United Kingdom Legislation

1.

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

— (1) It shall be lawful for the Convocations of Canterbury and York to submit for Her Majesty ’ s Licence and Assent Canons in the form set out in Schedule 1 to this Measure providing — and, if Her Majesty is pleased to grant Her Licence and Assent, it shall be lawful for the said Convocations to make, promulge and execute the said Canons, which shall have full force and effect. (2) The functions so vested shall be exercisable in accordance with the Constitution of the General Synod set out in Schedule 2 to this Measure and shall be exercisable for the Church of England as a whole, instead of being exercisable provincially, but without prejudice to the making of different provision, where appropriate, for the two provinces. (3) The provisions of sections 1 and 3 of the Submission of the M1 Clergy Act 1533 —

(a)

requiring the Queen ’ s Assent and Licence to the making, promulging and executing of Canons by the said Convocations, and

(b)

providing that no Canons shall be made or put in execution by the said Convocations which are contrary or repugnant to the Royal prerogative or the customs, laws or statutes of this realm,

shall apply in like manner to the making, promulging and executing of Canons by the General Synod. (4) The dissolution and calling together of the said Convocations in pursuance of the Royal Writ (or otherwise under the M2 Church of England Convocations Act 1966) shall have the effect, in accordance with the said Constitution, of dissolving and bringing into being the General Synod. (5) The functions vested in the General Synod by the said Canons —

(a)

shall include the power of the said Convocations as declared by the Convocations of the M3 Clergy Measure 1920, to make, promulge and execute Canons for the amendment of the Constitution of the Lower Houses thereof;

(b)

shall not include the functions of the said Convocations under the Measures mentioned in section 3 of this Measure, which shall be exercisable in accordance with that section.

2.

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

— (1) As from the appointed day, the Church Assembly shall be renamed the General Synod of the Church of England (and may be referred to as “ the General Synod ” ) and shall be reconstituted in accordance with the Constitution of the General Synod set out in Schedule 2 to this Measure. (2) References in sections 3 and 4 of the M4 Church of England Assembly (Powers) Act 1919 and in other Measures, enactments and instruments to the Church Assembly and to its Constitution and Legislative Committee shall, as from the appointed day, be construed as references or, where the contexts so require, as including references to the General Synod and its Constitution and the Legislative Committee appointed thereunder, respectively, and any definitions of the said expressions and of “ the National Assembly of the Church of England ” in section 1 of the said Act and in the M5 Interpretation Measure 1925 shall cease to apply or be limited to the said contexts.

3.

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

— (1) — (3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F1 (4) The powers exercisable by the said Convocations with the concurrence of the House of Laity under the Prayer Book (Versions of the M6 Bible) Measure 1965 shall be exercisable by the General Synod. (5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F1 (6) The powers exercisable by the said Convocations or the Houses thereof under the M7 Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction Measure 1963 shall continue to be exercisable by them for their respective provinces. (7) Section 1(2) of this Measure shall apply to the functions exercisable by the General Synod under this section, and accordingly the exercise of those functions shall be subject, in particular, to Article 7 of the Constitution of the General Synod. (8) This section shall have effect as from the appointed day,

4.

Constitution and functions of Diocesan Synods.

— (1) Diocesan synods shall be constituted for all dioceses in accordance with Part IV of the Church Representation Rules contained in Schedule 3 to this Measure and the transitional provisions contained in Schedule 4. (2) The functions of the diocesan synod shall be —

(a)

to consider matters concerning the Church of England and to make provision for such matters in relation to their diocese, and to consider and express their opinion on any other matters of religious or public interest;

(b)

to advise the bishop on any matters on which he may consult the synod;

(c)

to consider and express their opinion on any matters referred to them by the General Synod, and in particular to approve or disapprove provisions referred to them by the General Synod under Article 8 of the Constitution:

Provided that the functions referred to in paragraph (a) hereof shall not include the issue of any statement purporting to declare the doctrine of the Church on any question.

(3) It shall be the duty of the bishop to consult with the diocesan synod on matters of general concern and importance to the diocese. (4) Except as may be provided by standing orders or directions of the diocesan synod, the advisory and consultative functions of the synod under subsections (2)(b) and (3) of this section may be discharged on behalf of the synod by the bishops council and standing committee appointed in accordance with rule 28 of the Church Representation Rules contained in Schedule 3 to this Measure, but either the bishop or the body so appointed may require any matter to be referred to the synod. (5) The diocesan synod shall keep the deanery synods of the diocese informed of the policies and problems of the diocese and of the business which is to come before meetings of the diocesan synod, and may delegate executive functions to deanery synods; and shall keep themselves informed, through the deanery synods, of events and opinion in the parishes, and shall give opportunities for discussing at meetings of the diocesan synod matters raised by deanery synods and parochial church councils. (6) The General Synod may by Canon or Regulation extend, amend or further define the functions of diocesan synods, and if any question arises as to whether any matter falls within the functions of a diocesan synod as laid down by subsection (2) of this section or any such Canon or Regulation relating to that subsection, it shall be decided by the bishop. (7) As soon as a diocesan synod has been constituted, the diocesan conference shall be dissolved and all functions exercisable by the diocesan conference shall be transferred to the diocesan synod, and any reference in any Measure or instrument to diocesan conferences shall be construed as references to diocesan synods:

Provided that nothing herein shall prevent the bishop from summoning a conference of persons appearing to him to be representative of the clergy and laity of the diocese, on such occasions and for such purposes as he thinks fit.

5.

Constitution and functions of Deanery Synods.

— (1) Deanery synods shall be constituted for all deaneries in accordance with Part III of the Church Representation Rules contained in Schedule 3 to this Measure and the transitional provisions contained in Schedule 4. (2) Deanery synods shall, as soon as they are constituted, take the place of ruri-decanal conferences where they exist, and those conferences shall thereupon be dissolved, and any references in any Measure to ruri-decanal conferences shall be construed as references to deanery synods. (3) The functions of a deanery synod shall be —

(a)

to consider matters concerning the Church of England and to make provision for such matters in relation to their deanery, and to consider and express their opinion on any other matters of religious or public interest;

(b)

to bring together the views of the parishes of the deanery on common problems, to discuss and formulate common policies on those problems, to foster a sense of community and interdependence among those parishes, and generally to promote in the deanery the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical;

(c)

to make known and so far as appropriate put into effect any provision made by the diocesan synod;

(d)

to consider the business of the diocesan synod, and particularly any matters referred to that synod by the General Synod, and to sound parochial opinion whenever they are required or consider it appropriate to do so;

(e)

to raise such matters as the deanery synod consider appropriate with the diocesan synod:

Provided that the functions referred to in paragraph (a) hereof shall not include the issue of any statement purporting to declare the doctrine of the Church on any question.

(4) If the diocesan synod delegate to deanery synods functions in relation to the parishes of their deaneries, and in particular the determination of parochial shares in quotas allocated to the deaneries, the deanery synod shall exercise those functions.

In this subsection “ quota ” means an amount to be subscribed to the expenditure authorised by diocesan synods. (5) The General Synod may by Canon or Regulation extend, amend or further define the functions of deanery synods.

6.

Functions of Parochial Church Councils.

For section 2 of the M8 Parochial Church Councils (Powers) Measure 1956 (which relates to the general functions of a parochial church council), there shall be substituted the following section : —

7.

Church Representation Rules.

— (1) The rules contained in Schedule 3 to this Measure, which may be cited as the Church Representation Rules, shall have effect for the purpose of providing for the constitution and proceedings of diocesan and deanery synods and making further provision for the synodical government of the Church, including the matters hitherto provided for by the Rules for the Representation of the Laity: (2) The M9 Statutory Instruments Act 1946 shall apply to any such resolution as if it were a statutory instrument and as if this Measure were an Act providing that it should be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament. (3) The Representation of the M10 Laity Measure 1956 and the Diocesan Conferences Regulation 1958 shall cease to have effect except as may be temporarily provided by Schedule 4 to this Measure.

8.

Transitional Provisions.

The transitional provisions contained in Schedule 4 to this Measure shall have effect with respect to matters arising on the transfer of functions from the Convocations, the reconstitution of the Church Assembly as the General Synod, the changes affecting diocesan and ruri-decanal conferences, and the coming into operation of the Church Representation Rules, but nothing in the said Schedule shall be taken as prejudicing section 38 of the M11 Interpretation Act 1889 as applied by the M12 Interpretation Measure 1925.

9.

Short title, interpretation and extent.

— (1) This Measure may be cited as the Synodical Government Measure 1969. (2) In this Measure “ the appointed day ” means such day as may be appointed by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, following the completion of the first elections after the passing of this Measure of the Lower Houses of the Convocations and of the House of Laity, and “ deanery ” means rural deanery. (3) This Measure shall extend to the Provinces of Canterbury and York, except that it shall only extend to the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands in accordance with the following provisions of this section. (4) Sections 1, 2 and 3, Schedules 1 and 2, and so much of Schedule 4 as relates to those provisions, shall extend to the Isle of Man and the remainder of the Measure may by Act of Tynwald be extended to the Isle of Man, with such exceptions, adaptations and modifications, if any, as may be specified in such Act. (5) This Measure may be applied to the Channel Islands or either of them, as defined in the M13 Channel Islands (Church Legislation) Measures 1931 and M14 1957 in accordance with the provisions of those Measures, and any scheme made for the purpose of such application may provide for such modifications of the M15 Channel Islands (Representation) Measure 1931 and of the M16 said Channel Islands (Church Legislation) Measure 1931 as may be necessary or expedient in consequence of the provisions of this Measure.

1. On such day as may be appointed by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York under the M17 Synodical Government Measure 1969, the powers to legislate by Canon and other functions of the Convocation of Canterbury [York], and the authority, rights and privileges of the said Convocation, shall vest in the General Synod of the Church of England, being the Church Assembly renamed and reconstituted by the said Measure.

2. Notwithstanding such vesting as aforesaid, the said Convocation may continue to meet separately, within the province or elsewhere at such places and times as they may determine, for the purpose of considering matters concerning the Church of England and making provision by appropriate instruments for such matters in relation to their province or referring such matters to the General Synod, and shall meet for the purpose of discharging their functions under section 3 of this Measure and their functions under Article 7 of the Constitution of the General Synod in respect of provisions touching doctrinal formulae or the services or ceremonies of the Church of England or the administration of the Sacraments or sacred rites thereof, or to consider any other matter referred to them by the General Synod:

3. The said Convocation may, by their Standing Orders or otherwise, make provision for joining to their two Houses, at such sittings and for the purposes of such of their functions as they may determine, a House of Laity composed of —

4. The vesting of rights and privileges of the said Convocation in the General Synod by this Canon shall not affect the right of the said Convocation (which shall be exercisable also by the General Synod) to present addresses to Her Majesty, or the right of the Lower House of the said Convocation to present gravamina to the Upper House thereof.

1. The General Synod shall consist of the Convocations of Canterbury and York joined together in a House of Bishops and a House of Clergy and having added to them a House of Laity.

2. The House of Bishops and the House of Clergy shall accordingly comprise the Upper and the Lower Houses respectively of the said Convocations, and the House of Laity shall be elected and otherwise constituted in accordance with the Church Representation Rules.

3. — (1) The General Synod shall meet in session at least twice a year, and at such times and places as it may provide, or, in the absence of such provision, as the Joint Presidents of the Synod may direct. (2) The General Synod shall, on the dissolution of the Convocations, itself be automatically dissolved, and shall come into being on the calling together of the new Convocations. (3) Business pending at the dissolution of the General Synod shall not abate, but may be resumed by the new Synod at the stage reached before the dissolution, and any Boards, Commissions, Committees or other bodies of the Synod may, so far as may be appropriate and subject to any Standing Orders or any directions of the Synod or of the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, continue their proceedings during the period of the dissolution, and all things may be done by the Archbishops or any such bodies or any officers of the General Synod as may be necessary or expedient for conducting the affairs of the Synod during the period of dissolution and for making arrangements for the resumption of business by the new Synod. (4) A member of the General Synod may continue to act during the period of the dissolution as a member of any such Board, Commission, Committee or body:

Provided that, if a member of the Synod who is an elected proctor of the clergy or an elected member of the House of Laity does not stand for re-election or is not re-elected, this paragraph shall cease to apply to him with effect from the date on which the election of his successor is announced by the presiding officer.

4. — (1) The Archbishops of Canterbury and York shall be joint Presidents of the General Synod, and they shall determine the occasions on which it is desirable that one of the Presidents shall be the chairman of a meeting of the General Synod, and shall arrange between them which of them is to take the chair on any such occasion: (2) The Presidents shall, after consultation with the Standing Committee of the General Synod, appoint from among the members of the Synod a panel of not less than 3 or more than 8 chairmen, who shall be chosen for their experience and ability as chairmen of meetings and may be members of any House; and it shall be the duty of one of the chairmen on the panel, in accordance with arrangements approved by the Presidents and subject to any special directions of the Presidents, to take the chair at meetings of the General Synod at which neither of the Presidents take the chair. (3) The Provincial Registrars shall be Joint Registrars of the General Synod.

5. — (1) A motion for the final approval of any Measure or Canon shall not be deemed to be carried unless, on a division by Houses, it receives the assent of the majority of the members of each House present and voting: (2) All other motions of the General Synod shall, subject as hereinafter provided, be determined by a majority of the members of the Synod present and voting, and the vote may be taken by a show of hands or a division:

Provided that, except in the case of a motion relating solely to the course of business or procedure, any 25 members present may demand a division by Houses and in that case the motion shall not be deemed to be carried unless, on such a division, it receives the assent of the majority of the members of each House present and voting.

[ F2 ( 3 ) This Article shall be subject to any provision of this Constitution or of any Measure with respect to special majorities of the Synod or of each House thereof, and where a special majority of each House is required the vote shall be taken on a division by Houses, and where a special majority of the whole Synod is required, the motion shall, for the purposes of this Article, be one relating solely to procedure. ] [ F3 ( 4 ) Where a vote is to be taken on a division by Houses, it may be taken either by an actual division or in such other manner as standing orders may provide. ]

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

7. — (1) A provision touching doctrinal formulae or the services or ceremonies of the Church of England or the administration of the Sacraments or sacred rites thereof shall, before it is finally approved by the General Synod, be referred to the House of Bishops, and shall be submitted for such final approval in terms proposed by the House of Bishops and not otherwise. (2) A provision touching any of the matters aforesaid shall, if the Convocations or either of them or the House of Laity so require, be referred, in the terms proposed by the House of Bishops for final approval by the General Synod, to the two Convocations sitting separately for their provinces and to the House of Laity; and no provision so referred shall be submitted for final approval by the General Synod unless it has been approved, in the terms so proposed, by each House of the two Convocations sitting as aforesaid and by the House of Laity. (3) The question whether such a reference is required by a Convocation shall be decided by the President and Prolocutor of the Houses of that Convocation, and the Prolocutor shall consult the Standing Committee of the Lower House of Canterbury or, as the case may be, the Assessors of the Lower House of York, and the decision of the President and Prolocutor shall be conclusive:

Provided that if, before such a decision is taken, either House of a Convocation resolves that the provision concerned shall be so referred or both Houses resolve that it shall not be so referred, the resolution or resolutions shall be a conclusive decision that the reference is or is not required by that Convocation.

(4) The question whether such a reference is required by the House of Laity shall be decided by the Prolocutor and Pro-Prolocutor of that House who shall consult the Standing Committee of that House, and the decision of the Prolocutor and the Pro-Prolocutor shall be conclusive:

Provided that if, before such a decision is taken, the House of Laity resolves that the reference is or is not required, the resolution shall be a conclusive decision of that question.

(5) Standing Orders of the General Synod shall provide for ensuring that a provision which fails to secure approval on a reference under this Article by each of the four Houses of the Convocations or by the House of Laity of the General Synod is not proposed again in the same or a similar form until a new General Synod comes into being, except that, in the case of objection by one House of one Convocation only, provision may be made for a second reference to the Convocations and, in the case of a second objection by one House only, for reference to the Houses of Bishops and Clergy of the General Synod for approval by a two-thirds majority of the members of each House present and voting, in lieu of such approval by the four Houses aforesaid. (6) If any question arises whether the requirements of this Article or Standing Orders made thereunder apply to any provision, or whether those requirements have been complied with, it shall be conclusively determined by the Presidents and Prolocutors of the Houses of the Convocations and the Prolocutor and Pro-Prolocutor of the House of Laity of the General Synod.

8. — (1) A Measure [ F4 or Canon ] providing for permanent changes in the Services of Baptism or Holy Communion or in the Ordinal, or a scheme for a constitutional union or a permanent and substantial change of relationship between the Church of England and another Christian body [ F5 being a body a substantial number of whose members reside in Great Britain ] , shall not be finally approved by the General Synod unless, at a stage determined by the Archbishops, the Measure [ F4 or Canon ] or scheme, or the substance of the proposals embodied therein, has been approved by a majority of the dioceses at meetings of their Diocesan Synods [ F6 or, in case of the diocese in Europe, of the bishop ’ s council and standing committee of that diocese ] . [ F7 ( 1A ) If the Archbishops consider that this article should apply to a scheme which affects the Church of England and another Christian body but does not fall within paragraph ( 1 ) of this Article, they may direct that this Article shall apply to that scheme, and where such a direction is given this article shall apply accordingly. ] [ F8 ( 1B ) The General Synod may by resolution provide that final approval of any such scheme as aforesaid, being a scheme specified in the resolution, shall require the assent of such special majorities of the members present and voting as may be specified in the resolution, and the resolution may specify a special majority of each House or of the whole Synod or of both, and in the latter case the majorities may be different. ] [ F9 ( 1C ) A motion for the final approval of a Measure providing for permanent changes in any such Service or in the Ordinal shall not be deemed to be carried unless it receives the assent of a majority in each House of the General Synod of not less than two-thirds of those present and voting. ] (2) Any question whether this Article applies to any Measure [ F4 or canon ] or scheme, or whether its requirements have been complied with, shall be conclusively determined by the Archbishops, the Prolocutors of the Lower Houses of the Convocations and the Prolocutor and Pro-Prolocutor of the House of Laity of the General Synod.

9. — (1) Standing Orders of the General Synod may provide for separate sittings of any of the three Houses or joint sittings of any two Houses, and as to who is to take the chair at any such separate or joint sitting. (2) The House of Laity shall elect a Chairman and Vice-Chairman of that House who shall also discharge the functions assigned by this Constitution and the Standing Orders and by or under any Measure or Canon to the Prolocutor and Pro-Prolocutor of that House.

10. — (1) The General Synod shall appoint a Legislative Committee from members of all three Houses, to whom shall be referred all Measures passed by the General Synod which it is desired should be given, in accordance with the procedure prescribed by the M19 Church of England Assembly (Powers) Act 1919, the force of an Act of Parliament; and it shall be the duty of the Legislative Committee to take such steps with respect to any such Measure as may be so prescribed. (2) The General Synod may appoint or provide by their Standing Orders for the appointment of [ F10 such Committees, Commissions and other bodies ( in addition to the Committees mentioned in section 10 of the National Institutions Measure 1998 ) ] , which may include persons who are not members of the Synod, and such officers as they think fit. (3) Each House may appoint or provide by their Standing Orders for the appointment of such Committees of their members as they think fit.

11. — (1) The General Synod may make, amend and revoke Standing Orders providing for any of the matters for which such provision is required or authorised by this Constitution to be made, and consistently with this Constitution, for the meetings, business and procedure of the General Synod. [ F11 ( 1A ) Provision may be made by Standing Order that the exercise of any power of the General Synod to suspend the Standing Orders or any of them shall require the assent of such a majority of the members of the whole Synod present and voting as may be specified in the Standing Order. ] (2) Each House may make, amend and revoke Standing Orders for the matter referred to in Article 10(3) hereof and consistently with this Constitution and with any Standing Orders of the General Synod, for the separate sittings, business and procedure of that House. (3) Subject to this Constitution and to any Standing Orders, the business and procedure at any meeting of the General Synod or any House or Houses thereof shall be regulated by the chairman of the meeting.

12. — (1) References to final approval shall, in relation to a Canon or Act of Synod be construed as referring to the final approval by the General Synod of the contents of the Canon or Act, and not to the formal promulgation thereof: (2) Any question concerning the interpretation of this Constitution, other than questions for the determination of which express provision is otherwise made, shall be referred to and determined by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York. (3) No proceedings of the General Synod or any House or Houses thereof, or any Board, Commission, Committee or body thereof shall be invalidated by any vacancy in the membership of the body concerned or by any defect in the qualification, election or appointment of any member thereof.

13. Any functions exercisable under this Constitution by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, whether described as such or as Presidents of the General Synod, may, during the absence abroad or incapacity through illness of one Archbishop or a vacancy in one of the Sees, be exercised by the other Archbishop alone.

1. — (1) There shall be a church electoral roll (in these rules referred to as “ the roll ” ) in every parish, on which the names of lay persons shall be entered as hereinafter provided. The roll shall be available for inspection by bona-fide inquirers. [ F12 ( 2 ) A lay person shall be entitled to have his name entered on the roll of a parish if he is baptised, of sixteen years or upwards, has signed an application form for enrolment set out in Appendix I of these rules and declares himself either —

( a )

to be a member of the Church of England or of a Church in communion therewith resident in the parish; or

( b )

to be such a member and, not being resident in the parish, to have habitually attended public worship in the parish during a period of six months prior to enrolment; or

( c )

to be a member in good standing of a Church which subscribes to the doctrine of the Holy Trinity ( not being a Church in communion with the Church of England ) and also prepared to declare himself to be a member of the Church of England having habitually attended public worship in the parish during a period of six months prior to enrolment.

Provided that where a lay person will have his sixteenth birthday after the intended revision of the electoral roll or the preparation of a new roll but on or before the date of the annual parochial church meeting, he may complete a form of application for enrolment and his name shall be enrolled but with effect from the date of his birthday. ( 3 ) Where a person resides in an extra-parochial place he shall be deemed for the purposes of these rules to reside in the parish which it abuts, and if there is any doubt in the matter a determination shall be made by the bishop ’ s council and standing committee. ] [  F13 [ F14 ( 4 ) ] A person shall be entitled to have his name on the roll of each of any number of parishes if he is entitled by virtue of F15 . . . [ F16 paragraphs ( 2 ) and ( 3 ) ] of this rule to have his name entered on each roll; but a person whose name is entered on the roll of each of two or more parishes must choose one of those parishes for the purpose of the provisions of these rules which prescribe the qualifications for election to a deanery synod, a diocesan synod or the General Synod or for membership [ F17 of a parochial church council under rule F18 . . . [ F19 14 ( 1 ) ( f ) ] or ] of a deanery synod under rule [ F20 24 ( 6 ) ( b ) ] . ] [ F14 ( 5 ) ] The roll shall, until a parochial church council has been constituted in a parish, be formed and revised by the minister and churchwardens (if any), and shall, after such council has been constituted, be kept and revised by or under the direction of the council. Reference in this rule to a parochial church council shall, so far as may be necessary for giving effect to these rules, be construed as including references to the minister and churchwardens (if any). [ F21 [ F14 ( 6 ) ] Where a new parish is created by a pastoral scheme, the roll of that parish shall in the first instance consist —

( a )

in the case of a parish created by the union of two or more former parishes, of the rolls of those parishes combined to form one roll;

( b )

in any other case, of the names of the persons whose names are at the date of the coming into existence of the new parish entered on the roll of a parish the whole or any part of which forms part of the new parish and who are either resident in the new parish or have habitually attended public worship therein. ]

[ F14 ( 7 ) ] The parochial church council shall appoint [ F22 a church electoral roll officer ] to act under its directions for the purpose of carrying out its functions with regard to the electoral roll. [ F14 ( 8 ) ] The names of persons who are entitled to have their names entered upon the roll of the parish shall, subject to the provisions of these rules, be from time to time added to the roll. F23 . . . [ F24 It shall be the duty of the electoral roll officer to keep the roll constantly up to date by the addition and removal of names as from time to time required by these rules and to report such additions and removals at the next meeting of the parochial church council. ] [ F14 ( 9 ) ] Subject to the provisions of this rule, a person ’ s name shall, as the occasion arises, be removed from the roll, if he: —

(a)

has died; or

(b)

becomes a clerk in Holy Orders; or

(c)

signifies in writing his desire that his name should be removed; or

(d)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F25

[ F26 ( d )

ceases to reside in the parish, unless after so ceasing he continues, in any period of six months [ F27 habitually ] , to attend public worship in the parish, unless prevented from doing so by illness or other sufficient cause; or ]

[ F28 ( e ) ]

is not resident in the parish and has not [ F29 habitually ] attended public worship in the parish during the preceding six months, not having been prevented from doing so by illness or other sufficient cause; or

(g)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F25

[ F28 ( f ) ]

was not entitled to have his name entered on the roll at the time when it was entered.

[ F14 ( 10 ) ] The removal of a person ’ s name from the roll under any of the provisions of these rules shall be without prejudice to his right to have his name entered again, if he [ F30 has or acquires that right ] . F14 [ ( 11 ) ] The roll shall where practicable contain a record of the address of every person whose name is entered on the roll, but a failure to comply with this requirement shall not prejudice the validity of any entry on the roll.

2. — (1) Except in a year in which a new roll is prepared, the roll of a parish shall be revised annually by or under the direction of the council. Notice of the intended revision in the form set out in section 2 of Appendix I to these rules shall be affixed by the minister or under his direction on or near the principal door of every church in the parish and every building in the parish licensed for public worship and remain so affixed for a period of not less than fourteen days before the commencement of the revision. The revision shall be completed not less than fifteen days or more than twenty-eight days before the annual parochial church meeting. (2) Upon every revision all enrolments or removals from the roll which have been effected since the date of the last revision (or since the formation of the roll, if there has been no previous revision) shall be reviewed, and such further enrolments or removals from the rolls as may be required shall be effected. (3) After the completion of the revision, a copy of the roll as revised shall, together with a list of the names removed from the roll since the last revision (or since the formation of the roll, if there has been no previous revision), be published by being exhibited continuously for not less than fourteen days before the annual parochial church meeting on or near the principal door of the parish church in such manner as the council shall appoint. F31 . . . [ F32 During the period while the copy is so exhibited any errors and omissions in the roll may be corrected but subject thereto and to the provisions of rule 1 ( 2 ) , no names shall be added to or removed from the roll during the period in any year between the completion of the revision and the close of the annual parochial church meeting. ] (4) Not less than two months before the annual parochial church meeting in the year [ F33 1990 ] and every succeeding sixth year notice in the form set out in section 3 of Appendix 1 to these rules shall be affixed by the minister or under his direction on or near the principal door of every church in the parish and every building in the parish licensed for public worship and remain so affixed for a period of not less than fourteen days. On the affixing of the notice a new roll shall be prepared.

[ F34 At every service held on each of the two Sundays within the period of fourteen days beginning with the date of the affixing of the notice or, in the case of a church in which no service is held on either of those Sundays, at every service held in that church on the first Sunday after that date the person conducting the service shall inform the congregation of the preparation of the new roll. ]

[ F35 ( 5 ) The parochial church council shall take reasonable steps to inform every person whose name is entered on the previous roll that a new roll is being prepared and that if he wishes to have his name entered on the new roll he must apply for enrolment. No such steps need be taken with respect to any person whose name could be removed from the previous roll under rule [ F36 1 ( 9 ) ] . ] (6) The new roll shall be prepared by entering upon it the names of persons entitled to entry under rule 1(2), and a fresh application shall be required from persons whose names were entered on the previous roll. A person whose name was so entered shall not be disqualified for entry on the new roll by reason only of his failure to comply with the conditions specified in rule [ F37 1 ( 2 ) ( b ) and ( c ) ] , if he was prevented from doing so by illness or other sufficient cause, and the circumstances shall be stated on the application form. The preparation of the new roll shall be completed not less than fifteen days or more than twenty-eight days before the annual parochial church meeting. (7) After the completion of the new roll, a copy shall be published by being exhibited continuously for not less than fourteen days before the annual parochial church meeting on or near the principal door of the parish church in such manner as the council shall appoint. F38 . . . [ F39 During the period while the copy is so exhibited any errors and omissions in the roll may be corrected but subject thereto and to the provisions of rule 1 ( 2 ) no names may be added to or removed from the roll during the period in any year between the completion of the new roll and the close of the annual parochial church meeting. ] On the publication of the new roll the previous roll shall cease to have effect (8) Upon the alteration of the boundaries of any parishes the parochial church council of the parish from which any area is transferred shall enquire from the persons resident in that area whose names are entered on the roll of the parish, whether they wish to have their names transferred to the roll of the other parish. The parochial church council shall remove the names of persons answering in the affirmative from its own roll and shall inform the parochial church council of the parish in which such persons now reside, which shall enter the names on its roll without any application for enrolment being required.

3. — (1) When a person applying for enrolment on the roll of any parish signifies his desire that his name should be removed from the roll of any other parish, notice of that fact shall be sent by the parochial church council receiving the application to the parochial church council of that other parish. (2) When the name of any person is removed from the roll of the parish owing to his having become resident in another parish, notice of that fact shall, whenever possible, be sent by the parochial church council of the first mentioned parish to the parochial church council of the last mentioned parish. (3) — (5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F40

[ F41 4. Not later than the 1st June the chairman, vice-chairman, secretary or church electoral roll officer of the parochial church council shall notify in writing the secretary of the diocesan synod of the number of names on the roll of each parish as at the date of the annual meeting and a copy of such notification shall be affixed at or near to the principal door of every church in the parish and every building licensed for public worship in the parish when notification is sent to the secretary of the diocesan synod, and shall remain so affixed for a period of not less than fourteen days. ]

[ F42 [ F43 5. ] — ( 1 ) A person whose name is entered on the roll of a guild church shall for the purpose of the provisions of these rules which prescribe the qualifications for election to a deanery synod, a diocesan synod or the House of Laity of the General Synod, or for membership of a deanery synod under rule [ F44 24 ( 6 ) ( b ) ] , be deemed to be a person whose name is on the roll of the parish in which the guild church is, and references in those provisions or in rule [ F44 1 ( 4 ) ] to a person whose name is on the roll of a parish or on the roll of each of two or more parishes, and in rule [ F44 46 ] to entry on the roll of a parish, shall be construed accordingly. ( 2 ) In this rule “ guild church ” means a church in the City of London designated and established as a guild church under the City of London ( Guild Churches ) Acts 1952 and 1960. ]

[ F45 6. ] — (1) In every parish there shall be held not later than the 30th April in each year the annual parochial church meeting (hereafter in these rules referred to as “ the annual meeting ” ). (2) All lay persons whose names are entered on the roll of the parish shall be entitled to attend the annual meeting and to take part in its proceedings, and no other lay person shall be so entitled. (3) A clerk in Holy Orders shall be entitled to attend the annual meeting of a parish and take part in its proceedings —

(a)

if he is either beneficed in or licensed to the parish or any other parish in the area of the benefice to which the parish belongs; or

(b)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F46

[ F47 ( b ) ]

if he is resident in the parish and is not beneficed in or licensed to any other parish.

[ F48 ( c )

if he is not resident in the parish and is not beneficed or licensed to any other parish, the parochial church council with the concurrence of the minister has declared him to be a habitual worshipper in the parish, such declaration being effective until the conclusion of the annual meeting in the year in which a new roll is prepared under rule 2 or his ceasing to be a habitual worshipper in the parish whichever is the earlier, but without prejudice to a renewal of such declaration; or

( d )

if he is a co-opted member of the parochial church council in accordance with rule F49 . . . [ F50 14 ( 1 ) ( h ) ] . ]

[ F51 ( 4 ) Without prejudice to paragraphs ( 2 ) and ( 3 ) of this rule —

( a )

all the members of the team of a team ministry shall be entitled to attend, and take part in the proceedings of, the annual meeting of the parish or each of the parishes in the area of the benefice for which the team ministry is established, and where the area of a group ministry includes the area of a benefice for which a team ministry is established, all the vicars in that ministry shall be entitled to attend, and take part in the proceedings of, the annual meeting of each of the other parishes in the area for which the group ministry is established;

( b )

all the incumbents and priests in charge in a group ministry shall be entitled to attend, and take part in the proceedings of, the annual meeting of each of the parishes in the area for which the group ministry is established.

( 5 ) Where two or more benefices are held in plurality and a team ministry is, or is to be, established for the area of one of those benefices, then, if a pastoral scheme provides for extending the operation of the team ministry, so long as the plurality continues, to the area of any other benefice so held, paragraph ( 4 ) of this rule shall have effect as if the references to the area of the benefice were references to the combined area of the benefices concerned. ]

[ F52 7. ] — (1) The annual meeting shall be convened by the minister of the parish by a notice in the form set out in section 4 of Appendix 1 to these rules affixed on or near to the principal door of every church in the parish and every building licensed for public worship in the parish, for a period including the last two Sundays before the day of the meeting. (2) The annual meeting shall be held at such place on such date and at such hour as shall be directed by the previous annual meeting, or by the parochial church council (which may vary any direction given by a previous annual meeting) or in the absence of any such direction as shall be appointed by the minister. (3) During the vacancy of the benefice or curacy or when the minister is absent or incapacitated by illness or any other cause, the vice-chairman of the parochial church council, or if there is no vice-chairman, or if he is unable or unwilling to act, the secretary of or some other person appointed by that council shall have all the powers vested in the minister under this rule. (4) The annual meeting shall be held at a place within the parish unless the parochial church council decide otherwise. [ F53 ( 5 ) The minister of a new parish created by a pastoral scheme, or, in the absence of the minister, a person appointed by the bishop, shall as soon as possible after the scheme comes into operation convene a special parochial church meeting, and, subject to paragraph ( 6 ) of this rule, the provisions of these rules relating to the convening and conduct of the annual general meeting shall apply to a special meeting convened under this paragraph. ( 6 ) A special meeting so convened and held in the month of November or the month of December may, if the meeting so resolves, be for all purposes under these rules the annual meeting for the succeeding year, and a special meeting so convened shall in any event be for all such purposes the annual meeting for the year in which it is so convened and held. ]

[ F54 8. ] [ F55 ( 1 ) The minister, if present, or, if he is not present, the vice-chairman of the parochial church council, or, subject to paragraph ( 2 ) of this rule, if he also is not present, a chairman chosen by the annual meeting shall preside thereat. ( 2 ) Where a parish is in the area of a benefice for which a team ministry is established, and a vicar in that ministry is entitled to preside at an annual meeting of that parish by virtue of a provision in a pastoral scheme or the bishop ’ s licence assigning to the vicar the duties, or a share in the duties, of the chairmanship of the annual meeting of that parish, then, if both he and the vice-chairman of the parochial church council are not present at that meeting, but the rector in that ministry is present, the rector shall preside thereat. ] [ F56 ( 3 ) ] In case of an equal division of votes, the chairman of the meeting shall have a second or casting vote [ F57 unless it is a case where rule [ F58 11 ( 8 ) ] applies ] ; but no clerical chairman shall have a vote in the election of the parochial representatives of the laity.

[ F59 9. ] — (1) The annual meeting shall receive from the parochial church council and shall be free to discuss: — F66 (2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F66 (3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [ F67 ( 2 ) The council shall cause a copy of the said roll to be available for inspection at the meeting. F67 ( 3 ) The said financial statements shall —

( a )

be independently examined or audited in such manner as shall be prescribed in accordance with rule 54 ( 8 ) ;

( b )

be considered and, if thought fit, approved by the parochial church council and signed by the chairman presiding at the meeting of the council; and

( c )

be displayed for a continuous period of at least seven days before the annual meeting, including at least one Sunday when the church is used for worship, on a notice-board either inside or outside the church.

F67 ( 4 ) The annual report referred to in paragraph ( 1 ) ( b ) above and the said financial statements shall be prepared in such form as shall be prescribed in accordance with rule 54 ( 8 ) hereof for consideration by the annual meeting. Following such meeting the council shall cause the annual report and statements to be published and displayed in the parish in such manner as may be prescribed in accordance with rule 54 ( 8 ) and shall cause copies to be sent within twenty eight days of the annual meeting to the secretary of the diocesan board of finance for retention by the board. ] F68 (4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F69 (5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [ F70 [ F71 ( 5 ) ] The annual meeting shall in the manner provided by rule 11 —

( a )

elect in every third year parochial representatives of the laity to the deanery synod;

( b )

elect parochial representatives of the laity to the parochial church council;

( c )

appoint sidesmen;

F72 ( d )

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[ F73 ( d )

appoint the independent examiner or auditor to the council for a term of office ending at the close of the next annual meeting, provided that such person shall not be a member of the council. ]

and the elections and appointments shall be carried out in the above order. ] [  F74 [ F75 ( 6 ) ] Without prejudice to the foregoing provisions and rule [ F76 7 ( 6 ) ] , a special parochial church meeting convened under rule [ F76 7 ( 5 ) ] shall, in addition to other business, —

( a )

decide on the number of members of the parochial church council who are to be the elected representatives of the laity;

( b )

elect in the manner provided by rule [ F76 11 ] parochial representatives of the laity to the deanery synod, if such representatives are required to be elected in the year for which that meeting is the annual meeting by virtue of rule [ F76 7 ( 6 ) ] . ]

[ F71 ( 7 ) ] Any person entitled to attend the annual meeting may ask any question about parochial church matters, or bring about a discussion of any matter of parochial or general interest, by moving a general resolution or by moving to give any particular recommendation to the council in relation to its duties. [ F71 ( 8 ) ] The annual meeting shall have power to adjourn and to determine its own rules of procedure. [ F71 ( 9 ) ] The secretary of the parochial church council (or another person appointed by the meeting in his place) shall act as a clerk of the annual meeting, and shall record the minutes thereof.

[ F77 10. ] — F78 (1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [ F79 ( 1 ) Subject to the provisions of rule 1 ( 4 ) and paragraph ( 3 ) of this rule, the qualifications of a person to be elected a parochial representative of the laity to either the parochial church council or the deanery synod are that —

( a )

his name is entered on the roll of the parish;

( b )

he is an actual communicant as defined in rule 54 ( 1 ) ; and

( c )

in the case of election to the parochial church council, he is of sixteen years or upwards, and in the case of his election to the deanery synod, he is of eighteen years or upwards. ]

F78 (1A) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F78 (1B) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (2) The qualification of a person to be F80 . . . [ F81 appointed ] a sidesman is that his name is entered on the roll of the parish. F82 (3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [ F83 ( 3 ) No person shall be nominated for election under rule 9 —

( a )

to serve on either the parochial church council, or the deanery synod unless he has signified his consent to serve, or there is in the opinion of the meeting sufficient evidence of his willingness to serve;

( b )

to serve on the parochial church council, if he has been disqualified from serving on that parochial chuch council by the bishop under section 10 ( 6 ) of the Incumbents ( Vacation of Benefices ) Measures 1977 and 1993;

( c )

to serve on the parochial church council if he is disqualified from being a charity trustee under the Charities Act 1993 ]

[ F84 11. ] — (1) [ F85  F86 . . . [ F87 Subject to the provisions of any resolution under rule 12 ] for the time being in force ] this rule shall apply to all elections at annual meetings. (2) All candidates for election at an annual meeting must be nominated and seconded by persons entitled to attend the annual meeting, and in the case of parochial representatives of the laity, by persons whose names are entered on the roll of the parish. A candidate shall be nominated or seconded either before the meeting in writing or at the meeting. (3) If the number of candidates nominated is not greater than the number of seats to be filled, the candidates nominated shall forthwith be declared elected. (4) If more candidates are nominated than there are seats to be filled, the election shall take place at the annual meeting. (5) No clerk in Holy Orders shall be entitled to vote in the election of any parochial representatives of the laity. (6) Each person entitled to vote shall have as many votes as there are seats to be filled but may not give more than one vote to any one candidate. (7) Votes may be given: —

(a)

on voting papers, which must be signed by the voter [ F88 on the reverse thereof ] ; or

(b)

if no person present objects thereto, by show of hands.

(8) [ F89 ( a ) ] Where owing to an equality of votes an election is not decided, the decision between the persons for whom the equal numbers of votes have been cast shall be taken by lot.

[ F90 ( b )

When an election or any stage of an election is recounted, either on appeal or at the request of the presiding officer or of a candidate, if the original count and the re-count are identical at the point when a lot must be drawn to resolve a tie, the original lot shall be used to make the determination. ]

(9) The result of any election by an annual meeting shall be announced as soon as practicable by the person presiding over the election, and a notice of the result shall in every case be affixed on or near the principal door of every church in the parish and every building licensed for public worship in the parish, and shall bear the date on which the result is declared. The notice shall remain affixed for not less than fourteen days. [ F91 Thereafter the secretary of the parochial church council shall hold a list of the names and addresses of the members of the council which shall be available for inspection on reasonable notice being given by any person who either is resident in the parish or has his name on the electoral roll, but the secretary shall not be bound to provide a copy of such list. ] [ F92 ( 10 ) Names and addresses, of parochial representatives of the laity elected to the deanery synod shall be sent by the secretary of the parochial church council to the diocesan electoral registration officer appointed in accordance with rule [ F93 29 ] and to the secretary of the deanery synod. ]

[ F95 12. ] — (1) The annual meeting may F96 . . . [ F97 pass a resolution ] which provides that the election of parochial representatives of the laity to the parochial church council or to the deanery synod or to both that council and that synod shall be conducted [ F98 by the method of the single transferable vote ] under rules, with the necessary modifications, made by the General Synod under rule [ F99 39 ( 7 ) ] and for the time being in force. [ F100 ( 2 ) The annual meeting may F96 . . . [ F97 pass a resolution ] which provides that any person entitled to attend the annual meeting and vote in the elections of parochial representatives of the laity to the parochial church council or to the deanery synod or to both that council and that synod may make application in the form set out in section 4A of Appendix I for a postal vote. ( 3 ) Where applications for postal votes have been received by the date specified in the notice convening the annual meeting and where the number of candidates nominated for an election referred to in paragraph ( 2 ) of this rule is greater than the number of seats to be filled, the annual meeting shall appoint a presiding officer who shall not be a candidate in the election. Voting papers shall be distributed to each person present at the meeting entitled to vote and completed papers shall be returned into the custody of the presiding officer before the close of the meeting. The presiding officer shall ensure that persons who have made application for a postal vote shall be sent or have delivered a voting paper within 48 hours of the close of the meeting such paper to be returned to the presiding officer within such period of not less than 7 days nor more than 14 days from the date of the meeting as the presiding officer shall specify. ] F101 (4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [ F102 ( 4 ) A resolution passed under this rule shall be invalid unless approved by at least two thirds of the persons present and voting at the annual meeting nor shall it be operative until the next ensuing annual meeting. Such resolution may be rescinded by a subsequent resolution passed in the same manner. ]

[ F103 13. ] — (1) [ F104 Elections of Churchwardens under the Churchwardens Measure 1999 ] shall be conducted, announced and notified in the same manner as elections under [ F105 rule [ F106 11 ] ] except that all persons entitled to attend the meeting of parishioners other than the minister shall be entitled to nominate and vote at such elections of churchwardens. F107 (2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[ F108 14. ] — (1) [ F109 Subject to the provisions of rule [ F110 1 ( 4 ) ] [  F111 and paragraph ( 3 ) of this rule, ] ] the parochial church council shall consist of: — [ F123 [ F124 ( 2 ) ] Any person chosen, appointed or elected as a churchwarden of a parish, being an F125 . . . [ F126 actual communicant ] whose name is on the roll of the parish, shall as from the date on which the choice, appointment or election, as the case may be, is made be a member of the parochial church council of the parish by virtue of this paragraph until he is admitted to the office of churchwarden, and he shall thereafter continue to be a member of that council by virtue of [ F127 paragraph 1 ( d ) ] of this rule unless and until he ceases to be qualified for membership by virtue of that sub-paragraph. ] [ F128 ( 3 ) ] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [ F129 ( 3 ) A person shall cease to be a member of a parochial church council —

( a )

if his name is removed from the roll of the parish under rule 1, on the date on which his name is removed;

( b )

if he refuses or fails to apply for enrolment when a new roll is being prepared, on the date on which the new roll is completed;

( c )

if he is disqualified from being a charity trustee under the Charities Act 1993 or from serving on that parochial church council by the bishop under section 10 ( 6 ) of the Incumbents ( Vacation of Benefices ) Measures 1977 and 1993, on the date on which the disqualification takes effect;

but, so far as the provisions of ( a ) and ( b ) above are concerned, shall be without prejudice to any right which that council may have to make that person a co-opted member. ] [ F124 ( 4 ) ] Where a group ministry is established the incumbents of all benefices in the group [ F130 every priest in charge of any benefice therein and where the area of the group ministry includes the area of a benefice for which a team ministry is established, all the vicars in that ministry ] shall be entitled to attend meetings of the parochial church councils of all the parishes in the area for which the group ministry is established. They shall be entitled to receive documents circulated to members of councils of which they are not themselves members and to speak but not to vote at meetings of such councils. [ F131 [ F124 ( 5 ) ] Where two or more benefices are held in plurality and a team ministry is, or is to be, established for the area of one of those benefices, then, if a pastoral scheme provides for extending the operation of the team ministry, so long as the plurality continues, to the area of any other benefice so held, paragraphs [ F132 1 ( c ) and ( 4 ) ] of this rule shall have effect as if the references to the area of the benefice were references to the combined area of the benefices concerned. ]

[ F133 15. ] The provisions in Appendix II to these rules shall have effect with respect to parochial church councils, and with respect to the officers, the meetings and the proceedings thereof:

[ F134 16. ] — [ F135 ( 1 ) ] Representatives of the laity on the parochial church council of a parish shall hold office from the conclusion of the annual meeting until the conclusion of the next annual meeting of the parish: [ F135 ( 2 ) Persons who are members of a parochial church council by virtue of their election as lay members of a deanery synod shall hold office for a term beginning with the date of their election and ending with the 31st May next following the election of their successors. ]

[ F136 17. ] The annual meeting may decide that no representative of the laity on the parochial church council may hold office for more than a specified number of years continuously and may also decide that after a specified interval a person who has ceased to be eligible by reason of such decision may again stand for election as a representative of the laity on the council.

[ F137 18. ] — (1) In any parish where there are two or more churches or [ F138 places of worship ] the annual meeting may make a scheme, [ F139 which makes provision for either or both of the following purposes, that is to say ] : — (2) A scheme for the election of any district church council or councils under the preceding paragraph shall provide for the election of representatives of the laity on to such council, for ex-officio members and for the chairmanship of such council and shall contain such other provisions as to membership and procedure as shall be considered appropriate by the annual meeting. F143 (3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [ F144 ( 3 ) Such a scheme may also provide for the delegation by the parochial church council to a district church council of such functions as may be specified in the scheme and, subject to the provisions of the scheme, the parochial church council may by resolution also delegate to a district church council such of its functions as it shall think fit but not including ( in either case ) the functions of the parochial church council —

( i ) in respect of producing the financial statement of the parish including the accounts of all districts of the parish unless any or all of the districts have been so designated under paragraph ( 5A ) of this rule;

( ii ) as an interested party under Part I of the Pastoral Measure 1983;

( iii ) under Part II of the Patronage ( Benefices ) Measure 1986;

( iv ) under section 3 of the Priests ( Ordination of Women ) Measure 1993. ] (4) [ F145 A scheme may ] provide for the election or choice of one or two deputy churchwardens . . . F146 , and for the delegation to him or them of such functions of the churchwardens relating to [ F147 any church or place ] as the scheme may specify, and the churchwardens may, subject to the scheme, delegate such of their said functions as they think fit to the deputy churchwarden or churchwardens. [ F148 ( 5 ) No scheme under this rule shall be valid unless approved by at least two-thirds of the persons present and voting at the annual meeting nor shall the scheme provide for it to come into operation until such date as the bishop ’ s council and standing committee may determine being a date not later than the next ensuing annual meeting. Every such scheme shall on its approval be communicated to the bishop ’ s council and standing committee of the diocesan synod which may determine —

( a )

that the scheme shall come into operation; or

( b )

that the scheme shall not come into operation; or

( c )

that the scheme shall come into operation with specified amendments, if such amendments are approved by an annual or special parochial church meeting and the scheme as amended is approved by at least two-thirds of the persons present and voting at that meeting. ]

[ F149 ( 5A ) A parochial church council may, after consultation with the district church councils and with the approval of at least two-thirds of the persons present and voting at the annual meeting, apply to the bishop ’ s council and standing committee for designation of any or all of the district church councils formed by scheme under this rule to be deemed to be separate parishes for the purpose of producing financial statements in respect of that district for presentation at the annual meeting. Where the bishop ’ s council agrees to such a designation it shall take effect in respect of the financial statements to be presented at the next annual meeting and notice in writing of the designation shall be sent to the diocesan secretary with copies to the relevant archdeacon and to the secretaries of the parochial church council and the district church councils concerned. ] [  F150 [ F151 ( 6 ) ] A special parochial church meeting of a parish to which this rule applies may be convened for the purpose of deciding whether to make such a scheme [ F152 or to apply for a designation referred to in paragraph ( 5A ) above ] , and where such a meeting is convened the foregoing provisions shall have effect with the substitution for references to the annual meeting of references to the special meeting. ] [ F153 ( 6 ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F154 [ F151 ( 7 ) ] Where a pastoral scheme establishing a team minstry, or an instrument of the bishop made by virtue of that scheme, makes, in relation to a parish in the area of the benefice for which the team ministry is established, any provision which may be made by a scheme under this rule, no scheme under this rule relating to that parish shall provide for the scheme to come into operation until on or after the date on which the provisions in question of the pastoral scheme or of the instrument, as the case may be, cease to have effect. [ F151 ( 8 ) ] A scheme under this rule may by varied or revoked by a subsequent scheme thereunder. [ F151 ( 9 ) ] Every member of the team of a team ministry shall have a right to attend the meetings of any district church council elected for any district in a parish in the area of the benefice for which the team ministry is established. [ F151 ( 10 ) ] This rule shall be without prejudice to the appointment, in parishes with more than one parish church, of two church-wardens for each church under section [ F155 27 ( 5 ) of the M20 Pastoral Measure 1983 ] . [ F151 ( 11 ) ] In this rule “ place of worship ” means a building or part of a building licensed for public worship. ] ]

[ F156 [ F157 19. ] — ( 1 ) Where there are two or more parishes within the area of a single benefice or two or more benefices are held in plurality, the annual meetings of all or some of the parishes in the benefice or benefices may make a joint scheme to provide — ( 2 ) Subject to the scheme and to any pastoral scheme or order made under paragraph 13 of Schedule 3 to the said Measure [ F161 and to paragraph 20 of Schedule 2 to the Patronage ( Benefices ) Measure 1986 ] , the parochial church council of any such parish may delegate to the joint council such of its functions, other than its functions as an interested party under the said Part 1 [ F162 and its functions under section 3 of the Priests ( Ordination of Women ) Measure 1993 ] , as it thinks fit. ( 3 ) The joint council shall meet from time to time for the purpose of consulting together on matters of common concern. [ F163 ( 4 ) No scheme under this rule shall be valid unless approved by at least two-thirds of the persons present and voting at the annual meeting nor shall the scheme provide for it to come into operation until such date as the bishop ’ s council and standing committee may determine being a date not later than the next ensuing annual meeting. Every such scheme shall on its approval be communicated to the bishop ’ s council and standing committee of the diocesan synod which may determine —

( a )

that the scheme shall come into operation; or

( b )

that the scheme shall not come into operation; or

( c )

that the scheme shall come into operation with specified amendments, if such amendments are approved by an annual or special parochial church meeting and the scheme as amended is approved by at least two-thirds of the persons present and voting at the meeting. ]

( 5 ) ( 6 ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F164 [ F165 ( 5 ) ] A special parochial church meeting of a parish to which this rule applies may be convened for the purpose of deciding whether to join in making such a scheme, and where such a meeting is convened the foregoing provisions shall have effect with the substitution for references to the annual meeting of references to the special meeting. [ F165 ( 6 ) ] Where a pastoral scheme or order, or any instrument of the bishop made by virtue of such a scheme or order, establishes a joint parochial church council for two or more of the parishes in a single benefice or two or more of the parishes in benefices held in plurality, no scheme under this rule relating to those parishes shall provide for the scheme to come into operation until on or after the date on which the provisions of the pastoral scheme, pastoral order or instrument, as the case may be, establishing the joint parochial church council cease to have effect. [ F165 ( 7 ) ] Where the provisions of a pastoral scheme or order for the holding of benefices in plurality are terminated under section [ F166 18 ( 2 ) of the Pastoral Measure 1983 ] , any provision of a scheme under this rule establishing a joint parochial church council for all or some of the parishes of those benefices and the other provisions thereof affecting that council shall cease to have effect on the date on which the first mentioned provisions cease to have effect. [ F165 ( 8 ) ] A scheme under this rule may be varied or revoked by a subsequent scheme thereunder to be. ]

[ F168 20. ] — (1) Where a team ministry is established for the area of a benefice which comprises more than one parish the annual meetings of the parishes in that area may make a joint scheme to provide — Provided that where the total number of persons in sub-paragraphs ( ii ) and ( iii ) above would otherwise number more than one quarter of the total membership of the team council they may, and where those persons number more than one third they shall select among themselves which members shall be members of the team council so that the total number of those persons shall not exceed more than one third of the council. ] (2) Subject to the scheme and to any pastoral scheme relating to the team council made under [ F175 paragraph 4 ( 3 ) ] of Schedule 3 to the said Measure [ F176 and to paragraph 19 of Schedule 2 to the Patronage ( Benefices ) Measure 1986 ] , the parochial church council of any such parish may delegate to the team council such of its functions, other than its functions as an interested party under the said Part I [ F177 and its functions under section 3 of the Priests ( Ordination of Women ) Measure 1993 ] , as it thinks fit. (3) The team council shall meet from time to time for the purpose of consulting together on matters of common concern. [ F178 ( 4 ) No scheme under this rule shall be valid unless approved by at least two-thirds of the persons present and voting at the annual meeting nor shall the scheme provide for it to come into operation until such date as the bishop ’ s council and standing committee may determine being a date not later than the next ensuing annual meeting. Every such scheme shall on its approval be communicated to the bishop ’ s council and standing committee of the diocesan synod which may determine —

( a )

that the scheme shall come into operation; or

( b )

that the scheme shall not come into operation; or

( c )

that the scheme shall come into operation with specified amendments, if such amendments are approved by an annual or special parochial church meeting and the scheme as amended is approved by at least two-thirds of the persons present and voting at that meeting. ]

(5)(6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F179 [ F180 ( 5 ) ] A special parochial church meeting of a parish to which this rule applies may be convened for the purpose of deciding whether to join in making such a scheme, and where such a meeting is convened the foregoing provisions shall have effect with the substitution for references to the annual meeting of references to the special meeting. [ F180 ( 6 ) ] Where a pastoral scheme establishing a team ministry, or an instrument of the bishop made by virtue of that scheme, establishes a team counil for that ministry, no scheme under this rule relating to that ministry shall provide for the scheme to come into operation until on or after the date on which the provisions of the pastoral scheme or of the instrument, as the case may be, establishing the team council to have effect. [ F180 ( 7 ) ] A scheme under this rule may be varied or revoked by a subsequent scheme thereunder to be. ]

[ F182 21. ] — (1) Where a pastoral scheme establishes a group ministry, the annual meetings of the parishes in the area for which the group ministry is established may make a joint scheme to provide — (2) If the area of a group ministry includes the area of a benefice for which a team ministry is established, a scheme under this rule shall provide for the vicars in that ministry, as well as the rector, and all the other members of the team to be members of the group council. (3) Paragraphs (2) to [ F186 ( 7 ) ] of rule [ F187 20 ] shall apply in relation to a scheme under this rule as they apply in relation to a scheme under this rule as they apply in relation to a scheme under that rule with the modification that for the references toa team ministry and a team council there shall be substituted references to a group ministry and a group council respectively [ F188 except that the functions of a parochial church council under Part II of the Patronage ( Benefices ) Measure 1986 [ F189 and section 3 of the Priests ( Ordination of Women ) Measure 1993 ] may not be delegated to a group council ] . ]

[ F191 22. ] — (1) In addition to the annual meeting the minister of a parish may convene a special parochial church meeting, and he shall do so on a written representation by not less than one-third of the lay members of the parochial church council; and the provisions of these rules relating to the convening and conduct of the annual meeting shall, with the necessary modifications, apply to a special parochial church meeting. (2) All lay persons whose names are entered on the roll of the parish on the day which is twenty-one clear days before the date on which any special parochial church meeting is to be held shall be entitled to attend the meeting and to take part in its proceedings, and no other lay person shall be so entitled. (3) A clerk in Holy Orders shall be entitled to attend any such meeting and to take part in its proceedings if by virtue of rule [ F192 6 ] (3), (4) or (5) he would have been entitled to attend the annual meeting of the parish had it been held on the same date, and no other such clerk shall be so entitled.

[ F193 23. ] — (1) On a written representation made to the archdeacon by not less than one-third of the lay members of the parochial church council, or by one tenth of the persons whose names are on the roll of the parish, and deemed by the archdeacon to have been made with sufficient cause, the archdeacon shall convene an extraordinary meeting of the parochial church council or an extraordinary parochial church meeting, and shall either take the chair himself or shall appoint a chairman to preside. The chairman, not being otherwise entitled to attend such meeting, shall not be entitled to vote upon any resolution before the meeting. (2) In any case where the archdeacon is himself the minister, any representation under paragraph (1) of this rule shall be made to the bishop, and in any such case the references to the archdeacon in paragraph (1) of this rule shall be construed as references to the bishop, or to a person appointed by him to act on his behalf. (3) Paragraphs (2) and (3) of rule [ F194 22 ] shall apply in relation to an extraordinary parochial church meeting under this rule as they apply in relation to a special parochial church meeting under that rule with the modification that for the word “ special ” in [ F194 paragraph ( 2 ) of that rule ] there shall be substituted the word “ extraordinary ” . ]

[ F195 24. ] — (1) A deanery synod shall consist of a house of clergy and a house of laity. (2) The members of the house of clergy of a deanery synod shall consist of —

(a)

the clerks in Holy Orders beneficed in or licensed to any parish in the deanery;

(b)

any clerks in Holy Orders licensed to institutions in the deanery under the M21 Extra-Parochial Ministry Measure 1967;

(c)

any clerical members of the General Synod or diocesan synod resident in the deanery;

F196 (d)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F196 (e)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[ F197 ( d )

such other clerks in Holy Orders holding the bishop ’ s licence to work throughout the diocese or in more than one deanery and resident in the deanery subject to any direction which may be given by the members of the House of Clergy of the bishop ’ s council that, having regard to the number of parochial and non-parochial clergy in the deanery, such clerk shall have membership of a specified deanery synod other than the deanery where he resides provided that no person shall thereby be a member of more than one deanery synod in the diocese.

( e )

one or more retired clerks in Holy Orders who are in receipt of a pension in accordance with the provisions of the Clergy Pensions Measure 1961 at the relevant date.One clerk may be elected or chosen for every ten retired clerks or part thereof, elected or chosen in such manner as may be approved by the bishop by and from the retired clerks who are in receipt of such a pension, are resident in the deanery and do not hold the licence of the bishop. ]

[ F198 [ F199 ( 3 ) ] Where an extra parochial place is not in a deanery it shall be deemed for the pruposes of these rules to belong to the deanery which it abuts and if there is any doubt in the matter a determination shall be made by the bishop ’ s council and standing committee. ] [ F200 [ F199 ( 4 ) ] For the purposes of [ F201 paragraph [ F202 ( 2 ) ( e ) of this rule ] ] the relevant date shall be the 31st December in the year immdiately preceding any eleciton of the parochial representatives of the laity, and as soon as possible after that date the rural dean of the deanery shall inform the bishop of the number of clerks in Holy Orders who are qualified for membership of the deanery synod by virtue of that sub-paragraph. ] [ F203 [ F199 ( 5 ) ] Not later than 1st July following the election of parochial representatives of the laity to the deanery synod the secretary of the said synod shall send to the diocesan electoral registration officer appointed in accordance with rule [ F204 29 ] a list of the names and addresses of the members of the house of clergy, specifying the class of membership, and shall keep the said officer informed of subsequent changes in membership. ] [ F199 ( 6 ) ] [ F205 Subject to the provisions of rule [ F206 1 ( 4 ) ] ] the members of the house of laity of a deanery synod shall consist of [ F207 the following persons, that is to say ] —

(a)

the parochial representatives elected to the synod by the annual meetings of the parishes of the deanery;

(b)

any lay members of the General Synod [ F208 a diocesan synod or an area synod constituted in accordance with section 17 of the M22 Dioceses Measure 1978 ] whose names are entered on the roll of any parish in the deanery;

[ F209 ( c )

if in the opinion of the bishop of the diocese any community of persons in the deanery who are in the spiritual care of a chaplain licensed by the bishop should be represented in that house, one lay person, being an actual communicant member of the Church of England of eighteen years or upwards, chosen in such manner as may be approved by the bishop by and from among the members of that community ]

F210 (d)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[ F211 ( d )

the deaconesses and lay workers licensed by the bishop to work in any part of the deanery;

( e )

such other deaconesses or lay workers holding the bishop ’ s licence to work throughout the diocese or in more than one deanery and resident in the deanery subject to any direction which may be given by the members of the House of Laity of the bishop ’ s council that, having regard to the number of deaconesses or lay workers in the deanery, such person shall have membership of a specified deanery synod other than the deanery where they reside provided that no person shall thereby be a member of more than one deanery synod in the diocese. ]

[ F199 ( 7 ) ] The house of clergy and house of laity of a deanery synod may co-opt additional members of their respective houses, being clerks in Holy Orders or, as the case may be, lay persons who shall be actual communicant members of the Church of England of [ F212 eighteen years or upwards ] :

[ F213 Provided that the number of members co-opted by either house shall not exceed five per cent. of the total number of members of that house or three, whichever is the greater. ]

[  F214 The names and addresses of co-opted members shall be sent by the secretary of the deanery synod to the diocesan electoral registration officer appointed in accordance with rule [ F215 29 ] . ]

[ F216 25. ] — (1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F217 The parochial representatives of the laity elected by annual meetings shall be so elected every three years, and shall hold office for a term of three years beginning with the 1st June next following their election. (2) The numbers to be so elected from the several parishes shall be determined by resolution of the diocesan synod not later than the [ F218 31st December ] in the year preceding any such elections, and those numbers shall be related to the numbers of names on the rolls of the parishes as certified . . . F219 under rule 4 F220 . . . [ F221 provided that such resolution shall not make it possible for a parish with fewer than 26 names on the roll to have more than one representative. ] (3) Not later than the 31st December in the year preceding any such elections, the secretary of the diocesan synod shall certify to the secretary of each parochial church council the number of such representatives to be elected at the annual meeting of the parish F222 . . . and shall send to the secretary of each deanery synod copies of the certificates and information relating to the parishes of the deanery. [ F223 ( 4 ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F217 Any person to be chosen as mentioned in rule [ F224 [  F225 24 ( 2 ) ( e ) ] or ] [  F225 24 ( 6 ) ( c ) ] shall be so chosen every three years and shall hold office for a term of three years beginning with the 1st June next following the date on which he is so chosen. ] [ F226 ( 5 ) ] F227 . . . F228 [ A direction by the appropriate members of the Bishop ’ s Council making provision under rule 24 ( 2 ) ( d ) or 24 ( 6 ) ( e ) ] for the membership of the clerks in Holy Orders or the deaconesses or lay workers therein mentioned may provide for the choice by a class of such persons of some of their number to be members, and for the term of office of persons so chosen. [ F229 ( 6 ) ] The diocesan synod shall exercise their powers under this and the last preceding rule so as to secure that the total number of members of any deanery synod in the diocese shall not be more than 150 and, so far as practicable, shall not be less than 50:

Provided that the maximum number of 150 may be exceeded for the purpose of securing that the house of laity is not less in number than the house of clergy.

[ F230 For the avoidance of doubt it is hereby declared that the number 150 specified in this paragraph includes the maximum number of members who may be co-opted by each house. ]

20A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F231

[ F232 26. ] — (1) If it appears to the diocesan synod that the preceding rules in this Part relating to the membership of deanery synods ought to be varied to meet the special circumstances of the diocese or the deaneries and to secure better representation of clergy or laity or both on the deanery synods, they may make a scheme for such variation, and, if the scheme comes into operation under this rule, the said rules shall have effect subject to the scheme:

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F233 (2) Copies of every such scheme must be sent to members of the diocesan synod at least fourteen days before the session at which they are considered, and every such scheme shall require the assent of the [ F234 house of bishops and of a two-thirds majority of the members of each of the other houses ] of the synod present and voting. [ F235 ( 3 ) A scheme approved by the diocesan synod as aforesaid shall be laid before the General Synod. ( 4 ) If a member of the General Synod gives notice in accordance with the Standing Orders of that Synod that he wishes such a scheme to be debated, the scheme shall not come into operation unless it is approved by the General Synod. ( 5 ) If no notice is given under paragraph ( 4 ) of this rule with respect to any such scheme, or such notice having been given, the scheme is approved by the General Synod, it shall come into operation on the day after the end of the group of sessions during which it was laid before, or approved by, the General Synod or on such date as may be specified in the scheme. ]

[ F236 27. ] — (1) Any diocesan synod may provide by scheme for the representation on such deanery synod as may be determined by or under the scheme — (2) [ F238 The provisions of rule 21 ( 2 ) ] shall apply to schemes made under this rule.

[ F239 28. ] — (1) The diocesan synod shall make rules for deanery synods which shall provide — and may provide for such other matters consistent with these rules as the diocesan synod think fit. (2) Subject to any such rules, the deanery synod shall have power to determine its own procedure.

[ F242 29. ] [ F243 ( 1 ) ] In every diocese, there shall be a diocesan electoral registration officer who shall be appointed by the bishop ’ s council and standing committee of the diocesan synod and who shall record the names and addresses of all members of the House of Clergy and House of Laity of the deanery synods in the diocese in two registers (in these rules respectively referred to as “ the register of clerical electors ” and “ the register of lay electors ” ); the members co-opted to the house shall be listed separately in the appropriate register. [ F244 ( 2 ) The diocesan electoral registration officer shall not later than twenty one days before the nomination papers are circulated send a copy of the names and addresses of clerical electors and lay electors as recorded by him to the secretary of the deanery synod of which those electors are members and the secretary of the deanery synod shall within seven days of receipt certify in writing to the electoral registration officer that the names and addresses are correct or notify him in writing of any necessary corrections. F244 ( 3 ) The diocesan electoral registration officer shall, not later than seven days before nomination papers are circulated, send a copy of the corrected names and addresses of electors to the appropriate presiding officer in the election. ]

[ F245 30. ] — (1) A diocesan synod shall consist of [ F246 a house of bishops ] , a house of clergy and a house of laity. [ F247 [ F248 ( 2 ) ] The members of the house of bishops shall consist of the bishop of the diocese, every suffragan bishop of the diocese and such other person or persons, being a person or persons in episcopal orders working in the diocese, as the bishop of the diocese, with the concurrence of the archbishop of the province, may nominate. [ F248 ( 3 ) ] The bishop of the diocese shall be the president of the diocesan synod. ] [ F248 ( 4 ) ] The members of the house of clergy shall consist of —

(a)

the following ex-officio members, that is to say: —

[ F249 ( i ) any person or persons in episcopal orders nominated by the bishop of the diocese, other than a suffragan bishop or a person nominated under paragraph [ F250 ( 2 ) ] of this rule; ]

(ii) the dean or provost of the cathedral (including in appropriate dioceses, the Dean of Westminster, the Dean of Windsor and the Deans of Jersey and Guernsey);

(iii) the archdeacons;

(iv) the proctors elected from the diocese or from any university in the diocese (the University of London being [ F251 treated for this purpose as being ] wholly in the diocese of London) to the Lower House of the Convocation of the Province F252 . . .;

[ F253 ( v ) any other member of that House, being the person chosen by and from among the clerical members of religious communities in the Province, who resides in the diocese; ]

[ F254 ( vi ) ] the chancellor of the diocese (if in Holy Orders); and

[ F254 ( vii ) ] the chairman of the diocesan board of finance [ F255 and the chairman of the diocesan advisory committee ] (if in Holy Orders);

(b)

members elected by the houses of clergy of the deanery synods in the diocese in accordance with the next following rules; and

(c)

not more than five members (being clerks in Holy Orders) co-opted by the house of clergy of the diocesan synod.

[ F248 ( 5 ) ] The members of the house of laity shall consist of: —

(a)

the following ex-officio members, that is to say: —

(i) the chancellor of the diocese (if not in Holy Orders);

(ii) the chairman of the diocesan board of finance [ F255 and the chairman of the diocesan advisory committee ] (if not in Holy Orders);

(iii) the members elected from the diocese to the House of Laity of the General Synod F256 . . .;

[ F257 ( iv ) any other member of that House, being [ F258 an ex officio or co-opted member of the House of Laity of the General Synod or a ] person chosen by and from among the lay members of religious communities in the Province, who resides in the diocese; ]

(b)

members elected by the houses of laity of the deanery synods in the diocese in accordance with the next following rules; and

(c)

not more than five members co-opted by the house of laity of the diocesan synod, who shall be F259 . . . [ F260 actual communicants ] of age to vote at a Parliamentary election.

[ F248 ( 6 ) ] The bishop of the diocese may nominate ten additional members of the diocesan synod, who may be of the clergy or the laity and shall be members of the appropriate house. [ F261 Except in regard to their appointment the nominated members shall have the same rights and be subject to the same rules as elected members. Where necessary the bishop ’ s council and standing committee shall designate the deanary synod of which the nominated member shall be a member and, where a nominated lay person is on more than one electoral roll, he shall choose the parochial council of which he is to be a member. ] F262 [ F248 ( 7 ) ] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [ F263 ( 7 ) No person shall be entitled to be a member of more than one diocesan synod at the same time except —

( a )

the chancellor of the diocese;

( b )

a suffragan bishop appointed to act as a provincial episcopal visitor for the purposes of the Episcopal Ministry Act of Synod 1993 who, in addition, to membership of the diocesan synod of the diocese of which he is suffragan, may be invited by the bishop of the diocese where he resides to be a member of that diocesan synod in accordance with paragraph ( 2 ) or paragraph ( 4 ) ( a ) ( i ) of this rule provided that he shall exercise his vote on a matter referred by the General Synod under Article 8 of the Constitution only in the diocesan synod of the diocese of which he is suffragan. ]

[  F264 ( 8 ) The registrar of the diocese and any deputy registrar of the diocesan synod shall be disqualified from standing for election to the diocesan synod or from being a nominated, co-opted or ex officio member of that synod. ]

[ F265 31. ] — (1) The elections of members of the diocesan synod by the houses of clergy and laity of the deanery synods in the diocese shall take place every three years, and the members so elected shall hold office for a term [ F266 of three years beginning with the 1st [ F267 August ] next following their election ] . (2) Any clerk in Holy Orders who is a member of the deanery synod F268 . . . shall be qualified to be so elected by the house of clergy of a deanery synod, and the electors shall be [ F269 those whose names and addresses are recorded in the register of clerical electors ]  F268 . . . [ F270 being the persons referred to in rule 24 ( 2 ) and not including the persons co-opted to the deanery synod under rule 24 ( 7 ) ] :

Provided that no clerk shall stand for election by more than one deanery synod.

(3) [ F271 Subject to the provisions of rule [ F272 1 ( 4 ) ] ] any lay person who is an actual communicant F273 . . . [ F274 as defined in rule 54 ( 1 ) ] of [ F275 eighteen years or upwards ] and whose name is entered on the roll of any parish in the deanery or who is a lay person declared by the dean to be a habitual worshipper at the cathedral church of the diocese and to be associated with the deanery, shall be qualified to be so elected by the house of laity of a deanery synod, and the electors shall be [ F276 those whose names and addresses are recorded in the register of lay electors ] other than F273 . . .. ] [  F277 persons co-opted to the deanery synod under rule 24 ( 7 ) ]

. . . F278

[ F279 [ F280 ( 4 ) ] The qualifying date for electors under paragraphs ( 2 ) and ( 3 ) of this rule and when a casual vacancy is being filled shall be 6.00 a.m. on the date on which the nomination papers are issued. [ F280 ( 5 ) ] The register of clerical electors and the register of lay electors shall be open to inspection at the diocesan office and any errors and omissions in the list may be corrected until the close of nominations. Thereafter no names may be added or removed until the declaration of the result of the election and those persons whose names are entered in the register shall be the qualified electors entitled to vote in that election. ] [ F280 ( 6 ) ] The diocesan synod shall, not later than the [ F281 31st December ] in the year preceding any such election determine the numbers of members to be so elected by the houses of the several deanery synods in the diocese, and the numbers shall —

(a)

in the case of elections by the houses of clergy, be related to the numbers of members of those houses in the respective deanery synods;

(b)

in the case of elections by the houses of laity, be related to the total numbers of names on the rolls of the parishes in the respective deaneries as certified . . . F282 under rule 4:

Provided that at least two members shall be elected by each house of every deanery synod.

F283 (7) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [ F284 ( 7 ) For the purpose of such determination by the diocesan synod, the secretary of every deanery synod shall, not later than the 1st June, certify to the secretary of the diocesan synod the number of members of the house of clergy of the synod as at the 30th April. ] [ F280 ( 8 ) ] The diocesan synod shall so exercise their powers under this rule as to secure that the number of members of the synod is not less than 150 and not more than 270 and that the numbers of the F285 . . . [ F286 houses of clergy and laity ] are approximately equal:

. . . F287

[ F288 For the avoidance of doubt it is hereby declared that the [ F289 number 270 specified in this paragraph includes ] the maximum number of members who may be co-opted by each house or nominated by the bishop. ] [ F280 ( 9 ) ] Not later than the 31st December in each year preceding any such elections, the secretary of the diocesan synod shall certify to the secretary of every deanery synod the numbers determined under this rule for that deanery synod.

[ F290 32. ] — [ F291 ( 1 ) Elections of members of the diocesan synod by the houses of the deanery synods shall be completed by the 15th day of July, the period and dates of the election being fixed by the bishop of the diocese and communicated to the secretaries of the deanery synods. ( 2 ) The bishop shall appoint the presiding officers for the elections by the houses of the deanery synods, provided that no person shall be appointed as a presiding officer for an election by a house F292 . . .of which he is a member. The expenses of elections shall be paid out of diocesan funds. [ F293 ( 3 ) ] The diocesan electoral registration officer shall furnish the presiding officer with the names and addresses of the qualified electors and the presiding officer shall ensure that the persons qualified to nominate and vote in elections to the diocesan synod, and only such persons, shall be sent or given nomination and voting papers in respect of the said election at the address entered against their names in the register of electors. ] [ F293 ( 4 ) ] Every candidate must be nominated and seconded by a qualified elector. A notice in the form set out in section 5 of Appendix I indicating the number of seats to be filled and inviting nominations shall be dispatched to every elector by the presiding officer . . . F294 Nominations in the form set out in section 6 of Appendix I shall be F295 . . . [ F296 delivered either by post, by facsimile transmission or in person to the presiding officer of the area within such period, being a period of not less than fourteen days ending on a date specified by the presiding officer, provided that where a nomination paper has been sent by facsimile transmission the name of the candidate shall not appear on the voting paper unless the original nomination paper has been received by the presiding officer within three days of the closing date for nominations.The nomination form shall be accompanied by a statement signed by the candidate stating his willingness to serve if elected and, if he so desires, setting out in not more than 100 words a factual statement for circulation with the voting papers of the candidate ’ s professional qualifications, present office and any relevant past experience. ] F297 [ F293 ( 5 ) ] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [ F298 ( 5 ) It shall be the duty of the presiding officer —

( a )

to scrutinise nomination papers as soon as they have been lodged and shall, without delay, inform the candidate concerned whether the nomination is valid.Where the nomination is invalid the presiding officer shall give his reasons for so ruling and if, by the close of the nomination period, no valid nomination is received, the candidate shall be excluded from the election;

( b )

to supply free of charge to a duly nominated candidate in the election one copy of the names and addresses of the qualified electors within seven days of receiving his written request. ]

[ F293 ( 6 ) ] If more candidates are nominated than there are seats to be filled the names of the candidates nominated shall be circulated on a voting paper in the form set out [ F299 either in section 7 or in section 8 of Appendix I to every qualified elector. The diocesan synod shall, not later than the 31st December in each year preceding any such election as is referred to in rule [ F300 31 ] , [ F301 make a determination as to which form of voting paper is to be used by the deaneries in that election, and that ] determination shall apply to any election to fill a casual vacancy which occurs during the next ensuing three years. ] [ F293 ( 7 ) ] The voting paper marked and [ F302 , on the reverse thereof, signed by the elector and with his full name written. ] shall be returnable to the presiding officer within such period not being less than 14 days as he shall specify . . . F303 No vote shall be counted if given on a voting paper not in accordance with this paragraph. [ F293 ( 8 ) ] Where [ F304 voting papers in the form set out in section 7 of Appendix I have been used and ] owing to an equality of votes an election is not decided, the decision between the persons for whom the equal numbers of votes have been cast shall be taken by lot by the presiding officer. [ F305 [ F293 ( 9 ) ] Where voting papers in the form set out in section 8 of Appendix I are used, the election shall be conducted under rules, with the necessary modifications, made by the General Synod under rule [ F306 39 ( 7 ) ] and for the time being in force. ] [ F307 [  F293 ( 10 ) ] ] A return of the result of the election shall be sent by the presiding officer to the secretary of the diocesan synod and a statement of the result shall be sent by [ F308 the presiding officer ] to every candidate not later than the 1st [ F309 August ] in each election year.