(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 Commissioners Measure 1947.
Article 2 sets a maximum five-year term of office for a nominated member of the Church Commissioners. A nominated member who has served for a consecutive period of ten years is not eligible to become a Commissioner again, by appointment or election, until after an interval of five years has passed. A nominated member who has served for a consecutive period of ten years may, in exceptional circumstances, serve for a further period of up to 12 months.
Article 3 makes equivalent provision for the Assets Committee and the Audit and Risk Committee. It also increases from six to eight the maximum number of lay Commissioners who may be appointed to the Assets Committee. It further provides that, where a member of Audit and Risk Committee who is not a Commissioner is elected or appointed as one, the member can still serve on either Committee as a Commissioner, regardless of how long the member has served before becoming a Commissioner.
Article 4 provides that salaried officials of a diocesan body are no longer disqualified from membership of the Commissioners.
Article 5 requires lay Commissioners to declare their membership of the Church of England or of a Church which subscribes to the doctrine of the Holy Trinity and their support for the charitable objects of the Commissioners. It also provides that, for each committee of the Commissioners, a majority of the members must be members of the Church of England.
Article 6 enables meetings of the Commissioners, the Board or committees to be held remotely. It also enables the Commissioners to conduct business by correspondence.
Article 7 expands the charitable objects of the Commissioners to include providing the National Church Institutions with access to the archiving and document storage facilities at Lambeth Palace Library.
Article 8 corrects a minor error in a cross-reference to a statutory provision.