The Legislative Reform (Church of England Pensions) Order 2021

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order is made under section 1 of the Legislative Reform Measure 2018 and amends the Church of England Pensions Measure 2018.

Article 2 provides for the reconstitution of the Church of England Pensions Board, which is to take effect on 1st July 2021. The Chair is to continue to be appointed by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, subject to the approval of the General Synod. Four members are to be elected by and from the members of the pension schemes administered by the Church of England. One member is to be elected by the employers who participate in the Church Administrators’ Pension Fund or the Church Workers’ Fund. One member is to be appointed by the Archbishops after consultation with the dioceses and the Church Commissioners. The remaining five members are to be appointed by the Archbishops on the basis that they have suitable skills and experience. A person is eligible to stand for election by and from the members of the pension schemes only if that person has demonstrated relevant skills and experience.

Article 2 also provides that the quorum of the Board is to be four, with at least one of those persons being a member elected by and from the members of the pension schemes.

Article 3 provides that the term of office of the Chair and other members of the Board must not exceed five years and that no member may serve for a total of more than ten years.

Article 4 repeals section 38 of the Church of England Pensions Measure on the basis that the Clergy (Widows and Dependants) Pension Fund no longer exists, having been transferred into the Church of England Funded Pension Scheme.

Article 5 removes the requirement for the auditor to report to the General Synod on the Board’s audited accounts. It also replaces the requirement for the Board to present to Synod a report on its funds and trusts with a requirement for it to lay before Synod a copy of its annual report.

Article 6 removes the requirement for each diocese to have a widows and dependants committee.

Article 7 makes provision for the Board’s transition from its current form to its new form under article 2. All those who are members of the Board on 30th June 2021 will cease to be such at the end of that day but will be eligible to become members of the Board in its new form, provided that they have the necessary qualifications. Each member’s term of office serving on the Board in its new form is to begin on 1st July 2021. Any time that a person has already served as a member of the Board will count towards the ten-year maximum provided for under article 3.