Legislative Business – General Synod

Much of the business of yesterday’s General Synod concerned legislative issues, and Church of England Press Release is reproduced below. This forms a useful aide memoire on the current status of the many legislative developments in progress at the present time. The Press Release relating to the Revd Stephen Trott’s PMM on the preliminaries to marriage was posted yesterday.


General Synod February group of sessions 2017: Tuesday

14 February 2017

FAREWELL TO THE FIRST CHURCH ESTATES COMMISSIONER

The Archbishop of York made a presentation paying tribute to the First Church Estates Commissioner, who is leaving office in June 2017.

PRELIMINARIES TO MARRIAGE ( GS 2045A and GS 2045B)

The Revd Stephen Trott (Peterborough) moved the motion in his name:

That this Synod, noting the Registration of Marriages Regulations 2015 and the growing burden and complexity of the legal requirements imposed on members of the clergy who conduct weddings in the Church of England, invite the Archbishops’ Council to bring forward draft legislation to replace ecclesiastical preliminaries to marriage by universal civil preliminaries, such as those which have been in operation in Scotland since 1977, when banns were replaced by a Marriage Schedule issued by the civil registrar. The motion was lost following a counted vote by houses.  

An amendment proposed by Revd Neil Patterson (Hereford) was not carried.

LEGISLATIVE BUSINESS

DRAFT MISSION AND PASTORAL ETC. (AMENDMENT) MEASURE ( GS 2014B)

Draft Measure for Final Drafting and Final Approval (Revised at the July 2016 group of sessions) Report by the Steering Committee ( GS 2014Z)

Synod gave final approval to the Measure.

DRAFT ECCLESIASTICAL JURISDICTION AND CARE OF CHURCHES MEASURE ( GS 2031A)

Draft Measure for Final Drafting and Final Approval (First Consideration at the July 2016 group of sessions) Consolidation Measure

Synod gave final approval to the Measure.

DRAFT LEGISLATIVE REFORM MEASURE ( GS 2027A)

Draft Measure for Revision (First Consideration at the July 2016 group of sessions) Report by the Revision Committee ( GS 2027Y)

Synod completed the Revision Stage for this Measure.

DRAFT STATUTE LAW (REPEALS) MEASURE ( GS 2030)

Synod completed the Revision Stage for this Measure.

DRAFT PENSIONS (PRE-CONSOLIDATION) MEASURE ( GS 2032A)

Synod completed the Revision Stage for this Measure.

DRAFT CHURCH REPRESENTATION, ECUMENICAL RELATIONS AND MINISTERS MEASURE ( GS 2046)

Synod approved the consideration of the Measure for revision in committee.

DRAFT AMENDING CANON NO. 38 ( GS 2047)

Synod approved the consideration of the Canon for revision in committee.

THE ECCLESIASTICAL OFFICES (TERMS OF SERVICE) (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS 2017 ( GS 2048)

Synod approved the Regulations, having previously accepted an amendment moved by the Revd Paul Benfield.

THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND PENSIONS (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS 2017 ( GS 2049)

Synod approved the Regulations.

THE SAFEGUARDING (CLERGY RISK ASSESSMENT) REGULATIONS 2016 ( GS 2050)

Synod approved today new regulations from the House of Bishops to make provision about how risk assessments on clergy are to be carried out.  From March 1, under Canon C30, bishops will have legal powers to direct clergy to undergo a risk assessment. The Canon will also enable an archbishop to direct a bishop holding office in the archbishop’s province, or the other archbishop, to undergo a risk assessment. The regulations approved by Synod today, will achieve consistency and contain good practice in the way those risk assessments on clergy are to be conducted.

A risk assessment is an assessment of whether there is a significant risk that the cleric concerned may:

  • Harm a child or vulnerable adult
  • Cause a child or vulnerable adult to be harmed
  • Put a child or vulnerable adult at risk of harm
  • Attempt to harm a child or vulnerable adult, or
  • Incite another person to harm a child or vulnerable adult.

Further background on the regulations  https://www.churchofengland.org/media/3858228/gs-2050x-explanatory-memorandum.pdf

DRAFT AMENDING CANON NO. 36 ( GS 2029A)

DRAFT AMENDING CANON NO. 37 ( GS 2029AA)

The debate on the motion was adjourned.

These brief summaries are offered primarily for reference while the General Synod is in session. The formal record of the Synod’s business at each sitting during the July 2016 group of sessions can be found in the ‘Business Done’ section (available online once published after the Synod concludes its business), which offers a fuller picture of the Synod’s business.

Audio from today’s business is available here:  https://soundcloud.com/the-church-of-england/sets/general-synod-february-2017


Cite this article as: David Pocklington, "Legislative Business – General Synod" in Law & Religion UK, 15 February 2017, https://lawandreligionuk.com/2017/02/15/legislative-business-general-synod/

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