The Church Representation Rules (Amendment) (No. 1) Resolution 1989

Statutory Instruments

1989 No. 2094

ECCLESIASTICAL LAW, ENGLAND

The Church Representation Rules (Amendment) (No. 1) Resolution 1989

Made (passed by the General Synod with the requisite majority in each House)

6th November 1989

Laid before Parliament

14th November 1989

Coming into force

1st January 1990

In pursuance of the powers conferred by section 7(1) of the Synodical Government Measure 1969(1) to amend by resolution of the General Synod the Church Representation Rules, that is to say, the rules contained in Schedule 3 to the said Measure, as amended by the Church Representation Rules (Amendment) Resolutions 1973 to 1984(2) and by the Diocese in Europe Measure 1980(3) the General Synod hereby resolve that the said rules shall be amended as follows:

Conduct of Elections at Annual Meetings

1—(1) In rule 10, at the end of paragraph (9) there shall be added–

“Thereafter the secretary of the parochial church council shall hold a list of the names and addresses of the members of the council which shall be available for inspection on reasonable notice being given by any person who either is resident in the parish or has his name on the electoral roll, but the secretary shall not be bound to provide a copy of such list.”

(2) In rule 10, for paragraph (10) there shall be substituted–

“(10) Names and addresses, of parochial representatives of the laity elected to the deanery synod shall be sent by the secretary of the parochial church council to the diocesan electoral registration officer appointed in accordance with rule 23A of these rules and to the secretary of the deanery synod.”.

(3) In rule 10A after paragraph (1) there shall be inserted–

“(2) The annual meeting may make a scheme which provides that any person entitled to attend the annual meeting and vote in the elections of parochial representatives of the laity to the parochial church council or to the deanery synod or to both that council and that synod may make application in the form set out in section 4A of Appendix I for a postal vote.

(3) Where applications for postal votes have been received by the date specified in the notice convening the annual meeting and where the number of candidates nominated for an election referred to in paragraph (2) of this rule is greater than the number of seats to be filled, the annual meeting shall appoint a presiding officer who shall not be a candidate in the election. Voting papers shall be distributed to each person present at the meeting entitled to vote and completed papers shall be returned into the custody of the presiding officer before the close of the meeting. The presiding officer shall ensure that persons who have made application for a postal vote shall be sent or have delivered a voting paper within 48 hours of the close of the meeting such paper to be returned to the presiding officer within such period of not less than 7 days nor more than 14 days from the date of the meeting as the presiding officer shall specify.”

And the existing paragraph (2) shall be re-numbered (4).

(4) In rule 10A in paragraph (4) as renumbered at the end of the paragraph there shall be inserted–

“and, if the determination is that the scheme should not come into operation, the reasons for that determination in writing.”

Parochial Church Council

2.  In rule 12 in paragraph (1)(g) after the words “this paragraph” there shall be inserted the words “or two persons whichever shall be the greater,”.

Parishes with more than one place of worship

3.  In rule 16, after paragraph (5) there shall be inserted–

“(5A) 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, 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.”

Team Councils

4.—(1) In rule 17A, in paragraph 1(c) at the end there shall be inserted–

“as may be so specified”

(2) In rule 17A, in paragraph (2) for the words “paragraph 3(7)” there shall be substituted the words “paragraph 4(3)”.

Special and Extraordinary Meetings

5.  For rule 18 there shall be substituted–

“SPECIAL MEETINGS

18.— (1) In addition to the annual meeting the minister of a parish may convene a special parochial church meeting, and he shall do so on a written representation by not less than one-third of the lay members of the parochial church council; and the provisions of these rules relating to the convening and conduct of the annual meeting shall, with the necessary modifications, apply to a special parochial church meeting.

(2) All lay persons whose names are entered on the roll of the parish on the day which is twenty-one clear days before the date on which any special parochial church meeting is to be held shall be entitled to attend the meeting and to take part in its proceedings, and no other lay person shall be so entitled.

(3) A clerk in Holy Orders shall be entitled to attend any such meeting and to take part in its proceedings if by virtue of rule 5(3), (4) or (5) he would have been entitled to attend the annual meeting of the parish had it been held on the same date, and no other such clerk shall be so entitled.

EXTRAORDINARY MEETINGS

18A.— (1) On a written representation made to the archdeacon by not less than one-third of the lay members of the parochial church council, or by one tenth of the persons whose names are on the roll of the parish, and deemed by the archdeacon to have been made with sufficient cause, the archdeacon shall convene an extraordinary meeting of the parochial church council or an extraordinary parochial church meeting, and shall either take the chair himself or shall appoint a chairman to preside. The chairman, not being otherwise entitled to attend such meeting, shall not be entitled to vote upon any resolution before the meeting.

(2) In any case where the archdeacon is himself the minister, any representation under paragraph (1) of this rule shall be made to the bishop, and in any such case the references to the archdeacon in paragraph (1) of this rule shall be construed as references to the bishop, or to a person appointed by him to act on his behalf.

(3) Paragraphs (2) and (3) of rule 18 shall apply in relation to an extraordinary parochial church meeting under this rule as they apply in relation to a special parochial church meeting under that rule with the modification that for the word “special” in paragraph (2) there shall be substituted the word “extraordinary”.”

Membership (Deanery Synods)

6.—(1) In rule 19 after paragraph (2B) there shall be inserted–

“(2C) Not later than 1st July following the election of parochial representatives of the laity to the deanery synod the secretary of the said synod shall send to the diocesan electoral registration officer appointed in accordance with rule 23A of these rules a list of the names and addresses of the members of the house of clergy, specifying the class of membership, and shall keep the said officer informed of subsequent changes in membership.”

(2) In rule 19, in paragraph (4) at the end there shall be inserted–

“The names and addresses of co-opted members shall be sent by the secretary of the deanery synod to the diocesan electoral registration officer appointed in accordance with rule 23A of these rules.”

Diocesan Electoral Registration Officer

7.  After rule 23 there shall be inserted–

“Diocesan Electoral Registration Officer

23A.   In every diocese, there shall be a diocesan electoral registration officer who shall be appointed by the bishop’s council and standing committee of the diocesan synod and who shall record the names and addresses of all members of the House of Clergy and House of Laity of the deanery synods in the diocese in two registers (in these rules respectively referred to as “the register of clerical electors” and “the register of lay electors”); the members co-opted to the house shall be listed separately in the appropriate register.”

Elections of Members of Diocesan Synods by Deanery Synods

8.—(1) In rule 25, in paragraph (2) leave out the words “the members of that house” and insert the words “those whose names and addresses are recorded in the register of clerical electors”.

(2) In rule 25, in paragraph (3) leave out the words “the members of that house” and insert the words “those whose names and addresses are recorded in the register of lay electors”.

(3) In rule 25, after paragraph (3) there shall be inserted–

“(3A) The qualifying date for electors under paragraphs (2) and (3) of this rule and when a casual vacancy is being filled shall be 6.00 a.m. on the date on which the nomination papers are issued.

(3B) The register of clerical electors and the register of lay electors shall be open to inspection at the diocesan office and any errors and omissions in the list may be corrected until the close of nominations. Thereafter no names may be added or removed until the declaration of the result of the election and those persons whose names are entered in the register shall be the qualified electors entitled to vote in that election.”

Presiding Officers

9.—(1) In rule 26, for paragraphs (1) and (2) there shall be substituted–

“(1) Elections of members of the diocesan synod by the houses of the deanery synods shall be completed by the 15th day of July, the period and dates of the election being fixed by the bishop of the diocese and communicated to the secretaries of the deanery synods.

(2) The bishop shall appoint the presiding officers for the elections by the houses of the deanery synods, provided that no person shall be appointed as a presiding officer for an election by a house of a deanery synod of which he is a member. The expenses of elections shall be paid out of diocesan funds.

(2A) The diocesan electoral registration officer shall furnish the presiding officer with the names and addresses of the qualified electors and the presiding officer shall ensure that the persons qualified to nominate and vote in elections to the diocesan synod, and only such persons, shall be sent or given nomination and voting papers in respect of the said election at the address entered against their names in the register of electors.”

(2) In rule 26, in paragraph (3) the words “not earlier than 1st May in each election year” shall be omitted.

(3) In rule 26, after paragraph (3) there shall be inserted–

“(3A) It shall be the duty of the presiding officer within seven days of receiving a written request from a duly nominated candidate in the election to supply free of charge to that candidate one copy of the names and addresses of the qualified electors.”

Members of House of Laity of General Synod

10.  In rule 29, after paragraph (3) there shall be inserted–

“(4) The qualifying date for lay members of religious communities under paragraph (1)(b) of this rule and for diocesan electors under paragraphs (2) and (3) of this rule shall be 6.00 a.m. on the date of the dissolution of the General Synod, save that when a casual vacancy is being filled, the qualifying date shall be 6.00 a.m. on the date on which the nomination papers are issued.

(5) The register of lay electors shall be open to inspection at the diocesan office and any errors and omissions in the list may be corrected until the close of nominations. Thereafter no names may be added or removed until the declaration of the result of the election and those persons whose names are entered in the register shall be the qualified electors entitled to vote in that election.”

Conduct of Elections

11.—(1) In rule 33, after paragraph (2) there shall be inserted–

“(2A) The diocesan electoral registration officer shall furnish the presiding officer with the names and addresses of the qualified electors and the presiding officer shall ensure that the persons qualified to nominate and vote in elections to the General Synod, and only such persons, shall be sent or given nomination and voting papers in respect of the said election at the address entered against their name in the register of lay electors.”

(2) In rule 33, after paragraph (3) there shall be inserted–

“(3A) It shall be the duty of the presiding officer within seven days of receiving a written request from a duly nominated candidate in the election to supply free of charge to that candidate the copy of the register of lay electors.

(3B) It shall be the duty of the presiding officer in any election under these rules to seek to ensure that during the period beginning on the date on which nominations are invited and ending on the last date for the return of voting papers, no papers or other literature are circulated to the electors by him or by or under authority of the diocesan synod or any deanery synod save election addresses prepared by the candidates under paragraph (3) above and such material relating exclusively either to the conduct of the election or to the business of the diocesan synod or any deanery synod as the presiding officer shall personally have approved.”

(3) In rule 33, in paragraph (4) at the beginning there shall be inserted the words “Subject to rule 41A,”.

(4) In rule 33, in paragraph (5) for the word “notice” there shall be substituted the words “not less than seven days notice in writing.”

(5) In rule 33, for paragraph (6) there shall be substituted–

“(6) (a) A full return of the result of any election and of the result sheet shall be sent by the presiding officer within ten days of the declaration of the result to the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the House of Laity of the General Synod and to the Secretary-General of the General Synod and to every candidate in the election.

(b) The result sheet shall be publicly displayed in the diocesan office in such manner as the bishop may approve and at the General Synod office until the end of the first group of sessions of the new Synod as the Secretary-General may direct. For the purposes of this rule the person who held the office of Chairman or Vice-Chairman immediately before dissolution shall be deemed to hold that office if he has been re-elected to the General Synod.”

Appeals

12.  For rule 36 there shall be substituted–

“ENROLMENT APPEALS

36.— (1) There shall be a right of appeal with regard to–

(a) any enrolment, or refusal of enrolment, on the roll of a parish or the registers of lay or clerical electors;

(b) the removal of any name, or the refusal to remove any name, from the roll of a parish or the registers of lay or clerical electors.

(2) The following persons shall have a right of appeal under this rule–

(a) a person who is refused enrolment on the roll or register;

(b) a person whose name is removed from the roll or register; or

(c) any person whose name is entered on the roll or register who wishes to object to the enrolment or removal of the name of any other person on that roll or register.

(3) In an appeal concerning the roll of a parish, notice of the appeal shall be given in writing to the lay chairman of the deanery synod and in an appeal concerning the register of lay or clerical electors notice of the appeal shall be given in writing to the Chairman of the House of Laity or the Chairman of the House of Clergy of the diocesan synod as the case may be.

(4) Notice of appeal shall be given not later than fourteen days after the date of enrolment, removal or refusal or if the appeal arises on the revision of the roll or register or the preparation of a new roll or register, not later than fourteen days after the first publication of the revised or new roll or register.

(5) In any appeal arising under this rule the chairman of the House concerned of the Diocesan Synod or the lay chairman of the deanery synod, as the case may be, shall within fourteen days refer any appeal to the bishop’s council and standing committee of the diocese unless within that period the appellant withdraws the appeal in writing. The said bishop’s council shall appoint three or a greater number being an odd number of their lay members or clerical members as the case may be to consider and decide the appeal.

ELECTION APPEALS

36A.— (1) There shall be a right of appeal with regard to–

(a) the allowance or disallowance of any vote given or tendered in an election of a churchwarden or in an election under these rules or to a body constituted under or in accordance with these rules;

(b) the result of any election of a churchwarden or of any election or choice held or made or purporting to be held or made under these rules, or any election or choice of members of a body constituted under or in accordance with these rules.

(2) The following persons shall have a right of appeal under this rule–

(a) an elector in the said election;

(b) a candidate in the said election; or

(c) the chairman of the House of Laity or of the House of Clergy of the diocesan synod or, in an election to the House of Laity of the General Synod, the chairman and vice-chairman of that House of Laity provided that if both such offices are vacant at the time of the appeal the persons who held such offices immediately before dissolution of the General Synod shall be deemed to hold that office if they have been re-elected to the General Synod.

(3) The provisions of this rule (except paragraph (5)), insofar as they confer a right of appeal by any person referred to in paragraph (2) above against the result of an election and provide for notice of an appeal and the determination thereof, shall apply in relation to an election to the House of Laity of the General Synod by the diocesan electors of the diocese in Europe.

(4) In the case of an appeal arising out of an election to the House of Laity of the General Synod or the diocesan synod notice of the appeal shall be given in writing to the chairman of the House of Laity of the diocesan synod. In any other case concerning the laity, notice of the appeal shall be given in writing to the lay chairman of the deanery synod. Notices under this paragraph shall be given:

(a) in the case of an appeal against the allowance or disallowance of a vote, not later than fourteen days after such allowance or disallowance;

(b) in the case of an appeal against the result of an election or choice, not later than fourteen days after the result thereof has been announced by the presiding officer.

(5) An error in the electoral roll or the registers of clerical or lay electors shall not be a ground of appeal against the result of any election unless–

(a) either it has been determined under this rule that there has been such an error or the question is awaiting determination under rule 36; and

(b) the error would or might be material to the result of the election;

and the allowance or disallowance of a vote shall not be a ground of appeal against the result of an election unless the allowance or disallowance would or might be material to the result of the election.

(6) An error in the electoral roll of a chaplaincy or in the register of lay electors in the diocese in Europe shall not be a ground of appeal against the result of an election to the House of Laity of the General Synod by the diocesan electors of that diocese unless–

(a) either it has been determined under the rule which applies in that diocese and corresponds with rule 36 that there has been such an error or the question is awaiting determination under that rule; and

(b) the error would or might be material to the result of that election;

and the allowance or disallowance of a vote shall not be a ground of appeal against the result of such an election unless the allowance or disallowance would or might be material to the result of the election.

(7) An appeal arising out of an election or choice of members of the House of Laity of the General Synod shall within the period of fourteen days of the appeal being lodged, be referred to the Standing Committee of the General Synod unless within that period the appellant withdraws the appeal in writing. Subject to paragraph (8) hereof, the said Standing Committee shall appoint three or a greater number, being an odd number, from an appeal panel consisting of the lay members of the said Standing Committee and such of the Dean of the Arches and Auditor, the Vicar General of the Province of Canterbury and the Vicar General of the Province of York as are not in Holy Orders to consider and decide the appeal.

(8) Where the chairman or vice-chairman of the House of Laity has given notice of appeal as provided by paragraph (2)(c) above or where a member of the Standing Committee comes from the diocese to which the appeal relates, he shall not be appointed to hear the appeal.

(9) In any appeal arising under this rule except an appeal arising out of an election to the House of Laity of the General Synod, the Chairman of the House of Laity of the diocesan synod or the lay chairman of the deanery synod, as the case may be, shall refer any appeal to the bishop’s council and standing committee of the diocese.

(10) In any appeal arising under this rule to the House of Clergy of the diocesan synod the Chairman of the House of Clergy of the said synod shall refer any appeal to the bishop’s council and standing committee of the diocese who shall appoint three or a greater number, being an odd number, of their clerical members to consider and decide the appeal.

36B.   For the purpose of the consideration and decision of any appeal under rules 36 and 36A, the persons appointed to consider and decide the appeal–

(a) shall consider all the relevant circumstances and shall be entitled to inspect all documents and papers relating to the subject matter of the appeal and be furnished with all information respecting the same which they may require;

(b) shall give to the parties to the appeal an opportunity of appearing before them in person or through a legal or other representative;

(c) shall have power at any time to extend the time within which a notice of appeal is given;

(d) shall, unless by consent of the persons appointed the appeal is withdrawn, determine the matter at issue and, in an election appeal shall determine whether–

(i) the person or persons whose election is complained of was or were duly elected;

(ii) the facts complained of amount to a minor infringement of the rules which did not affect the outcome of the election in which event the appeal shall be dismissed; or

(iii) the election was void. The determination so certified shall be final as to the matters at issue and, in any case in which there has been no valid election, the members shall direct a fresh election to be held and shall give such directions in connection therewith as they may think necessary;

(e) shall have power at any time to consent to the withdrawal of the appeal by an appellant subject to a determination in respect of costs in accordance with paragraph (f) hereof;

(f) shall have power to direct that any party to an appeal shall be entitled to payment of costs by any other party or by the diocesan board of finance and to direct that a party shall be responsible for the reasonable expenses of the persons appointed to hear the appeal; save that in so far as the same have not been paid by any other person, the diocesan board of finance shall pay all expenses of the persons appointed to hear the appeal provided that the said board shall first be satisfied that they are reasonable in amount.”

Vacation of Seat

13.—(1) In rule 37, in paragraph (1) after sub-paragraph (e) there shall be inserted–

“(f) any member of a diocesan synod or of the House of Laity of the General Synod has his election declared void in accordance with the provision of rule 36B hereof.”

(2) In rule 37, paragraph (5) for the words “should remain a member of the House of Laity” there shall be substituted the words “is able and willing to continue to discharge to their satisfaction the duties of a member of the House of Laity elected for that diocese,”.

Casual Vacancies

14.—(1) In rule 39, for paragraph (1) there shall be substituted–

“(1) Casual vacancies among the parochial representatives elected to the parochial church council or deanery synod shall be filled as soon as practicable after the vacancy has occurred. Where the annual parochial church meeting is not due to be held within the next two months following the occurrence of the vacancy, a vacancy among the parochial representatives elected to the parochial church council may be filled, and a vacancy among the parochial representatives elected to the deanery synod shall be filled, by the election by the parochial church council of a person qualified to be so elected. Returns of parochial representatives of the laity elected to fill one or more casual vacancies on the deanery synod shall be sent by the secretary of the parochial church council to the diocesan electoral registration officer and to the secretary of the deanery synod.”.

(2) In rule 39, in paragraph (3) for the words “by elections” there shall be substituted the words “and elections to fill such casual vacancies shall be”.

(3) In rule 39, for paragraphs (5) and (6) there shall be substituted–

“(5) (a) Subject to the provisions of this rule, an election to fill a casual vacancy in the House of Laity shall be completed, so far as possible, within six months from the occurrence of the vacancy and, in the event of the vacancy not being filled within that period, the Chairman of the House of Laity of the General Synod may give directions to the presiding officer as to the date by which the vacancy must be filled.

(b) Where a casual vacancy occurs in the House of Laity of the General Synod and the period for holding a general election to that House is due to begin within twelve months of the vacancy, the vacancy shall not be filled unless the lay members of the bishop’s council and standing committee, acting in accordance with any directions of the diocesan synod, otherwise direct.

(c) Where a casual vacancy in the House of Laity of the General Synod occurs within the period of two years–

(i) beginning with 1st August in the year of the last general election to that House, or

(ii) beginning with the date of the declaration of the result of an election to fill a casual vacancy where the election was conducted by voting papers in the same manner as a general election;

the lay members of the bishop’s council and standing committee, acting in accordance with any direction of the diocesan synod, may decide within three months of the occurrence of the vacancy that the election to fill the casual vacancy shall be conducted by those papers in accordance with paragraph (6) of this rule.”

(4) In rule 39, paragraph (7) shall be renumbered (6) and, at the beginning thereof, there shall be inserted–

“Where the lay members of the bishop’s council and standing committee have decided under paragraph (5)(c) above that an election shall be conducted by the voting papers of the previous election,”

(5) In rule 39, after paragraph (6) as re-numbered there shall be inserted–

“(7) An election to fill a casual vacancy in either house of the diocesan synod shall be completed within six months from the occurrence of the vacancy, provided that where a casual vacancy occurs in either house and the period for holding a general election to that house is due to begin within nine months of the vacancy, the vacancy shall not be filled unless the members of the bishop’s council and standing committee who are from the same house otherwise direct.”

(6) In rule 39(10) the words “and (6)” shall be omitted.

(7) In rule 39, after paragraph (10) there shall be inserted–

“(11) In calculating the period of six months referred to in paragraphs (5) and (7) of this rule–

(a) where during the course of an election irregularities are found which are of such a kind that the presiding officer is of the opinion that he should declare the proceedings null and void, he shall so declare and shall notify all electors of the declaration and shall cause a fresh election to be held which shall be completed within the period of six months from the date of the notice to the electors of the fresh election;

(b) where in an appeal a determination is made that there has been no valid election and the presiding officer is directed to hold a fresh election, the period of six months shall run from the date of such direction.

(12) In this rule the expression “casual vacancy” includes the case where insufficient candidates have been nominated to fill the places available.”

Constraints in Elections

15.  After rule 41 there shall be inserted–

“Constraints in Elections

41A.— (1) If in any election conducted in accordance with these rules it is a requirement that a given number or not less than a given number of places of those elected shall be filled by candidates of a named category, the presiding officer shall follow the procedure set out in paragraphs (2) to (4) of this rule.

(2) The presiding officer shall examine the nomination papers to ascertain if the number of candidates nominated in any named category is less than or equal to the required given number.

(3) If the number of candidates nominated in any named category is less than or equal to the required given number, those candidates shall be declared to be elected and their names shall not be included on the voting paper and thereafter the requirement shall be disregarded and the election shall proceed with the number of seats to be filled being reduced by the number of persons declared elected.

(4) The presiding officer shall circulate with the voting papers a separate notice giving the names of any who have been declared elected in accordance with paragraph (3) hereof.”

Special Provisions

16.—(1) In rule 43, in paragraph (1), sub-paragraph (d) shall be omitted and sub-paragraph (e) shall be re-numbered (d).

(2) In rule 43, in paragraph (1)(d) as re-numbered there shall be inserted at the beginning of the sub-paragraph–

“Subject to (c) above,”.

Forms

17.—(1) In Appendix I, in section 2 after the word “exhibited”, there shall be inserted the words–

“for not less than 14 days”.

(2) In Appendix I, in section 2 for the words “Forms of application for enrolment can be obtained from the undersigned, and should be returned, if possible, in time for the Revision” there shall be substituted–

“Forms of application for enrolment can be obtained from the undersigned. In order to be entitled to attend the annual parochial church meeting and to take part in its proceedings, forms of application for enrolment must be returned by the date shown above for the ending of the revision of the Church Electoral Roll by the Parochial Church Council.”.

(3) In Appendix I, in section 3 the words “if possible” shall be omitted.

(4) In Appendix I, in section 3 for the words “Forms of application for enrolment can be obtained from the undersigned”, there shall be substituted–

“The new Roll shall be published for not less than 14 days. Forms of application for enrolment can be obtained from the undersigned. In order to be entitled to attend the annual parochial church meeting and to take part in its proceedings, forms of application for enrolment must be returned by the earlier of the dates given above.”

(5) In Appendix I, in section 4 at the end after the words “may be a sidesman” there shall be inserted a new paragraph–

• “** A scheme is in operation in this parish which provides that any person entitled to vote in the elections of parochial representatives of the laity to the parochial church council or to the deanery synod or to both that council and that synod may make application on the appropriate form to the undersigned for a postal vote. The completed form must be received before the commencement of the Annual Parochial Church Meeting.

• ** This paragraph should be deleted if no scheme for postal voting is in operation in the parish.”

(6) In Appendix I, after section 4 there shall be inserted–

Rule 10A(2)

“Section 4A

APPLICATION FOR POSTAL VOTE

”

(7) In Appendix I, in section 6 the words “and Profession or Occupation” shall be omitted.

(8) In Appendix I, in sections 7 and 8 the words “and descriptions” shall be omitted.

General Provisions relating to Parochial Church Councils

18.—(1) In Appendix II, in paragraph 4(b) for the word “sent” there shall be substituted the words “posted or delivered” and at the end of the sub-paragraph there shall be inserted–

“The notice required by this sub-paragraph shall not be required for a council meeting immediately following the annual parochial church meeting being a council meeting which has been called solely for the purpose of appointing or electing any officers of the Council or the members of the standing committee thereof provided that the notice required by sub-paragraph (a) hereof has been given.”

(2) In Appendix II, in paragraph 5–

(i) for the words “rule 18” there shall be substituted the words “rules 18 and 18A”;

(ii) for sub-paragraph (b) there shall be substituted–

“(b) subject to paragraphs (c) and (d) hereof, if the chairman of the council is not present, by the vice-chairman of the council if he is present;

(c) if the benefice is vacant and a minister acting as priest-in-charge of a parish in respect of which rights of presentation are suspended, by the priest-in-charge;”

(iii) sub-paragraph (c) shall be re-numbered “(d)”;

(iv) for the words “nor, where sub-paragraph (c) above applies, the rector” there shall be substituted the words “, the vice chairman, nor, where sub-paragraphs (c) and (d) above apply, the priest-in-charge or rector”.

(3) In Appendix II, in paragraph 14(a) at the end of the sub-paragraph there shall be inserted–

“Unless removed from office, the appointed members shall hold office from the date of their appointment until the conclusion of the next annual meeting of the parish.”

Citation, interpretation and commencement

19.—(1) This resolution may be cited as the Church Representation Rules (Amendment) (No. 1) Resolution 1989, and the Church Representation Rules (Amendment) Resolutions 1973 to 1984 and this Resolution may be cited together as the Church Representation Rules (Amendment) Resolutions 1973 to 1989.

(2) Any reference in this Resolution to a numbered rule or Appendix is a reference to the rule or Appendix, as the case may be, bearing that number in the Church Representation Rules, as amended by the Church Representation Rules (Amendment) Resolutions 1973 to 1984 and by the Diocese in Europe Measure 1980.

(3) This Resolution shall come into force on the first day of January 1990.

Approved by the General Synod

W. D. Pattinson

Secretary-General

6th November 1989

Explanatory Note

(This Note is not part of the Resolution)

This Resolution of the General Synod of the Church of England, which was passed in accordance with section 7(1) of the Synodical Government Measure 1969, amends the Church Representation Rules contained in Schedule 3 to that Measure. These changes include provisions for postal voting at annual parochial church meetings, the appointment of a diocesan electoral registration officer, revised rules for appeals and casual vacancies and certain new and revised forms.

(1)

1969 No. 2.

(2)

S.I. 1973/1865, 1980/178, 1981/959, 1650, 1984/1039, 1040.

(3)

1980 No. 2.