Synodical Government Measure 1969
Church of England measure
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Synodical Government Measure 1969 (No. 2) is a Church of England measure passed by the National Assembly of the Church of England replacing the National Assembly with the General Synod of the Church of England.
| Measure of the Church of England | |
 | |
| Long title | A Measure passed by The National Assembly of the Church of England to provide for the vesting by Canon of the functions, authority, rights and privileges of the Convocations of Canterbury and York in the General Synod of the Church of England, and for the modification by Canon of the functions of the said Convocations when sitting separately for their provinces; to rename and reconstitute the Church Assembly as the General Synod, and to make further provision for the synodical government of the Church of England, and for purposes connected with the matters aforesaid. |
|---|---|
| Citation | 1969 No. 2 |
| Territorial extent | [b] |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 25 July 1969 |
| Commencement | 25 July 1969[c] |
| Other legislation | |
| Amends | |
| Amended by |
|
Status: Amended | |
| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
| Revised text of statute as amended | |
| Text of the Synodical Government Measure 1969 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk. | |
Background
In 1919, the Parliament of the United Kingdom passed the Church of England Assembly (Powers) Act 1919 establishing the National Assembly of the Church of England.[1] After the measure was passed, the previous state of arrangements was referred to as "paralysis" in the Ecclesiastical Law Journal.
Until this measure passed there were "many complications" with having the National Assembly and the convocations side-by-side, and it was deemed that the laity had too little share of power in the National Assembly.[2]
Provisions
Most of the powers of the Convocations of Canterbury and York were transferred to the General Synod, consisting of:[3]
The measure established deanery synods which would be the lowest rung of the Church's hierarchy. To be eligible to be elected to the House of Laity you need to be elected to a deanery synod first.[4]
Electoral roll
Originally, the measure established the voting age as 17.[5] This has since been reduced to 16 through the passage of the Church Representation and Ministers Measure 2019.
Channel Islands
Amendments
In 1971, the measure was amended by the Synodical Government (Special Majorities) Measure 1971 (No. 1) so that "special majorities" would be required to change the relationship between the Church of England and another church.[5]
In 1974, the measure was amended by the Synodical Government (Amendment) Measure 1974 (No. 1) so that the constitutions of the Convocations of York and Canterbury would be required to change the relationship between the Church of England and another church.
In 2003, the measure was amended by the Synodical Government (Amendment) Measure 2003 (No. 1) so that there would be a regular review of the arrangements for pastoral supervision.
Legislation passed by the Church must now comply with the Human Rights Act 1998.[7]
Notes
- Section 9(1).
- Section 9(3)–(4).
- The Acts of Parliament (Commencement) Act 1793. See also section 9(2).