Synodical Government Measure 1969

[F1 18] (1) In any parish where there are two or more churches or [F2 places of worship] the annual meeting may make a scheme, [F3 which makes provision for either or both of the following purposes, that is to say]:—

(a) for the election of representatives of the laity to the parochial church council in such manner as to ensure due representation of the congregation of each such church or [F4 place][F5 and]

[F6 (b) for the election by the annual meeting for any district in the parish in which a church or place of worship is situated of a district church council for that district]

(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.

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

[F8 (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) [F9 A scheme may] provide for the election or choice of one or two deputy churchwardens . . . F10 , and for the delegation to him or them of such functions of the churchwardens relating to [F11 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.

[F12 (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.]

[F13 (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.]

[F14 [F15 (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 [F16 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.]

[F17 (6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F18

[F15 (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.

[F15 (8)] A scheme under this rule may by varied or revoked by a subsequent scheme thereunder.

[F15 (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.

[F15 (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 [F19 27(5) of the M1 Pastoral Measure 1983].

[F15 (11)] In this rule “place of worship” means a building or part of a building licensed for public worship.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Sch. 3 rule 18 (originally 16) renumbered (1.1.1995) by S.I. 1994/3118, para. 20.

F2 Words substituted by S.I. 1981/959, para. 7(1).

F3 Words substituted by S.I. 1973/1865, para. 10(a).

F4 Word substituted by S.I. 1981/959, para. 7(1).

F5 Word substituted by S.I. 1973/1865, para. 10(b).

F6 Rule 16(1)(b) substituted by S.I. 1981/959, para. 7(2).

F7 Sch. 3 Rule 18 para. (3) omitted (1.3.1998) by virtue of S.I. 1998/319, arts. 1, 5(3).

F8 Sch. 3 Rule 18 para. (3) inserted (1.3.1998) by S.I. 1998/319, art. 1.

F9 Words substituted by S.I. 1984/1039, para. 9(2).

F10 Words repealed by S.I. 1984/1039, para. 9(3).

F11 Words substituted by S.I. by virtue of S.I. 1984/1039, para. 9(4).

F12 Rule 16(5) substituted by S.I. 1984/1039, para. 9(5).

F13 Sch. 3 Rule 18 para. (5A) inserted (1.3.1998) by S.I. 1998/319, art. 2.

F14 Sch. 3 rule 16(5A) inserted by S.I. 1989/2094, para. 3.

F15 Sch. 3 rule 18 paras. (6)-(11) formerly (5A)-(10) (1.1.1995) by S.I. 1994/3118, para. 20(a)

F16 Words in Sch. 3 rule 18 para. (6) inserted (1.3.1998) by S.I. 1998/319, art. 3.

F17 Rule 16(6)–(11) substituted for rule 16(6) by S.I. 1981/959, para. 7(5).

F18 Sch. 3 rule 16(6) repealed by S.I. 1984/1039, para. 9(6).

F19 Words substituted by S.I. 1984/1039, para. 9(7).

Marginal Citations

M1 1983 No. 1 (21:4).