The Church Representation Rules (Amendment) (No. 2) Resolution 2025
The Church Representation Rules (Amendment) (No. 2) Resolution 2025 amends the Church Representation Rules to simplify the Church electoral roll application process, improve parish governance by requiring submission of approved model rules, correct a drafting error in candidate nominations, strengthen disqualification criteria aligned with High Court jurisdiction regarding charity trustees, standardize financial reporting using Charity Commission guidelines, clarify disqualification provisions for parochial representatives, streamline elections of Parochial Representatives of the Laity, and mandate training for newly elected PCC members.
Arguments For
Simplifies the Church electoral roll application process by removing a redundant declaration, improving efficiency and accessibility.
Enhances transparency and accountability in parish governance by requiring the submission of amended model rules to the relevant secretary.
Improves accuracy in candidate nomination procedures within the diocesan synod process, clarifying the responsibilities of nominators.
Strengthens the disqualification process for individuals holding charity trustee positions, aligning it with High Court jurisdiction.
Standardizes financial reporting for Parish Church Councils (PCCs) by referencing the Charity Commission's guidelines, ensuring consistency and adherence to best practices.
Clarifies the disqualification criteria for election as parochial representatives, eliminating ambiguity regarding deanery synod and PCC memberships.
Streamlines the election of Parochial Representatives of the Laity, ensuring fairer and more efficient outcomes for all processes.
Mandates training for newly elected PCC members, improving the effectiveness and knowledge of those involved in administration.
Arguments Against
Potential for unintended consequences from the simplification of the electoral roll process, such as overlooking other important factors.
Increased administrative burden on parish secretaries might reduce efficiency improvements expected from streamlining procedures.
The changes may not affect all desired processes to increase accuracy, efficiency and compliance across all relevant systems.
The revised disqualification criteria may lead to challenges in interpretation and implementation and may influence court case outcomes.
Changes to financial reporting may require additional training and resources for PCCs, leading to increased costs or administrative challenges.
The amendments might not resolve all existing concerns regarding the disqualification process.
The added requirement for a confirmatory vote in the election processes could possibly negatively influence outcomes.
The mandatory training might prove difficult due to logistical constraints or a lack of suitable resources.
- Citation, commencement and interpretation (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.
This section establishes the resolution's title, effective date (the day after parliamentary presentation), and clarifies that numbered references within the resolution correspond to those within the Church Representation Rules.
- Compilation of electoral roll: removal of third declaration (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”.
This section revises the Church electoral roll's compilation.
It simplifies the declaration requirements, removing a third option and updating associated text within the application form (Form 1).
Specific changes are made to paragraphs within Rule 1 and Rule 7, and to Form 1 in Part 10.
- Parish model rules: scheme for amendment 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”.
This section mandates that when a scheme for amending parish governance model rules is approved, a copy must be sent to the secretary of the relevant Parochial Church Council (PCC).
- Nomination of candidate for diocesan synod 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”.
This section clarifies the responsibility for providing nomination statements in diocesan synod candidate nominations by changing the subject from 'the elector' to 'the person giving the nomination and accompanying statement'.
- Disqualification 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,”.
This section extends disqualification criteria for Church governance to include High Court orders related to charities.
- Form of PCC’s annual report and financial statements 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”.
This section updates the requirements for PCC annual reports and financial statements; instead of Business Committee-specified formatting, it aligns them with the Charity Commission's recommended practices.
- Parochial representatives of laity: qualifications for election (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 (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”.
This section clarifies the disqualification criteria for electing parochial representatives, specifying that disqualification from deanery synod or PCC membership, as appropriate, also applies.
- Parochial representatives of laity: case where no confirmatory vote In Part 9 (parish governance: model rules), in Rule M9 (conduct of election of parochial representatives of laity), in paragraph (3), 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”.
This section addresses situations where there's no confirmatory vote in parochial representative elections, explicitly stating that each candidate is elected if no resolution is proposed or if the proposed resolution fails.
- PCC members: training 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.”
This section adds a new rule (M12B) mandating that PCC secretaries arrange training for newly elected lay representatives using Business Committee-approved materials.