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.
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| 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. |
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| Citation | 1969 No. 2 |
| Territorial extent | England |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 25th July 1969 |
| Commencement | 25th July 1969 |
Status: Current legislation | |
| Text of statute as originally enacted | |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
editIn 1919, the Parliament of the United Kingdom passed an act 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
editMost of the powers of the Convocations of York and Canterbury 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
editOriginally, 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
editThe Measure applied to the Channel Islands, through Synodical Government (Channel Islands) Order 1970.[6]
Amendments
editIn 1971, the measure was amended 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 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.[5]
In 2003, the measure was amended so that there would be a regular review of the arrangements for pastoral supervision.[5]
Legislation passed by the Church must now comply with the Human Rights Act 1998.[7]
References
edit- ^ "Church of England Assembly (Powers) Act 1919", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 23 December 1919, 1919 c. 76, retrieved 16 September 2024
- ^ "Synodical Government Measure". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Vol. 302. Parliament of the United Kingdom: House of Lords. 16 June 1969. col. 843–848.
- ^ "Convocations of Canterbury and York". Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
With the Synodical Government Measure of 1969, most of the powers of the convocations, including the power to legislate by canon, passed into the hands of a general synod composed of members of the houses of bishops, members of the houses of clergy, and a house of laity. Although the convocations continue to meet, their transactions are for the most part formal.
- ^ "Synodical Government". Oxford Reference. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
- ^ a b c d "Synodical Government (Special Majorities) Measure 1971". legislation.gov.uk. National Archives. 17 February 1971. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
- ^ "The Synodical Government (Channel Islands) Order 1970", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 1970/1117
- ^ Slack, Stephen (5 December 2011). "Synodical Government and the Legislative Process". Ecclesiastical Law Journal. 14 (1): 43–81. doi:10.1017/S0956618X11000755. ISSN 0956-618X.