Synodical Government Measure 1969

Procedure of Diocesan SynodsE

28(1)The diocesan synod shall make standing orders which shall provide—

(a)that the bishop need not be chairman of its meetings if and to the extent that standing orders otherwise provide;

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

(c)that a specified minimum number of meetings being [F1in the case of a diocese in which area synods have been constituted in accordance with section 17 of the M1Dioceses Measure 1978, not less than one, and in the case of any other diocese] not less than two shall be held in each year;

(d)that a meeting of the diocesan synod shall be held if not less than a specified number of members of the synod so request;

(e)that subject to the [F2three] next following sub-paragraphs, nothing shall be deemed to have the assent of the diocesan synod unless the three [F3houses] which constitute the synod have assented thereto [F4but that if in the case of a particular question [F5(except a matter referred to the diocesan synod by the General Synod under the provisions of Article 8 of the Constitution) the diocesan bishop] (if present) so directs, that question shall be deemed to have the assent of the house of bishops only if the majority of the members of that house who assent thereto includes [F5the diocesan bishop];

(f)that questions relating only to the conduct of business shall be decided by the votes of all the members of the diocesan synod present and voting, . . . F6

[F7(g)that every other question shall be decided by the votes of all the members of the diocesan synod present and voting, the assent of the three Houses being presumed, unless the diocesan bishop (if present) requires or any ten members require that a separate vote of each House be taken.]

[F8(h)]that if the votes of the houses of clergy and laity are in favour of any matter referred to the diocesan synod by the General Synod under the provisions of Article 8 of Schedule 2 to this Measure, that matter shall be deemed to have been approved for the purposes of the said Article;

[F9(i)]that where there is an equal division of votes in the house of bishops, [F10the diocesan bishop] shall have a second or casting vote;

[F9(j)]that [F11the diocesan bishop] shall have a right to require that his opinion on any question shall be recorded in the minutes;]

[F12(k)]that there shall be a bishop’s council and standing committee of the diocesan synod with such membership as may be provided by standing orders and with the functions exercisable by it under section 4(4) of the Measure and such other functions as may be provided by the standing orders or by these rules or by any Measure or Canon;

and may contain such further provisions consistent with these rules as the diocesan synod shall consider appropriate.

[F13(2)No person shall be entitled to serve as a member of more than one bishop’s council and standing committee at the same time.]

[F14(3)]The registrar of the diocese shall be the registrar of the diocesan synod, and may appoint a deputy.

Textual Amendments

F1Words inserted by S.I. 1980/178, para. 11(1)

F2Word substituted by S.I. 1984/1039, para. 19(1)

F3Word substituted by S.I. 1980/178, para. 11(2)

F4Words inserted by S.I. 1980/178, para. 11(2)

F5Words substituted by S.I. 1984/1039, para. 19(1)

F6Words repealed by S.I. 1984/1039, para. 19(2)

F8Rule 28(1)(h) (originally 28(1)(g) relettered by S.I. 1984/1039, para. 19(4)

F9Rule 28(1)(h)(i) inserted by S.I. 1980/178, para. 11(4); relettered 28(1)(i)(j) by S.I. 1984/1039, para. 19(4)

F10Words substituted by S.I. 1984/1039, para. 19(4)

F11Words substituted by S.I. 1984/1039, para. 19(5)

F12Rule 28(1)(k) (originally 28(1)(h)) relettered by S.I. 1980/178, para. 11(5) and 1984/1039, para. 19(4)

F14Rule 28(3) (originally 28(2)) renumbered by S.I. 1980/178, para. 11(6)

Marginal Citations

M11978 No. 1 (21:3).