43.(1) A diocesan synod may make a scheme to vary...

          10. Procedure

            1. 44.(1) A diocesan synod must make standing orders.

          11. Casual vacancies

            1. 45.(1) A casual vacancy among the members of a diocesan...

      5. PART 5 House of Laity of the General Synod

        1. Membership

          1. 46.(1) The members of the House of Laity of the...

        2. Ex officio members

          1. 47.(1) Each of the following, if not in Holy Orders,...

        3. Co-option

          1. 48.(1) The House of Laity may co-opt a lay person...

        4. Numbers

          1. 49.(1) The total number of the members of the House...

        5. Qualifications for election

          1. 50.(1) A lay person is qualified for election for a...

        6. Electoral areas

          1. 51.(1) Each diocese is an electoral area for the purposes...

        7. Timing

          1. 52.(1) The elections to the House of Laity are to...

        8. Presiding officer

          1. 53.(1) For an election to the House of Laity, the...

        9. Entitlement to vote

          1. 54.(1) A person is entitled to vote in an election...

        10. Nomination

          1. 55.(1) A candidate for election in a diocese to the...

        11. Election rules

          1. 56.(1) The General Synod must make rules relating to the...

      6. PART 6 Appeals

        1. Enrolment appeals

          1. 57.(1) A person who is refused enrolment on the roll...

          2. 57A.Enrolment appeals: referral and representations etc.

        2. Election appeals

          1. 58.(1) An appeal may be made against a determination that...

          2. 58A.Election appeals

        3. Election appeals: power to make rules for House of Laity of General Synod

          1. 59.(1) The General Synod must make rules providing for—

          2. 59A.Election appeals: appeal procedures

        4. Referral of appeal to bishop's council and standing committee

          1. 60.(1) Notice of a summary election appeal—

          2. 60A.Summary election appeal: referral to relevant judge, etc.

          3. 60B.Summary election appeal: parties

          4. 60C.Summary election appeal: determination

        5. Determination of appeal

          1. 61.Full election appeal: notice of appeal

          2. 61A.Full election appeal: referral to bishop’s council and standing committee

          3. 61B.Enrolment appeal or full election appeal: parties

          4. 61C.Enrolment appeal or full election appeal: appointment of panel

          5. 61D.Enrolment appeal or full election appeal: preliminary assessment

          6. 61E.Enrolment appeal or full election appeal: appeal out of time

          7. 61F.Enrolment appeal or full election appeal: consideration of matters at issue

          8. 61G.Enrolment appeal: determination

          9. 61H.Full election appeal: determination

          10. 61I.Appeals: general

      7. PART 7 Disqualification etc.

        1. Disqualifications

          1. 62.(1) A person is disqualified from being nominated or elected...

        2. Vacation of seat on deanery synod

          1. 63.(1) The seat of a clerical member of a deanery...

        3. Vacation of seat on diocesan synod

          1. 64.(1) The seat of a clerical member of a diocesan...

        4. Vacation of seat in House of Laity of General Synod

          1. 65.(1) The seat of an elected member of the House...

        5. Ex officio membership

          1. 66.(1) A person is not disqualified from being elected or...

        6. Resignation

          1. 67.(1) A person holding office under these Rules or who...

        7. Safeguarding cases: disqualification and vacation of seat

          1. 68.(1) If a person is included in a barred list,...

        8. Safeguarding cases: suspension

          1. 69.(1) This Rule applies where a member of a PCC...

        9. Safeguarding cases: appeal against suspension

          1. 70.(1) A person who is given a notice of suspension...

        10. Safeguarding cases: interpretation

          1. 71.(1) In this Part of these Rules— “ barred list...

      8. PART 8 Miscellaneous

        1. Personal data handling

          1. 72.A person who holds personal data about one or more...

        2. Casual vacancies

          1. 73.(1) An election to fill a casual vacancy under these...

        3. Irregularities

          1. 74.(1) Where irregularities are found during an election such that...

        4. Constraints in elections

          1. 75.(1) Where there is a requirement in an election conducted...

        5. Communicating by email or post

          1. 76.(1) If a person has provided an email address—

        6. Implied power to vary or revoke

          1. 77.(1) A power conferred by these Rules to make, approve...

        7. Power of bishop to make supplementary provision etc.

          1. 78.(1) In carrying out the provisions of these Rules in...

        8. Delegation by archbishop or bishop

          1. 79.(1) An archbishop or any other bishop of a diocese...

        9. Validity of proceedings, etc.

          1. 80.(1) The proceedings of a body constituted under these Rules...

        10. Power of Business Committee to specify matters

          1. 81.(1) A power conferred by these Rules on the Business...

        11. Interpretation: references to parishes and other areas

          1. 82.(1) In these Rules, “ parish ” means—

        12. Interpretation: references to Church offices, structures etc.

          1. 83.(1) In these Rules, “ minister ”, in relation to...

        13. Interpretation: minor definitions

          1. 84.(1) In these Rules— “ Business Committee ” means the...

      9. PART 9 Parish governance: Model Rules

        1. Section A: Annual parochial church meeting

          1. The annual meeting

            1. Timing and attendance

              1. M1.(1) In every parish, the annual parochial church meeting (referred...

            2. Convening meeting

              1. M2.(1) The minister must convene the annual meeting by displaying...

            3. New parish: special meeting

              1. M3.(1) Where the parish is a new parish created by...

          2. Proceedings and elections

            1. Chair

              1. M4.(1) The chair of the annual meeting is—

            2. Business: reports etc.

              1. M5.(1) The PCC must provide the annual meeting with each...

            3. Business: elections and appointments

              1. M6.(1) The annual meeting must, in the manner provided by...

            4. Business: miscellaneous

              1. M7.(1) Any person who is entitled to attend the annual...

            5. Qualifications of persons to be elected

              1. M8.(1) A person is qualified for election as a parochial...

            6. Conduct of an election

              1. M9.(1) This Rule applies in the case of every election...

            7. Adoption of STV system

              1. M10.(1) The annual meeting may resolve that the election of...

            8. Postal voting

              1. M11.(1) The annual meeting may resolve that a person entitled...

            9. Result of an election

              1. M12.(1) The result of an election held at the annual...

          3. Special and extraordinary meetings

            1. Special meeting

              1. M13.(1) The minister may convene a special parochial church meeting...

            2. Extraordinary meeting

              1. M14.(1) The archdeacon whose archdeaconry includes the parish must, subject...

        2. Section B: Parochial church council

          1. Membership

            1. Members

              1. M15.(1) The members of the PCC are—

            2. Term of office: representatives of the laity

              1. M16.(1) A person who is a member of the PCC...

            3. Term of office: other cases

              1. M17.(1) A person who is a member of the PCC...

            4. Casual vacancies

              1. M18.(1) A casual vacancy among the parochial representatives elected to...

          2. Officers

            1. Chair and vice-chair

              1. M19.(1) The minister is the chair of the PCC.

            2. Secretary and treasurer

              1. M20.(1) The PCC may appoint one of its members as...

            3. Electoral roll officer

              1. M21.(1) The PCC must appoint a person as electoral roll...

            4. Independent examiner or auditor

              1. M22.(1) If the annual meeting does not appoint an independent...

          3. Business

            1. Meetings: time and place

              1. M23.(1) Each year, the PCC must hold a sufficient number...

            2. Meetings: attendance

              1. M24.(1) A person is entitled to attend a meeting of...

            3. Meetings: notice

              1. M25.(1) At least ten clear days before a meeting of...

            4. Meetings: chair

              1. M26.(1) The chair at a meeting of the PCC (other...

            5. Meetings: procedure

              1. M27.(1) The quorum for a meeting of the PCC is...

            6. Meetings: minutes

              1. M28.(1) The minutes of each meeting of the PCC must...

            7. Business by correspondence

              1. M29.(1) The chair of the PCC may, if he or...

            8. Audit of financial statements

              1. M30.(1) The independent examiner or auditor of the PCC's financial...

            9. Standing committee

              1. M31.(1) The PCC has a standing committee constituted in accordance...

            10. Other committees

              1. M32.(1) The PCC may appoint committees for the various branches...

            11. Extraordinary meetings

              1. M33.(1) Where a written representation is made for the purposes...

          4. Schemes

            1. Parish with more than one place of worship: election of representatives of laity

              1. M34.(1) If there are in the parish two or more...

            2. Parish with more than one place of worship: district church council

              1. M35.(1) If there are in the parish two or more...

            3. District church council: disqualification

              1. M36.(1) The provisions of these Rules on disqualification from being...

        3. Section C: Joint councils

          1. Power to make scheme

            1. M37.(1) A meeting of the parish and meetings of one...

          2. Status, property and functions of joint council

            1. M38.(1) A joint council established by a scheme under Rule...

          3. Officers, business etc. of joint council

            1. M39.(1) A scheme under Rule M37 for the establishment of...

          4. Parish ceasing to be connected or being dissolved

            1. M40.(1) This Rule applies where a parish to which a...

          5. Disqualification

            1. M41.(1) The provisions of these Rules on disqualification from being...

          6. Procedure for making scheme

            1. M42.(1) A scheme under Rule M37 is valid only if...

      10. PART 10 Forms

      11. PART 11 Index

        1. Each of the following expressions is defined or otherwise glossed...

    4. SCHEDULE 4

      Transitional Provisions

      1. Transfer of Functions from Convocations

        1. 1.(1) The transfer of functions from the Convocations of Canterbury...

      2. Reconstitution of Church Assembly

        1. 2.(1) The reconstitution of the Church Assembly as the General...

      3. Changes affecting Diocesan and Ruridecanal Conferences

        1. 3.(1) The dissolution of a diocesan conference and the transfer...

      4. Commencement of Church Representation Rules

        1. 4.(1) The repeal of the Rules for the Representation of...

        2. 5.(1) The first elections of parochial representatives of the laity...

      5. Power to Remove Transitional Difficulties

        1. 6.(1) If any difficulty arises on or in connection with...

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