Part I Institution of Enquiry into Pastoral Situation in a Parish
F11A Request for enquiry into pastoral situation in a parish.
1
A request for an enquiry under this Part of this Measure into the pastoral situation in a parish on the ground that there has been a serious breakdown of the pastoral relationship between the incumbent and F2the parishioners to which the conduct of the incumbent or of F2the parishioners or of both has contributed over a substantial period may F3, subject to subsection (1A) below be made by—
a
the incumbent of the benefice to which the parish belongs; or
b
the archdeacon in whose archdeaconry the parish is; or
c
a majority of not less than two-thirds of the lay members of the parochial church council of the parish present and voting at a duly convened meeting of that council on a resolution that the request be made; or
d
where the incumbent mentioned in paragraph (a) above is the archdeacon mentioned in paragraph (b) above, a majority of the members of the bishop’s council and standing committee of the diocesan synod of the diocese in which the parish is.
F41A
An enquiry under this Part of this Measure shall only be undertaken after the persons concerned have had an opportunity to resolve the pastoral situation in the parish in question; and, accordingly, a request for such an enquiry shall not be made unless notice of intention to make the request has been given by the person or persons concerned to the bishop of the diocese in which the parish in question is at least six months, and not more than twelve months, before the request is made.
2
A request for such an enquiry F5, and a notice of intention to make it, shall be made or given in writing to the bishop of the diocese in which the parish in question is and the secretary of the diocesan synod of that diocese and F6, in the case of a request, shall contain particulars of the facts which appear to the person or persons making the request to justify an enquiry.
3
A request for such an enquiry F7, and a notice of intention to make it, made or given by the persons mentioned in subsection (1)(c) or (d) above must—
a
be signed by all of those persons and include the address of each of them; and
b
specify two persons from among those signing the request F8or notice who are willing to act as representatives of those persons in connection with the enquiry F8or notice and indicate which of those two is willing to conduct and receive correspondence relating to the enquiry F8or notice (in this Measure referred to as “the designated representative”).
4
A request for such an enquiry F9, and a notice of intention to make it, made or given by the persons mentioned in subsection (1)(c) above must also contain a statement that the persons who have signed the request F10or notice constitute a majority of two-thirds or more of those lay members of the parochial church council of the parish in question who were present at a duly convened meeting of that council and voted thereat on a resolution that the request be made F11or the notice be given.
5
A request for such an enquiry F12, and a notice of intention to make it, made or given by the persons mentioned in subsection (1)(d) above must also contain a statement that the persons who have signed the request F13or notice constitute a majority of the members of the bishop’s council and standing committee of the diocesan synod of the diocese in which the parish in question is.
6
Where a F14request or notice made or given under this section is received by the secretary of the diocesan synod, he shall notify—
a
the incumbent of the benefice to which the parish in question belongs, unless it was he who made the request F15or gave the notice;
b
the archdeacon in whose archdeaconry that parish is, unless it was he who made the request F15or gave the notice; and
c
the secretary of the parochial church council of that parish, unless it was the persons mentioned in subsection (1)(c) above who made the request F15or gave the notice.
F167
A request made under this section may be withdrawn by notice in writing given to the bishop of the diocese in which the parish in question is and the secretary of the diocesan synod of that diocese by—
a
in the case of a request made by the person mentioned in subsection (1)(a) or (b) above, that person;
b
in the case of a request made by the persons mentioned in subsection (1)(c) above, a majority of the lay members of the parochial church council of the parish present and voting at a duly convened meeting of that council on a resolution that the request be withdrawn;
c
in the case of a request made by the persons mentioned in subsection (1)(d) above, by a majority of the members of the bishop’s council and standing committee of the diocesan synod of the diocese in which the parish is,
and where a request is withdrawn under this subsection no further steps shall be taken under this Part of this Measure in connection with the request.