The Church Representation Rules (Amendment) (No. 2) Resolution 2025
Source: legislation.gov.uk (2025-09-08)

This Resolution makes miscellaneous amendments to the Church Representation Rules as set out in Schedule 3 to the Synodical Government Measure 1969.

Statutory Instruments

2025 No. 995

Ecclesiastical Law, England

The Church Representation Rules (Amendment) (No. 2) Resolution 2025

Made

15th July 2025

Laid before Parliament

5th September 2025

Coming into force

6th September 2025

The General Synod, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 7 of the Synodical Government Measure 1969(1 (\"#f00001\")), resolves to amend the Church Representation Rules(2 (\"#f00002\")) as follows.

In accordance with that section, the General Synod has passed this Resolution with a majority in each House of not less than two-thirds of those present and voting.

Citation, commencement and interpretation

1.—(1) This Resolution may be cited as the Church Representation Rules (Amendment) (No. 2) Resolution 2025.

(2) This Resolution comes into force on the day after the day on which it is laid before Parliament.

(3) A reference in this Resolution to a numbered Part or Rule is to the Part or Rule so numbered in the Church Representation Rules.

Compilation of electoral roll: removal of third declaration

2.—(1) In Part 1 (church electoral roll), in Rule 1 (compilation of roll), in paragraph (2)(c), for “one of the following three” substitute “either of the following”.

(2) For paragraph (5) of that Rule substitute—

“(5) A person who is a member of a Church which is not in communion with the Church of England but which subscribes to the doctrine of the Holy Trinity may make the second declaration if the person is also a member of the Church of England.”.

(3) In Rule 7 (preparation of new roll), in paragraph (4), omit “or (5)(c)”.

(4) In Part 10, in Form 1 (application for enrolment)—

(a)omit paragraph 2C and the preceding “OR”,

(b)in the asterisked sentences immediately preceding the heading “NOTES”, in the sentence beginning with two asterisks, for “, 2B and 2C” substitute “and 2B”,

(c)after that sentence (but before the sentence beginning with three asterisks), insert “You can tick 2B if you are both a member of a Church which is not in communion with the Church of England but which subscribes to the doctrine of the Holy Trinity and a member of the Church of England.”,

(d)in the sentence beginning with three asterisks, omit “or 2C”,

(e)in Note 2, omit “in good standing”, and

(f)in Note 3, omit “or 2C”.

Parish model rules: scheme for amendment

3. In Part 2 (parish governance), in Rule 13 (scheme for amending model rules), in paragraph (8), after sub-paragraph (b) insert “, and

“(c)must be sent to the secretary of the PCC”.

Nomination of candidate for diocesan synod

4. In Part 4 (diocesan synod), in Rule 40 (nominations), in paragraph (5)(a), for “the elector” substitute “the person giving the nomination and accompanying statement”.

Disqualification

5. In Part 7 (disqualification), in Rule 62 (general disqualifications), in paragraph (4), after “any enactment” insert “, or any order of the High Court in the exercise of its jurisdiction in relation to charities,”.

Form of PCC’s annual report and financial statements

6. In Part 9 (parish governance: model rules), in Rule M5 (business of PCC: reports etc.), in each of paragraphs (4) and (5)(a), for “in the form specified by the Business Committee” substitute “in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities published from time to time by the Charity Commission”.

Parochial representatives of laity: qualifications for election

7.—(1) In Part 9 (parish governance: model rules), in Rule M8 (qualifications for election as parochial representative of laity)—

(a)in paragraph (4), after “disqualified under Part 7” insert “from membership of the deanery synod”, and

(b)in paragraph (8)(a), after “disqualified under Part 7” insert “from membership of the PCC”.

(2) In Part 9, in Rule M12A(3 (\"#f00003\")) (declaration as to disqualifications)—

(a)in paragraph (1), after “disqualified under Part 7” insert “from membership of the deanery synod”, and

(b)in paragraph (2)(a), after “disqualified under Part 7”, insert “from membership of the PCC”.

Parochial representatives of laity: case where no confirmatory vote

8. In Part 9 (parish governance: model rules), in Rule M9 (conduct of election of parochial representatives of laity), in paragraph (3)(4 (\"#f00004\")), after “should be elected” insert “; but if a resolution under this paragraph is not moved, or is moved and not passed, each candidate is declared elected”.

PCC members: training

9. In Part 9 (parish governance: model rules), after Rule M12A insert—

PCC members: training

M12B. The secretary of each PCC must, as soon as practicable after a person is elected as a parochial representative of the laity to the PCC, secure that the person is provided with materials approved by the Business Committee for training members of a PCC on their role as such.”.

Approved by the General Synod on 15th July 2025.

A.S. McGregor

Registrar of the General Synod

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Resolution)

This Resolution makes miscellaneous amendments to the Church Representation Rules as set out in Schedule 3 to the Synodical Government Measure 1969.

Paragraph 2 amends the eligibility requirements for membership of a Church electoral roll by removing the third declaration, which applied to a person who is a member of a Church not in communion with the Church of England and a member of the Church of England.

Paragraph 3 provides that, once a scheme for amending the model rules of parish governance has been approved, a copy must be sent to the secretary of the parochial church council concerned.

Paragraph 4 corrects a drafting error.

Paragraph 5 amends the provision on disqualification as charity trustee by including disqualification by the High Court in exercising its inherent jurisdiction in relation to charities.

Paragraph 6 relates to the annual report and financial statements prepared by the parochial church council for the annual parochial church meeting and replaces the requirement for them to be in the form specified by the Business Committee with a requirement for them to accord with the Charity Commission’s Statements of Recommended Practice.

Paragraph 7 removes a doubt about the extent of the current disqualification provisions by confining eligibility for election as parochial representatives to those who are not disqualified from membership of the deanery synod or of the parochial church council, as applicable.

Paragraph 8 relates to the case where the number of candidates for parochial representatives of the laity does not exceed the number of vacancies. It provides expressly that, where there is not a vote on whether each candidate should be elected, each candidate is declared elected.

Paragraph 9 requires the secretary of each parochial church council to arrange for newly elected members to receive training on the role of a member.

(1)

1969 No. 2 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukcm/1969/2\"). Section 7 has been amended by section 1(2) of the Church Representation and Ministers Measure 2019 (No. 1) (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukcm/2019/1\").

(2)

The Church Representation Rules are contained in Schedule 3 to the Synodical Government Measure 1969.

(3)

Rule M12A has been inserted by paragraph 3 of S.I. 2023/863 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2023/863\").

(4)

Paragraph (3) of Rule M9 has been substituted by paragraph 2 of S.I. 2023/863 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2023/863\").