Ecumenical Relations Measure 2018

2 Power of bishop to give temporary designation

(1) After section 5 of the Church of England (Ecumenical Relations) Measure 1988 (the title to which becomes “Churches to which Measure applies: designation by Archbishops”), insert—

“5A Churches to which Measure applies: designation by bishop

(1) This Measure applies to any Church which is designated by the bishop of a diocese as a Church to which this Measure applies.

(2) A designation under this section—

(a) has effect only in the diocese of the bishop who gave the designation, and

(b) expires at the end of such period not exceeding seven years as the designation specifies, unless it is renewed or revoked.

(3) The bishop of a diocese in which a designation under this section has effect may renew or revoke the designation.

(4) A designation renewed under this section expires at the end of such period not exceeding seven years as the renewed designation specifies beginning with the date on which it was renewed (or last renewed), unless it is renewed again or revoked.

(5) The bishop of a diocese may not give or renew a designation under this section unless at the time the designation is given or renewed—

(a) the Church concerned subscribes to the doctrine of the Holy Trinity and administers the Sacraments of baptism and Holy Communion, and

(b) the bishop is satisfied that the Church—

(i) does not promote any doctrine which is contrary to the doctrine of the Church of England in any essential matter, and

(ii) meets such conditions relating to the ordering of its life or to its relations with other Churches as are included in the Code of Practice under section 5B.

(6) The bishop of a diocese must revoke a designation given or renewed under this section if subsection (5)(a) or (b) ceases to be the case in relation to the Church to which the designation applies.

(7) A bishop’s functions under this section may be delegated (whether by an instrument under section 13 or 14 of the Dioceses, Pastoral and Mission Measure 2007 or otherwise) only to a suffragan or assistant bishop who is authorised to discharge functions of the bishop—

(a) in a particular area of the diocese,

(b) during a vacancy in the diocesan see, or

(c) during the diocesan bishop’s absence from the diocese.”

(2) In section 6 of that Measure (interpretation), for subsection (2) substitute—

“(2) In this Measure “appropriate authority” means—

(a) in relation to a Church to which this Measure applies by virtue of section 5, such authority as the Archbishops of Canterbury and York designate in relation to that Church;

(b) in relation to a Church to which this Measure applies by virtue of section 5A, such authority as the bishop who designated the Church under that section designates in relation to it.”