The Church of England’s General Synod is due to meet at York University from Friday 7 July to Tuesday 11 July; the outline of business and related papers are here. A number of legislative issues have been scheduled for debate, some for first consideration and other for final approval [1].

These include: the replacement of the Clergy Discipline Measure (CDM) with a new Clergy Conduct Measure (CCM); changes to the Faculty Jurisdiction Rules (FJR) in relation to contested heritage; a review of the Mission and Pastoral Measure (MPM); and the “catch all” of matters that do not merit separate, free-standing legislation, the Miscellaneous Provisions Measure. Other important debates will be on safeguarding and climate change issues.

Miscellaneous Provisions Measure

The draft Miscellaneous Provisions Measure makes legislative provision for a range of matters that do not merit separate, free-standing legislation [2].  These will be discussed on Saturday 6 July. GS 2272B and GS 2273B are for Final Drafting and Final Approval;

• CofE (Miscellaneous Provisions) Measure (GS 2272B)
• CofE (Miscellaneous Provisions) Measure Explanatory Note (GS 2272X3)
• Amending Canon 43 (GS 2273B)
• Amending Canon 43 Petition (GS 2273C)
• Amending Canon 43 Explanatory Note (GS 2273X3)
• Steering Committee Report Misc PM and AC 43 (GS 2272-2273)

Safeguarding

Also scheduled for Saturday 6 July. For enactment,

• Amending Canon No 42 (GS 2269D)

on Sunday 9 July, there will be a debate on safeguarding including a presentation on the Independent Safeguarding Board,

• ISB Recent Developments (GS Misc 1341)

and on Tuesday 11 June, Safeguarding Practice Reviews Code of Practice (GS 2295), For approval.

Clergy Conduct Measure

On Monday 10 July, there will be the first consideration of the Clergy Conduct Measure which will replace the Clergy Discipline Measure. Following approval, Synod members may table amendments to any provision in the draft Measure for consideration by the Revision Committee and then by Synod in February 2024.

• Clergy Conduct Measure (GS 2311)
• Clergy Conduct Measure Explanatory Notes (GS 2311X)

Church Representation Rules

Also on Monday 10 June, Church Representation Rules (Amendment) Resolution is for approval

• CRR Amendment Resolution – July 2023 (GS 2313)
• CRR Amendment Resolution- Ex Mem (GS 2313X)

Mission and Pastoral Measure

The draft proposals for the revision of the revision of the Mission and Pastoral Measure will also be debated on 10 June, and if the proposals are approved, draft legislation will be prepared for first consideration in 2024.

• Mission & Pastoral Measure review_July2023 (GS 2315)

Faculty Jurisdiction Rules

The  Faculty Jurisdiction (Amendment) Rules 2023 are for approval and will be debated on Tuesday 11 June. These amendments to the Faculty Jurisdiction Rules in their present form will come into force on 1st January 2024.

• Faculty Jurisdiction (Amendment) Rules 2023 (1) (GS 2310)
• Faculty Jurisdiction (Am) Rules – Explanatory Notes (1) (GS 2310X)

Reduction of Marriage Fees

Debate on Tuesday 11 June. Papers associated with  Diocesan Synod Motion are:

• DSM: Reducing Wedding Fees (GS 2282A)
• Secretary General: Parochial Fees for marriages (GS 2282B)

Notes

[1] The procedural stages of legislation – first consideration; revision; final drafting and final approval – are described here and in diagrammatic form here. The current status of these considerations is given in the outline of business and the agenda for the July 2023 Synod.

[2] Church of England (Miscellaneous Provisions) Measure, (GS 2272B)