Synodical Government Measure 1969

[F1 [F2 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—

(a) for establishing a joint parochial church council (hereinafter referred to as “the joint council”) comprising the ministers of the parishes and such numbers of representatives of each of those parishes elected by and from among the other members of the parochial church council of the parish as may be specified in the scheme;

(b) for the chairmanship, meetings and procedure of the joint council;

(c) [F3 subject to paragraph 20 of Schedule 2 to the Patronage (Benefices) Measure 1986] for the delegation by the parochial church council of each such parish to the joint council of such of its functions, other than its functions as an interested party under Part I of the Pastoral Measure [F4 1983][F5 and its functions under section 3 of the Priests (Ordination of Women) Measure 1993], as may be so specified.

(2) Subject to the scheme and to any pastoral scheme or order made under paragraph 13 of Schedule 3 to the said Measure [F6 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 [F7 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.

[F8 (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) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F9

[F10 (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.

[F10 (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.

[F10 (7)] Where the provisions of a pastoral scheme or order for the holding of benefices in plurality are terminated under section [F11 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.

[F10 (8)] A scheme under this rule may be varied or revoked by a subsequent scheme thereunder to be.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Rule 17 substituted by S.I. 1981/959, para. 8.

F2 Sch. 3 rule 19 (originally 17) renumbered (1.1.1995) by S.I. 1994/3118, para. 20.

F3 Words inserted by Patronage (Benefices) Measure 1986 (No. 3, SIF 21:4), s. 41(1), Sch. 4 para. 13(b)(i).

F4 Word substituted by S.I. 1984/1039, para. 10(1).

F5 Words in Sch. 3 rule 17(1)(c) inserted (1.2.1994) by 1993 Measure No. 2, s. 10, Sch. 3 para. 3(b)(i); Instrument dated 31.1.1994 made by Archbishops of Canterbury and York.

F6 Words inserted by Patronage (Benefices) Measure 1986 (No. 3, SIF 21:4), s. 41(1), Sch. 4 para. 13(b)(ii).

F7 Words in Sch. 3 rule 17(2) inserted (1.2.1994) by 1993 Measure No. 2, s. 10, Sch. 3 para. 3(b)(ii); Instrument dated 31.1.1994 made by Archbishops of Canterbury and York.

F8 Rule 17(4) substituted by S.I. 1984/1039, para. 10(2).

F9 Rule 17(5)(6) (as substituted by S.I. 1981/959, para. 8) repealed by S.I. 1984/1039, para 10(3).

F10 Rule 17(5) to (8) (originally (7) to (10)) renumbered by S.I. 1984/1039, para. 10(3).

F11 Words substituted by S.I. 1984/1039, para. 10(4).