Key provisions of the draft Bishops and Priests (Consecration and Ordination ofWomen) Measure

With regard to my earlier posts, here and here, someone has kindly made this available.

It may be readily seen that whilst there is a similarity to what is currently available under the Priests (Ordination of Women) Measure and the Episcopal Ministry Act of Synod, the provisions have been substantially diluted.

Of particular note, I suggest, is that although the diocesan bishop has a 'duty' to make arrangements (section 2), and although the bishop has to take account of the Code of Practice, the arrangements made are entirely local and may be reviewed at the bishop's discretion at any time. Moreover, the Code of Practice may be applied differently in different circumstances, and may itself be altered by the House of Bishops.

This is dilution to homeopathic percentages.

John Richardson

2 Duty of diocesan bishop to make arrangements

(1) The bishop of each diocese shall be under a duty to make and publish a scheme containing arrangements in his or her diocese for the exercise by way of delegation to a male bishop who is a member of the House of Bishops of the diocesan synod of that or another diocese of episcopal minishy which appears
to the bishop of the diocese to relate to-

(a) the celebration of the sacraments and other divine service in parishes which request such arrangements in accordance with section 3, or

(b) the provision of pastoral care to the clergy and parishioners in those parishes.

(2) Within the period of 12 months from the commencement date the bishop of the diocese in office shall make the scheme under subsection (1), except that, if there is a vacancy in the see on that date, the bishop appointed to fill the vacancy shall make the scheme as soon as practicable and, in any event, within
12 months from the date on which his or her election to that see is confirmed.

(3) A scheme made under this section may include such additional arrangements for the exercise of episcopal ministry as the bishop of the diocese thinks fit.

(4) If the scheme made under this section does not include a statement by the bishop (if a man) that he will not, on grounds of theological conviction (whether of himself or of other persons in his diocese), ordain women to the office of priest, it shall be presumed, for the purposes of this Measure, that he will ordain women to the office of priest.

(5) Where a scheme made under this section includes a statement by the bishop that he will not ordain women to the office of priest, the scheme shall make provision-

(a) for the ordination of female candidates for the office of priest, and

(b) for the support of the minish-y of clergy who are women and their pastoral care.

(6) The bishop shall review a scheme made under this section every 5 years and may, at any time, amend it or revoke it and replace it with a further scheme.

(7) A scheme in force under this section shall continue in force after another person becomes the bishop of the diocese but that bishop shall review the scheme as soon as practicable and, in any event, within the period of12 months from the date on which his or her election to the see is confirmed.

(8) Where the bishop of the diocese reviews the scheme under subsection (7), the period of 5 years referred to in subsection (6) shall begin with the date of the review of the scheme under subsection (7).

(9) When making, amending or reviewing a scheme made under this section the bishop shall, without prejudice to section 6, take account of the Code of Practice issued under section 5 and consult the diocesan synod of the diocese.

3 Parish requests

(1) A parochial church council of a parish may pass a resolution in the form of a Letter of Request stating that, on grounds of theological conviction (whether of members of the council or of other persons), the council requests that episcopal ministry and pastoral care should be provided by a male bishop to the clergy
and parishioners in the parish in accordance with the scheme under section 2.

(2) A Letter of Request under subsection (1) shall be in the terms set out in Part I of Schedule 2.

(3) Where-

(a) a notice of a vacancy in a benefice has been sent to the secretary of the parochial church council of a parish belonging to the benefice under section 7(4) of the Patronage (Benefices) Measure 1986 (1986 No.3), or (b) subsection (4) applies, the parochial church council of a parish belonging to the benefice may pass a
resolution stating that, on grounds of theological conviction (whether of members of the council or of other persons), the council requests that only a male priest shall be appointed as the incumbent of or priest in charge for the benefice.

5 Code of Practice

(1) The House of Bishops shall draw up, and promulgate, guidance in a Code of Practice as to-

(a) the making of schemes under section 2,

(b) the exercise of episcopal ministry in accordance with the arrangements contained in such schemes,

(c) the exercise, by those involved in the making of an appointment of an incumbent of and a priest in charge for a benefice, of their functions in that regard where a Letter of Request is issued under section 3(3),

(d) the matters referred to in section 2(5), and

(e) such other matters as the House of Bishops considers appropriate to give effect to this Measure.

(2) A Code of Practice may make different provision for different circumstances, including different provision for different persons or groups of persons and for different parishes.

(3) The House of Bishops may amend or replace any Code issued under subsection (1) by a further Code of Practice issued in accordance with this section.

(4) A Code of Practice which contains provisions falling within Article 7 of the Constitution of the General Synod set out in Schedule 2 to the Synodical Government Measure 1969 (1969 No.2) shall be laid in draft before the General Synod and, after it has been considered by the General Synod, it shall be referred, with any amendment, to the House of Bishops to be dealt with in accordance with the provisions of Article 7 and the Standing Orders of the Synod relating thereto and subsections (5) to (8) shall not apply.

(5) A Code of Practice which does not contain provisions falling within Article 7 of the Constitution of the General Synod shall be laid in draft before the General Synod and, if it is approved by the General Synod without amendment, the Code shall be issued by the House of Bishops.

(6) If the Code has been approved by the General Synod with amendment, it shall be referred to the House of Bishops.

(7) Where a draft Code of Practice is referred to the House of Bishops under subsection (6) then the House of Bishops may either-

(a) make the Code as so amended, or

(b) withdraw the Code for further consideration in view of any amendment by the General Synod,
and the Code shall not come into force until it has been approved by the General Synod and issued by the House of Bishops.

(8) Where the Business Committee of the General Synod determines that a Code of Practice which does not contain provisions falling within Article 7 of the Constitution of the General Synod does not need to be debated by the General Synod then, unless-

(a) notice is given by a member of the General Synod in accordance with its Standing Orders that he or she wishes the Code to be debated, or

(b) notice is given by any such member that he or she wishes to move an amendment to the Code,
the Code shall, for the purposes of subsection (5), be deemed to have been approved by the General Synod without amendment.

6 Duty to have regard to Code of Practice

Any person who exercises any functions, whether episcopal or other functions, shall be under a duty to have regard to any Code of Practice issued under this Measure.

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