Synodical Government Measure 1969

Part III E Deanery Synods

Membership E

[F1 24] (1) A deanery synod shall consist of a house of clergy and a house of laity. E

(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 M1 Extra-Parochial Ministry Measure 1967;

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

F2 (d) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F2 (e) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F3 (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.]

[F4 [F5 (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.]

[F6 [F5 (4)] For the purposes of [F7 paragraph [F8 (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.]

[F9 [F5 (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 [F10 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.]

[F5 (6)] [F11 Subject to the provisions of rule [F12 1(4)]] the members of the house of laity of a deanery synod shall consist of [F13 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 [F14 a diocesan synod or an area synod constituted in accordance with section 17 of the M2 Dioceses Measure 1978] whose names are entered on the roll of any parish in the deanery;

[F15 (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]

F16 (d) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F17 (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.]

[F5 (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 [F18 eighteen years or upwards]:

[F19 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.]

[F20 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 [F21 29].]

Textual Amendments

F1 Sch. 3 rule 24 (originally 19) renumbered (1.1.1995) by S.I. 1994/3118, para. 21.

F2 Sch. 3 rule 24(2)(d)(e) omitted (1.1.1995) by virtue of S.I. 1994/3118, para. 21.

F3 Sch. 3 rule 24(2)(d)(e) inserted (1.1.1995) by S.I. 1994/3118, para. 21.

F4 Rule 19(2A) inserted by S.I. 1984/1039, para. 13(1).

F5 Sch. 3 rule 24(3)-(7) (originally (2A)-(4)) renumbered (1.1.1995) by S.I. 1994/3118, para. 21.

F6 Rule 19(2A) inserted by S.I. 1980/178, para. 5(2); renumbered 19(2B) by S.I. 1984/1039, para. 13(2).

F7 Words substituted by S.I. 1984/1039, para. 13(2).

F8 Words in Sch. 3 rule 24(4) amended (1.1.1995) by S.I. 1994/3118, para. 63, Sch.

F9 Sch. 3 rule 19(2C) inserted by S.I. 1989/2094, para. 6(1).

F10 Words in Sch. 3 rule 24(5) amended (1.1.1995) by S.I. 1994/3118, para. 63, Sch.

F11 Words inserted by S.I. 1973/1865, para. 11(1)(a).

F12 Words in Sch. 3 rule 24(6) amended (1.1.1995) by S.I. 1994/3118, para. 63, Sch.

F13 Words inserted by S.I. 1973/1865, para. 11(1)(b).

F14 Words substituted by S.I. 1980/178, para. 5(3).

F15 Rule 19(3)(c) inserted by S.I. 1973/1865, para. 11(1)(c).

F16 Sch. 3 rule 19(3)(d) omitted (1.1.1995) by virtue of S.I. 1994/3118, para. 21.

F17 Sch. 3 rule 24(6)(d)(e) inserted (1.1.1995) by S.I. 1994/3118, para.22

F18 Words substituted by S.I. 1973/1865, para. 11(2).

F19 Rule 19(4) proviso substituted by S.I. 1973/1865, para. 11(2).

F20 Words inserted by S.I. 1989/2094, para. 6(2).

F21 Words in Sch. 3 rule 24(7) amended (1.1.1995) by S.I. 1994/3118, para. 63, Sch.

Marginal Citations

M1 1967 No. 2.

M2 1978 No. 1.

Election and choice of members E

[F22 25] (1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F23 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. E

(2) The numbers to be so elected from the several parishes shall be determined by resolution of the diocesan synod not later than the [F24 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 . . . F25 under rule 4 F26 . . . [F27 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 F28 . . . and shall send to the secretary of each deanery synod copies of the certificates and information relating to the parishes of the deanery.

[F29 (4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F23 Any person to be chosen as mentioned in rule [F30 [F31 24(2)(e)] or][F31 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.]

[F32 (5)] F33 . . . F34 [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.

[F35 (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.

[F36 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.]

Textual Amendments

F22 Sch. 3 rule 25 (originally 20) renumbered (1.1.1995) by S.I. 1994/3118, para. 23

F23 Words repealed by S.I. 1984/1039, para. 14(1)

F24 Words substituted by S.I. 1973/1865, para. 12(1)

F25 Words repealed by S.I. 1973/1865, para. 12(1)

F26 Words in Sch. 3 rule 25 para. (2) omitted (1.1.1995) by virtue of S.I. 1994/3118, para. 23(a).

F27 Words in Sch. 3 rule 25 para. (2) inserted (1.1.1995) by S.I. 1994/3118, para. 23(a).

F28 Words in Sch. 3 rule 25 para. (3) omitted (1.1.1996) by virtue of S.I. 1995/3243, para. 6.

F29 Rule 20(4) added by S.I. 1973/1865, para. 12(2)

F30 Words inserted by S.I. 1980/178, para. 6

F31 Words in Sch. 3 rule 20(4) amended (1.1.1995) by S.I. 1994/3118, para. 63, Sch.

F32 Rule 20(5) (originally 20(4)) re-numbered by S.I. 1973/1865, para. 12(3)

F33 Words in Sch. 3 rule 25 para. (5) omitted (1.1.1995) by virtue of S.I. 1994/3118, para. 23(b).

F34 Words in Sch. 3 rule 25 para. (5) inserted (1.1.1995) by S.I. 1994/3118, para. 23(b).

F35 Rule 20(6) (originally 20(5)) re-numbered by S.I. 1973/1865, para. 12(4)

F36 Para. added by S.I. 1973/1865, para. 12(4)

20A E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F37

Textual Amendments

F37 Sch. 3 rule 20A repealed by S.I. 1984/1039, para. 14(2)

Variation of Membership of Deanery Synods by Scheme E

[F38 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: E

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F39

(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 [F40 house of bishops and of a two-thirds majority of the members of each of the other houses] of the synod present and voting.

[F41 (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.]

Textual Amendments

F38 Sch. 3 rule 26 (originally 21) renumbered (1.1.1995) by S.I. 1994/3118, para. 24.

F39 Rule 21(1) proviso repealed by S.I. 1973/1865, para. 12(13).

F40 Words substituted by S.I. 1980/178, para. 7.

F41 Rule 21(3)(4)(5) substiuted for rule 21(3) by S.I. 1980/178, para. 7.

Representation of Cathedral Clergy and Laity E

[F42 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—

(a) of the dean or provost, the residentiary canons and other ministers of the cathedral church of the diocese, or any of them; and

(b) of lay persons who

(i) in a parish church cathedral are on the electoral roll prepared under rule 1(1); or

(ii) in any other cathedral are declared by the dean to be habitual worshippers at the cathedral church of the diocese and whose names are not entered on the roll of any parish.

(2) [F43 The provisions of rule 21(2)] shall apply to schemes made under this rule.

Textual Amendments

F42 Sch. 3 rule 27 (originally 22) renumbered (1.1.1995) by S.I. 1994/3118, para. 24.

F43 Words in Sch. 3 rule 27(2) amended (1.1.1995) by S.I. 1994/3118, para. 63, Sch.

Procedure E

[F44 28] (1) The diocesan synod shall make rules for deanery synods which shall provide— E

(a) that the rural dean and a member of the house of laity elected by that house shall be joint chairmen of the deanery synod [F45 and that they shall agree between them who shall chair each meeting of the synod or particular items of business on the agenda of the synod.];

(b) that there shall be a secretary of the deanery synod;

(c) that a specified minimum number of meetings shall be held by the deanery synod in each year;

(d) that on such matters and in such circumstances as may be specified in the rules, voting shall be by houses, but that otherwise decisions shall be taken by a majority of the members of the synod present and voting;

(e) that there shall be a standing committee of the synod with such membership and functions as the rules may provide;

(f) that the synod shall prepare and circulate to all parochial church councils in the deanery a report of its proceedings;

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.

Textual Amendments

F44 Sch. 3 rule 28 (originally 23) renumbered (1.1.1995) by S.I. 1994/3118, para. 24.

F45 Words inserted by S.I. 1984/1039, para. 15.

[F46 Diocesan Electoral Registration Officer E

Textual Amendments

F46 Sch. 3 rule 23A inserted by S.I. 1989/2094, para. 7.

[F47 29] [F48 (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. E

[F49 (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.

F49 (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.]]

Textual Amendments

F47 Sch. 3 rule 29 (originally 23A) renumbered (1.1.1995) by S.I. 1994/3118, para. 24.

F48 Sch. 3 rule 29 renumbered rule 29 para.(1)(1.1.1995) by S.I. 1994/3118, para. 24.

F49 Sch. 3 rule 29 paras. (2)(3) inserted (1.1.1995) by S.I. 1994/3118, para. 24.