Synodical Government Measure 1969

Part IIE Parochial Church Meetings and Councils Annual Meetings

[F16](1)In every parish there shall be held not later than the 30th April in each year the annual parochial church meeting (hereafter in these rules referred to as “the annual meeting”).E

(2)All lay persons whose names are entered on the roll of the parish shall be entitled to attend the annual 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 the annual meeting of a parish and take part in its proceedings—

(a)if he is either beneficed in or licensed to the parish or any other parish in the area of the benefice to which the parish belongs; or

(b). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F2

[F3(b)]if he is resident in the parish and is not beneficed in or licensed to any other parish.

[F4(c)if he is not resident in the parish and is not beneficed or licensed to any other parish, the parochial church council with the concurrence of the minister has declared him to be a habitual worshipper in the parish, such declaration being effective until the conclusion of the annual meeting in the year in which a new roll is prepared under rule 2 or his ceasing to be a habitual worshipper in the parish whichever is the earlier, but without prejudice to a renewal of such declaration; or

(d)if he is a co-opted member of the parochial church council in accordance with rule F5. . . [F614(1)(h)].]

[F7(4)Without prejudice to paragraphs (2) and (3) of this rule—

(a)all the members of the team of a team ministry shall be entitled to attend, and take part in the proceedings of, the annual meeting of the parish or each of the parishes in the area of the benefice for which the team ministry is established, and where the area of a group ministry includes the area of a benefice for which a team ministry is established, all the vicars in that ministry shall be entitled to attend, and take part in the proceedings of, the annual meeting of each of the other parishes in the area for which the group ministry is established;

(b)all the incumbents and priests in charge in a group ministry shall be entitled to attend, and take part in the proceedings of, the annual meeting of each of the parishes in the area for which the group ministry is established.

(5)Where two or more benefices are held in plurality and a team ministry is, or is to be, established for the area of one of those benefices, then, if a pastoral scheme provides for extending the operation of the team ministry, so long as the plurality continues, to the area of any other benefice so held, paragraph (4) of this rule shall have effect as if the references to the area of the benefice were references to the combined area of the benefices concerned.]

Convening of MeetingE

[F87](1)The annual meeting shall be convened by the minister of the parish by a notice in the form set out in section 4 of Appendix 1 to these rules affixed on or near to the principal door of every church in the parish and every building licensed for public worship in the parish, for a period including the last two Sundays before the day of the meeting.E

(2)The annual meeting shall be held at such place on such date and at such hour as shall be directed by the previous annual meeting, or by the parochial church council (which may vary any direction given by a previous annual meeting) or in the absence of any such direction as shall be appointed by the minister.

(3)During the vacancy of the benefice or curacy or when the minister is absent or incapacitated by illness or any other cause, the vice-chairman of the parochial church council, or if there is no vice-chairman, or if he is unable or unwilling to act, the secretary of or some other person appointed by that council shall have all the powers vested in the minister under this rule.

(4)The annual meeting shall be held at a place within the parish unless the parochial church council decide otherwise.

[F9(5)The minister of a new parish created by a pastoral scheme, or, in the absence of the minister, a person appointed by the bishop, shall as soon as possible after the scheme comes into operation convene a special parochial church meeting, and, subject to paragraph (6) of this rule, the provisions of these rules relating to the convening and conduct of the annual general meeting shall apply to a special meeting convened under this paragraph.

(6)A special meeting so convened and held in the month of November or the month of December may, if the meeting so resolves, be for all purposes under these rules the annual meeting for the succeeding year, and a special meeting so convened shall in any event be for all such purposes the annual meeting for the year in which it is so convened and held.]

ChairmanE

[F108]E

[F108][F11(1)The minister, if present, or, if he is not present, the vice-chairman of the parochial church council, or, subject to paragraph (2) of this rule, if he also is not present, a chairman chosen by the annual meeting shall preside thereat.E

(2)Where a parish is in the area of a benefice for which a team ministry is established, and a vicar in that ministry is entitled to preside at an annual meeting of that parish by virtue of a provision in a pastoral scheme or the bishop’s licence assigning to the vicar the duties, or a share in the duties, of the chairmanship of the annual meeting of that parish, then, if both he and the vice-chairman of the parochial church council are not present at that meeting, but the rector in that ministry is present, the rector shall preside thereat.]

[F12(3)]In case of an equal division of votes, the chairman of the meeting shall have a second or casting vote [F13unless it is a case where rule [F1411(8)] applies]; but no clerical chairman shall have a vote in the election of the parochial representatives of the laity.

BusinessE

[F159](1)The annual meeting shall receive from the parochial church council and shall be free to discuss:—E

F16(a). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F17(a)a report on changes in the roll since the last annual parochial church meeting or, in a year in which a new roll is prepared, a report on the numbers entered on the new roll;]

F18(b). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F18(c). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F18(d). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F18(e). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F19(b)an annual report on the proceedings of the parochial church council and the activities of the parish generally;

(c)the financial statements of the parochial church council for the year ending on the 31st December immediately preceding the meeting, independently examined or audited as provided by paragraph (3) hereof;]

[F20(d)]a report upon the fabric, goods and ornaments of the church or churches of the parish [F21, under section 5 of the Care of Churches and Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction Measure 1991]; and

[F20(e)]a report on the proceedings of the deanery synod.

F22(2). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F22(3). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F23(2)The council shall cause a copy of the said roll to be available for inspection at the meeting.

F23(3)The said financial statements shall—

(a)be independently examined or audited in such manner as shall be prescribed in accordance with rule 54(8);

(b)be considered and, if thought fit, approved by the parochial church council and signed by the chairman presiding at the meeting of the council; and

(c)be displayed for a continuous period of at least seven days before the annual meeting, including at least one Sunday when the church is used for worship, on a notice-board either inside or outside the church.

F23(4)The annual report referred to in paragraph (1)(b) above and the said financial statements shall be prepared in such form as shall be prescribed in accordance with rule 54(8) hereof for consideration by the annual meeting. Following such meeting the council shall cause the annual report and statements to be published and displayed in the parish in such manner as may be prescribed in accordance with rule 54(8) and shall cause copies to be sent within twenty eight days of the annual meeting to the secretary of the diocesan board of finance for retention by the board.]

F24(4). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F25(5). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F26[F27(5)]The annual meeting shall in the manner provided by rule 11—

(a)elect in every third year parochial representatives of the laity to the deanery synod;

(b)elect parochial representatives of the laity to the parochial church council;

(c)appoint sidesmen;

F28(d). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F29(d)appoint the independent examiner or auditor to the council for a term of office ending at the close of the next annual meeting, provided that such person shall not be a member of the council.]

and the elections and appointments shall be carried out in the above order.]

[F30[F31(6)]Without prejudice to the foregoing provisions and rule [F327(6)], a special parochial church meeting convened under rule [F327(5)] shall, in addition to other business,—

(a)decide on the number of members of the parochial church council who are to be the elected representatives of the laity;

(b)elect in the manner provided by rule [F3211] parochial representatives of the laity to the deanery synod, if such representatives are required to be elected in the year for which that meeting is the annual meeting by virtue of rule [F327(6)].]

[F27(7)]Any person entitled to attend the annual meeting may ask any question about parochial church matters, or bring about a discussion of any matter of parochial or general interest, by moving a general resolution or by moving to give any particular recommendation to the council in relation to its duties.

[F27(8)]The annual meeting shall have power to adjourn and to determine its own rules of procedure.

[F27(9)]The secretary of the parochial church council (or another person appointed by the meeting in his place) shall act as a clerk of the annual meeting, and shall record the minutes thereof.

Qualifications of persons to be chosen or elected by annual meetingsE

[F3310]F34(1). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F35(1)Subject to the provisions of rule 1(4) and paragraph (3) of this rule, the qualifications of a person to be elected a parochial representative of the laity to either the parochial church council or the deanery synod are that—

(a)his name is entered on the roll of the parish;

(b)he is an actual communicant as defined in rule 54(1); and

(c)in the case of election to the parochial church council, he is of sixteen years or upwards, and in the case of his election to the deanery synod, he is of eighteen years or upwards.]

F34(1A). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F34(1B). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(2)The qualification of a person to be F36. . . [F37appointed] a sidesman is that his name is entered on the roll of the parish.

F38(3). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F39(3)No person shall be nominated for election under rule 9—

(a)to serve on either the parochial church council, or the deanery synod unless he has signified his consent to serve, or there is in the opinion of the meeting sufficient evidence of his willingness to serve;

(b)to serve on the parochial church council, if he has been disqualified from serving on that parochial chuch council by the bishop under section 10(6) of the Incumbents (Vacation of Benefices) Measures 1977 and 1993;

(c)to serve on the parochial church council if he is disqualified from being a charity trustee under the Charities Act 1993]

Conduct of Elections at Annual MeetingsE

[F4011](1)[F41F42. . . [F43Subject to the provisions of any resolution under rule 12]for the time being in force] this rule shall apply to all elections at annual meetings.E

(2)All candidates for election at an annual meeting must be nominated and seconded by persons entitled to attend the annual meeting, and in the case of parochial representatives of the laity, by persons whose names are entered on the roll of the parish. A candidate shall be nominated or seconded either before the meeting in writing or at the meeting.

(3)If the number of candidates nominated is not greater than the number of seats to be filled, the candidates nominated shall forthwith be declared elected.

(4)If more candidates are nominated than there are seats to be filled, the election shall take place at the annual meeting.

(5)No clerk in Holy Orders shall be entitled to vote in the election of any parochial representatives of the laity.

(6)Each person entitled to vote shall have as many votes as there are seats to be filled but may not give more than one vote to any one candidate.

(7)Votes may be given:—

(a)on voting papers, which must be signed by the voter [F44on the reverse thereof]; or

(b)if no person present objects thereto, by show of hands.

(8)[F45(a)]Where owing to an equality of votes an election is not decided, the decision between the persons for whom the equal numbers of votes have been cast shall be taken by lot.E

[F46(b)When an election or any stage of an election is recounted, either on appeal or at the request of the presiding officer or of a candidate, if the original count and the re-count are identical at the point when a lot must be drawn to resolve a tie, the original lot shall be used to make the determination.]

(9)The result of any election by an annual meeting shall be announced as soon as practicable by the person presiding over the election, and a notice of the result shall in every case be affixed on or near the principal door of every church in the parish and every building licensed for public worship in the parish, and shall bear the date on which the result is declared. The notice shall remain affixed for not less than fourteen days. [F47Thereafter 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.]

[F48(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 [F4929] and to the secretary of the deanery synod.]

[F50 Variation of method of election by schemeE

[F5112](1)The annual meeting may F52. . . [F53pass a resolution]which provides that the election of parochial representatives of the laity to the parochial church council or to the deanery synod or to both that council and that synod shall be conducted [F54by the method of the single transferable vote] under rules, with the necessary modifications, made by the General Synod under rule [F5539(7)] and for the time being in force.E

[F56(2)The annual meeting may F52. . . [F53pass a resolution]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.]

F57(4). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F58(4)A resolution passed under this rule shall be invalid unless approved by at least two thirds of the persons present and voting at the annual meeting nor shall it be operative until the next ensuing annual meeting. Such resolution may be rescinded by a subsequent resolution passed in the same manner.]]

Conduct of Elections of ChurchwardensE

[F5913](1)If elections of churchwardens take place at meetings of parishioners under section 3 of the M1Churchwardens (Appointment and Resignation) Measure 1964 either because there has been no joint consent under section 2 of that Measure or because there is no minister, the elections shall be conducted, announced and notified in the same manner as elections under [F60rule [F6111]] except that all persons entitled to attend the meeting of parishioners other than the minister shall be entitled to nominate and vote at such elections of churchwardens.

(2)The Churchwardens (Appointment and Registration) Measure 1964 shall be amended as follows:—

(a)in section 2(1) for words “not later in the year than during the week following Easter week” there shall be substituted the words “not later than the 30th April in each year”;

(b)sections 4, 5, 6 and 11(3) shall be repealed; and

(c)section 3(6) shall not apply to elections of churchwardens.

Parochial Church Council MembersE

[F6214](1)[F63Subject to the provisions of rule [F641(4)][F65and paragraph (3) of this rule,]] the parochial church council shall consist of:—

(a)all clerks in Holy Orders beneficed in or licensed to the parish, . . . F66

[F67(b)any deaconess or lay worker licensed to the parish;]

[F68[F69(c)]in the case of a parish in the area of a benefice for which a team ministry is established, all the members of the team of that ministry;]

[F69(d)]the churchwardens, being F70. . . [F71actual communicants] whose names are on the roll of the parish;

F72(d). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F73[F69(e)]such, if any, of the readers who are licensed to that parish or licensed to an area which includes that parish and whose names are on the roll of the parish as the annual meeting may determine.]

[F69(f)]all persons whose names are on the roll of the parish and who are lay members of any deanery synod, diocesan synod or the General Synod;

[(g)]such number of representatives of the laity as the annual meeting may decide, and so that the number determined may be altered from time to time by a resolution passed at any annual meeting, but such resolution shall not take effect before the next ensuing annual meeting; and

[F69(h)]co-opted members, if the parochial church council so decides, not exceeding in number one-fifth of the representatives of the laity elected under the last preceding sub-paragraph of this paragraph [F74or two persons whichever shall be the greater,], and being either clerks in Holy Orders or F75. . . [F76actual lay communicants of sixteen] years of age or upwards. The term of office of a co-opted member shall be until the conclusion of the next annual meeting; but without prejudice to his being co-opted on subsequent occasions for a similar term, subject to and in accordance with the provisions of these rules.

[F77[F78(2)]Any person chosen, appointed or elected as a churchwarden of a parish, being an F79. . . [F80actual communicant]whose name is on the roll of the parish, shall as from the date on which the choice, appointment or election, as the case may be, is made be a member of the parochial church council of the parish by virtue of this paragraph until he is admitted to the office of churchwarden, and he shall thereafter continue to be a member of that council by virtue of [F81paragraph 1(d)] of this rule unless and until he ceases to be qualified for membership by virtue of that sub-paragraph.]

[F82(3)]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F83(3)A person shall cease to be a member of a parochial church council—

(a)if his name is removed from the roll of the parish under rule 1, on the date on which his name is removed;

(b)if he refuses or fails to apply for enrolment when a new roll is being prepared, on the date on which the new roll is completed;

(c)if he is disqualified from being a charity trustee under the Charities Act 1993 or from serving on that parochial church council by the bishop under section 10(6) of the Incumbents (Vacation of Benefices) Measures 1977 and 1993, on the date on which the disqualification takes effect;

but, so far as the provisions of (a) and (b) above are concerned, shall be without prejudice to any right which that council may have to make that person a co-opted member.]

[F78(4)]Where a group ministry is established the incumbents of all benefices in the group [F84every priest in charge of any benefice therein and where the area of the group ministry includes the area of a benefice for which a team ministry is established, all the vicars in that ministry] shall be entitled to attend meetings of the parochial church councils of all the parishes in the area for which the group ministry is established. They shall be entitled to receive documents circulated to members of councils of which they are not themselves members and to speak but not to vote at meetings of such councils.

[F85[F78(5)]Where two or more benefices are held in plurality and a team ministry is, or is to be, established for the area of one of those benefices, then, if a pastoral scheme provides for extending the operation of the team ministry, so long as the plurality continues, to the area of any other benefice so held, paragraphs [F861(c) and (4)]of this rule shall have effect as if the references to the area of the benefice were references to the combined area of the benefices concerned.]

General Provisions relating to Parochial Church CouncilsE

[F8715]EThe provisions in Appendix II to these rules shall have effect with respect to parochial church councils, and with respect to the officers, the meetings and the proceedings thereof:

Term of officeE

[F8816][F89(1)]Representatives of the laity on the parochial church council of a parish shall hold office from the conclusion of the annual meeting until the conclusion of the next annual meeting of the parish:

[F89(2)Persons who are members of a parochial church council by virtue of their election as lay members of a deanery synod shall hold office for a term beginning with the date of their election and ending with the 31st May next following the election of their successors.]

Limitation on years of serviceE

[F9017]The annual meeting may decide that no representative of the laity on the parochial church council may hold office for more than a specified number of years continuously and may also decide that after a specified interval a person who has ceased to be eligible by reason of such decision may again stand for election as a representative of the laity on the council.

Parishes with more than one Place of WorshipE

[F9118](1)In any parish where there are two or more churches or [F92places of worship] the annual meeting may make a scheme, [F93which makes provision for either or both of the following purposes, that is to say]:—

(a)for the election of representatives of the laity to the parochial church council in such manner as to ensure due representation of the congregation of each such church or [F94place][F95and]

[F96(b)for the election by the annual meeting for any district in the parish in which a church or place of worship is situated of a district church council for that district]

(2)A scheme for the election of any district church council or councils under the preceding paragraph shall provide for the election of representatives of the laity on to such council, for ex-officio members and for the chairmanship of such council and shall contain such other provisions as to membership and procedure as shall be considered appropriate by the annual meeting.

F97(3). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F98(3)Such a scheme may also provide for the delegation by the parochial church council to a district church council of such functions as may be specified in the scheme and, subject to the provisions of the scheme, the parochial church council may by resolution also delegate to a district church council such of its functions as it shall think fit but not including (in either case) the functions of the parochial church council—

(i)in respect of producing the financial statement of the parish including the accounts of all districts of the parish unless any or all of the districts have been so designated under paragraph (5A) of this rule;

(ii)as an interested party under Part I of the Pastoral Measure 1983;

(iii)under Part II of the Patronage (Benefices) Measure 1986;

(iv)under section 3 of the Priests (Ordination of Women) Measure 1993.]

(4)[F99A scheme may] provide for the election or choice of one or two deputy churchwardens . . . F100, and for the delegation to him or them of such functions of the churchwardens relating to [F101any church or place] as the scheme may specify, and the churchwardens may, subject to the scheme, delegate such of their said functions as they think fit to the deputy churchwarden or churchwardens.

[F102(5)No scheme under this rule shall be valid unless approved by at least two-thirds of the persons present and voting at the annual meeting nor shall the scheme provide for it to come into operation until such date as the bishop’s council and standing committee may determine being a date not later than the next ensuing annual meeting. Every such scheme shall on its approval be communicated to the bishop’s council and standing committee of the diocesan synod which may determine—

(a)that the scheme shall come into operation; or

(b)that the scheme shall not come into operation; or

(c)that the scheme shall come into operation with specified amendments, if such amendments are approved by an annual or special parochial church meeting and the scheme as amended is approved by at least two-thirds of the persons present and voting at that meeting.]

[F103(5A)A parochial church council may, after consultation with the district church councils and with the approval of at least two-thirds of the persons present and voting at the annual meeting, apply to the bishop’s council and standing committee for designation of any or all of the district church councils formed by scheme under this rule to be deemed to be separate parishes for the purpose of producing financial statements in respect of that district for presentation at the annual meeting. Where the bishop’s council agrees to such a designation it shall take effect in respect of the financial statements to be presented at the next annual meeting and notice in writing of the designation shall be sent to the diocesan secretary with copies to the relevant archdeacon and to the secretaries of the parochial church council and the district church councils concerned.]

[F104[F105(6)]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 [F106or to apply for a designation referred to in paragraph (5A) above], 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.]

[F107(6). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F108

[F105(7)]Where a pastoral scheme establishing a team minstry, or an instrument of the bishop made by virtue of that scheme, makes, in relation to a parish in the area of the benefice for which the team ministry is established, any provision which may be made by a scheme under this rule, no scheme under this rule relating to that parish shall provide for the scheme to come into operation until on or after the date on which the provisions in question of the pastoral scheme or of the instrument, as the case may be, cease to have effect.

[F105(8)]A scheme under this rule may by varied or revoked by a subsequent scheme thereunder.

[F105(9)]Every member of the team of a team ministry shall have a right to attend the meetings of any district church council elected for any district in a parish in the area of the benefice for which the team ministry is established.

[F105(10)]This rule shall be without prejudice to the appointment, in parishes with more than one parish church, of two church-wardens for each church under section [F10927(5) of the M2Pastoral Measure 1983].

[F105(11)]In this rule “place of worship” means a building or part of a building licensed for public worship.]

Joint Parochial Church CouncilsE

[F110[F11119](1)Where there are two or more parishes within the area of a single benefice or two or more benefices are held in plurality, the annual meetings of all or some of the parishes in the benefice or benefices may make a joint scheme to provide—

(a)for establishing a joint parochial church council (hereinafter referred to as “the joint council”) comprising the ministers of the parishes and such numbers of representatives of each of those parishes elected by and from among the other members of the parochial church council of the parish as may be specified in the scheme;

(b)for the chairmanship, meetings and procedure of the joint council;

(c)[F112subject to paragraph 20 of Schedule 2 to the Patronage (Benefices) Measure 1986] for the delegation by the parochial church council of each such parish to the joint council of such of its functions, other than its functions as an interested party under Part I of the Pastoral Measure [F1131983][F114and its functions under section 3 of the Priests (Ordination of Women) Measure 1993], as may be so specified.

(2)Subject to the scheme and to any pastoral scheme or order made under paragraph 13 of Schedule 3 to the said Measure [F115and to paragraph 20 of Schedule 2 to the Patronage (Benefices) Measure 1986], the parochial church council of any such parish may delegate to the joint council such of its functions, other than its functions as an interested party under the said Part 1 [F116and its functions under section 3 of the Priests (Ordination of Women) Measure 1993], as it thinks fit.

(3)The joint council shall meet from time to time for the purpose of consulting together on matters of common concern.

[F117(4)No scheme under this rule shall be valid unless approved by at least two-thirds of the persons present and voting at the annual meeting nor shall the scheme provide for it to come into operation until such date as the bishop’s council and standing committee may determine being a date not later than the next ensuing annual meeting. Every such scheme shall on its approval be communicated to the bishop’s council and standing committee of the diocesan synod which may determine—

(a)that the scheme shall come into operation; or

(b)that the scheme shall not come into operation; or

(c)that the scheme shall come into operation with specified amendments, if such amendments are approved by an annual or special parochial church meeting and the scheme as amended is approved by at least two-thirds of the persons present and voting at the meeting.]

(5)(6). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F118

[F119(5)]A special parochial church meeting of a parish to which this rule applies may be convened for the purpose of deciding whether to join in making 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.

[F119(6)]Where a pastoral scheme or order, or any instrument of the bishop made by virtue of such a scheme or order, establishes a joint parochial church council for two or more of the parishes in a single benefice or two or more of the parishes in benefices held in plurality, no scheme under this rule relating to those parishes shall provide for the scheme to come into operation until on or after the date on which the provisions of the pastoral scheme, pastoral order or instrument, as the case may be, establishing the joint parochial church council cease to have effect.

[F119(7)]Where the provisions of a pastoral scheme or order for the holding of benefices in plurality are terminated under section [F12018(2) of the Pastoral Measure 1983], any provision of a scheme under this rule establishing a joint parochial church council for all or some of the parishes of those benefices and the other provisions thereof affecting that council shall cease to have effect on the date on which the first mentioned provisions cease to have effect.

[F119(8)]A scheme under this rule may be varied or revoked by a subsequent scheme thereunder to be.]

[F121 Team councils]E

[F12220][F123(1)Where a team ministry is established for the area of a benefice which comprises more than one parish the annual meetings of the parishes in that area may make a joint scheme to provide—

F124(a). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F125(a)for establishing a team council comprising—

(i)the team rector;

(ii)the members of the team other than the team rector;

(iii)every assistant curate, deaconess and lay worker licensed to a parish within the team who are not members of the team;

(iv)such number of lay representatives elected by and from among the lay representatives of the parochial church council of each parish in the area as may be specified in the scheme.

Provided that where the total number of persons in sub-paragraphs (ii) and (iii) above would otherwise number more than one quarter of the total membership of the team council they may, and where those persons number more than one third they shall select among themselves which members shall be members of the team council so that the total number of those persons shall not exceed more than one third of the council.]

(b)for the chairmanship, meetings and procedure of the team council; and

(c)[F126subject to paragraph 19 of Schedule 2 to the Patronage (Benefices) Measure 1986] for the delegation by the parochial church council of each such parish to the team council of such functions, other than its functions as an interested party under Part I of the Pastoral Measure [F1271983][F128as may be so specified][F129and its functions under section 3 of the Priests (Ordination of Women) Measure 1993, as may be so specified]

(2)Subject to the scheme and to any pastoral scheme relating to the team council made under [F130paragraph 4(3)] of Schedule 3 to the said Measure [F131and to paragraph 19 of Schedule 2 to the Patronage (Benefices) Measure 1986], the parochial church council of any such parish may delegate to the team council such of its functions, other than its functions as an interested party under the said Part I [F132and its functions under section 3 of the Priests (Ordination of Women) Measure 1993], as it thinks fit.

(3)The team council shall meet from time to time for the purpose of consulting together on matters of common concern.]

[F123(4)No scheme under this rule shall be valid unless approved by at least two-thirds of the persons present and voting at the annual meeting nor shall the scheme provide for it to come into operation until such date as the bishop’s council and standing committee may determine being a date not later than the next ensuing annual meeting. Every such scheme shall on its approval be communicated to the bishop’s council and standing committee of the diocesan synod which may determine—

(a)that the scheme shall come into operation; or

(b)that the scheme shall not come into operation; or

(c)that the scheme shall come into operation with specified amendments, if such amendments are approved by an annual or special parochial church meeting and the scheme as amended is approved by at least two-thirds of the persons present and voting at that meeting.]

(5)(6). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F133

[F134(5)]A special parochial church meeting of a parish to which this rule applies may be convened for the purpose of deciding whether to join in making 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.

[F134(6)]Where a pastoral scheme establishing a team ministry, or an instrument of the bishop made by virtue of that scheme, establishes a team counil for that ministry, no scheme under this rule relating to that ministry shall provide for the scheme to come into operation until on or after the date on which the provisions of the pastoral scheme or of the instrument, as the case may be, establishing the team council to have effect.

[F134(7)]A scheme under this rule may be varied or revoked by a subsequent scheme thereunder to be.

[F135 Group councilsE

[F13621](1)Where a pastoral scheme establishes a group ministry, the annual meetings of the parishes in the area for which the group ministry is established may make a joint scheme to provide—E

(a)for establishing a group council comprising—

(i)all the members of the group ministry,

(ii)every assistant curate, deaconess, and lay worker licensed to any such parish, and

(iii)such number of lay representatives elected by and from among the lay members of the parochial church council of each such parish as may be specified in the scheme;

(b)for the chairmanship, meetings and procedure of the group council; and

(c)for the delegation by the parochial church council of each such parish to the group council of such functions, other than its functions as an interested party under Part I of the Pastoral Measure [F1371983][F138and its functions under Part II of the Patronage (Benefices) Measure 1986][F139and section 3 of the Priests (Ordination of Women) Measure 1993] as may be so specified.

(2)If the area of a group ministry includes the area of a benefice for which a team ministry is established, a scheme under this rule shall provide for the vicars in that ministry, as well as the rector, and all the other members of the team to be members of the group council.

(3)Paragraphs (2) to [F140(7)] of rule [F14120] shall apply in relation to a scheme under this rule as they apply in relation to a scheme under this rule as they apply in relation to a scheme under that rule with the modification that for the references toa team ministry and a team council there shall be substituted references to a group ministry and a group council respectively [F142except that the functions of a parochial church council under Part II of the Patronage (Benefices) Measure 1986 [F143and section 3 of the Priests (Ordination of Women) Measure 1993] may not be delegated to a group council].]

[F144 Special MeetingsE

[F14522](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.E

(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 [F1466](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 MeetingsE

[F14723](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.E

(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 [F14822] 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 [F148paragraph (2) of that rule] there shall be substituted the word “extraordinary”.