Synodical Government Measure 1969

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

(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—

(a) for vesting in the General Synod of the Church of England, being the Church Assembly renamed and reconstituted in accordance with this Measure, the functions, authority, rights and privileges of the said Convocations;

(b) for modifying the functions of the said Convocations when sitting separately for their provinces;

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.

Extent Information

E1 For extent to the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man see s. 9(3)-(5)

Marginal Citations

M1 1533 c. 19 (21:1)

M2 1966 c. 2 (21:1).

M3 1920 No. 1 (21:1).

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

(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.

Extent Information

E2 For extent to the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man see s. 9(3)-(5)

Marginal Citations

M4 1919 c. 76 (21:1).

M5 1925 No. 1 (21:1).

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

(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.

F2 (8) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Extent Information

E3 For extent to the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man see s. 9(3)-(5)

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 3(1)–(3)(5) repealed by Church of England (Worship and Doctrine) Measure 1974 (No. 3, SIF 21:7), s. 6(4), Sch. 2, with savings for matters done or pending immediately before 1.9.1975

F2 S. 3(8) repealed (22.7.2004) by Statute Law (Repeals) Act 2004 (c. 14), Sch. 1 Pt. 6 Group 5

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 “the said Convocations” means the Convocations of Canterbury and York

Marginal Citations

M6 1965 No. 4 (21:7).

M7 1963 No. 1(21:2).

4 Constitution and functions of Diocesan Synods. E

(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:

[F3 (d) to consider proposals for the annual budget for the diocese and to approve or disapprove them;

(e) to consider the annual accounts of the diocesan board of finance of the diocese.]

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 [F4 the standing orders of the diocesan synod under Rule 44] 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.

Textual Amendments

F3 S. 4(2)(d)(e) inserted (1.1.2004) by Synodical Government (Amendment) Measure 2003 (No. 1), ss. 1(1), 4(2); 2003 No. 2, Instrument made by Archbishops

F4 Words in s. 4(4) substituted (1.1.2020) by Church Representation and Ministers Measure 2019 (No. 1), s. 1(3), Sch. 2 para. 14; S.I. 2019/1460, art. 2

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C2 S. 4(4) restricted by Dioceses Measure 1978 (No. I, SIF 21:3), s. 4(4)

C3 S. 4(4) restricted (1.9.2008) by Dioceses, Pastoral and Mission Measure 2007 (No. 1), ss. 5(4), 66(2); 2008 No. 1, Instrument made by Archbishops

5 Constitution and functions of Deanery Synods. E

(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. E

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 :—

“2 General functions of council.

(1) It shall be the duty of the incumbent and the parochial church council to consult together on matters of general concern and importance to the parish.

(2) The functions of parochial church councils shall include—

(a) co-operation with the incumbent in promoting in the parish the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical ;

(b) the consideration and discussions of matters concerning the Church of England or any other matters of religious or public interest, but not the declaration of the doctrine of the Church on any question ;

(c) making known and putting into effect any provision made by the diocesan synod or the deanery synod, but without prejudice to the powers of the council on any particular matter ;

(d) giving advice to the diocesan synod and the deanery synod on any matter referred to to the council ;

(e) raising such matters as the council consider appropriate with the diocesan synod or deanery synod.

(3) In the exercise of its functions the parochial church council shall take into consideration any expression of opinion by any parochial church meeting.”.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C4 The text of s. 6 and Sch. 3 rule 11(2) is in the form in which it was originally enacted: it was not reproduced in Statutes in Force and does not reflect any amendments or repeals which may have been made prior to 1.2.1991.

Marginal Citations

M8 1956 No. 3.

7 Church Representation Rules. E

(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 F5 ...:

Provided that the said rules may at any time be amended by a resolution of the General Synod passed by a majority in each House of not less than two-thirds of those present and voting.

[F6 (1A) A resolution under this section may include transitional, transitory or saving provision in connection with the commencement of a provision of the resolution.

(1B) A resolution under this section may include consequential provision, including provision which amends, or which repeals or revokes a provision of, a Measure or an instrument made under a Measure.]

(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.

F7 (3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F5 Words in s. 7(1) omitted (1.1.2020) by virtue of Church Representation and Ministers Measure 2019 (No. 1), s. 1(3), Sch. 2 para. 15; S.I. 2019/1460, art. 2

F6 S. 7(1A)(1B) inserted (1.1.2020) by Church Representation and Ministers Measure 2019 (No. 1), s. 1(2)(3); S.I. 2019/1460, art. 2

F7 S. 7(3) repealed (22.7.2004) by Statute Law (Repeals) Act 2004 (c. 14), Sch. 1 Pt. 6 Group 5

Marginal Citations

M9 1946 c. 36 (115:2).

8 Transitional Provisions. E

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 M10 Interpretation Act 1889 as applied by the M11 Interpretation Measure 1925.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C5 References in s. 8 to s. 38 of the Interpretation Act 1889 (c. 63) and to the Interpretation Measure 1925 (No. 1, SIF 21:1) to be construed as referring to the corresponding provisions (ss. 16(1), 17(2)(a) and 22(3)) of the Interpretation Act 1978 (c. 30, SIF 115:1): Interpretation Act 1978 (c. 30, SIF 115:1), s. 25(2)

Marginal Citations

M10 1889 c. 63.

M11 1925 No. 1 (21:1).

9 Short title, interpretation and extent. E

(1) This Measure may be cited as the Synodical Government Measure 1969.

(2) In this Measure F8 ... “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 F9 ... 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 M12 Channel Islands (Church Legislation) Measures 1931 and M13 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 M14 Channel Islands (Representation) Measure 1931 and of the M15 said Channel Islands (Church Legislation) Measure 1931 as may be necessary or expedient in consequence of the provisions of this Measure.

Textual Amendments

F8 Words in s. 9(2) repealed (22.7.2004) by Statute Law (Repeals) Act 2004 (c. 14), Sch. 1 Pt. 6 Group 5

F9 Words in s. 9(4) repealed (22.7.2004) by Statute Law (Repeals) Act 2004 (c. 14), Sch. 1 Pt. 6 Group 5

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C6 4.11.1970 appointed under s. 9(2)

Marginal Citations

M12 1931 No. 4 (21:1).

M13 1957 No. 1 (21:1).

M14 1931 No. 5 (21:1).

M15 1931 No. 4 (21:1).