Appendix 2: The Clergy Discipline Measure
2003 as it would be amended by the Measure
CLERGY DISCIPLINE MEASURE
CONTENTS
Introductory
1 Duty to have regard to bishop's role
2 Disciplinary tribunals
3 Clergy Discipline Commission
4 President of tribunals
5 Registrar of tribunals
6 Jurisdiction in disciplinary proceedings
Disciplinary proceedings concerning matters
not involving
doctrine, ritual or ceremonial
7 Application
8 Misconduct
9 Limitation of time for institution of
proceedings
10 Institution of proceedings
11 Preliminary scrutiny of complaint
12 Courses available to bishop
13 No further action
14 Conditional deferral
15 Conciliation
16 Penalty by consent
17 Formal investigation
18 Conduct of proceedings
19 Imposition of penalty
20 Right of appeal
Composition of tribunal and Vicar-General's
court
21 Provincial panels
22 Disciplinary tribunals
23 Vicar-General's court
Penalties
24 Types of penalty
25 Conditional discharge
26 Removal of prohibition for life or deposition
27 Removal of limited prohibition
28 Restoration on pardon
29 Disobedience to penalty etc.
Proceedings in secular courts
30 Convictions for criminal offences and
matrimonial orders, etc.: priests and deacons
31 Convictions for criminal offences and
matrimonial orders, etc.: bishops and archbishops
32 Consequences of penalties imposed under section
30 and 31
33 Duty to disclose criminal convictions and
arrests
34 Duty to disclose details of divorce
and separation orders
34A Duty to disclose inclusion in a barred
list
Miscellaneous
35 Application of 1963 Measure's provisions
36 Suspension of priests or deacon
37 Suspension of bishop or archbishop
38 Archbishops' list
39 Code of Practice
40 When convictions etc. are to be deemed conclusive
41 Compensation
42 Application of Measure in special cases
43 Interpretation
44 Amendment of Measures
45 Rules
46 Repeals
47 Transitional provisions
48 Citation, commencement and extent
__________________
Schedule 1 - Amendment of Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction
Measure 1963
Schedule 2 - Repeals
Clergy Discipline Measure 2003
2003 No. 3
A Measure passed by the General Synod of the Church
of England to amend the law relating to ecclesiastical discipline,
to amend section 3 of the Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction Measure
1963 and section 5(5) of the Ecclesiastical Judges and Legal Officers
Measure 1976, and for purposes connected therewith. [10th
July 2003]
Introductory
1 Duty to have regard to bishop's role
Any body or person on whom functions
in connection with the discipline of persons in Holy Orders are
conferred by this Measure shall, in exercising those functions,
have due regard to the role in that connection of the bishop or
archbishop who, by virtue of his office and consecration, is required
to administer discipline.
2 Disciplinary tribunals
Where a complaint is to be referred under this
Measure to a disciplinary tribunal the tribunal (to be called
the bishop's disciplinary tribunal) shall be constituted for the
diocese in question in accordance with section 22 below to deal
with the complaint.
3 Clergy Discipline Commission
(1) There shall be a body (to be called
the Clergy Discipline Commission) consisting of not more than
twelve persons appointed by the Appointments Committee of the
Church of England including at least -
(a) two persons from each
House of the General Synod;
(b) two persons who have
either a seven years general qualification within the meaning
of the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990 (c. 41) or who have
held or are holding high judicial office or the office of Circuit
judge.
(2) The Appointments Committee shall,
after consultation with the Dean of the Arches and Auditor, appoint
a member of the Commission to be the chairman of the Commission
and also a member to be the deputy chairman, being members who
have the qualifications referred to in subsection (1)(b) above.
(3) The Commission shall exercise the
functions conferred on it by this Measure and in addition shall
have the following duties -
(a) to give general advice
to disciplinary tribunals, the courts of the Vicars-General, bishops
and archbishops as to the penalties which are appropriate in particular
circumstances;
(b) to issue codes of practice
and general policy guidance to persons exercising functions in
connection with clergy discipline;
(c) to make annually to the
General Synod through the House of Bishops thereof a report on
the exercise of its functions during the previous year.
4 President of tribunals
(1) The chairman and deputy chairman
of the Commission shall be the president of tribunals and the
deputy president respectively for the purposes of this Measure.
(2) The president of tribunals shall
exercise the functions conferred on him by this Measure and in
addition shall have the following duties -
(a) to issue practice directions;
(b) to act as the chairman
of a disciplinary tribunal where, in his opinion, important points
of law or principle are involved;
(c) to exercise such other
functions as may be prescribed.
(3) Subject to subsection (4) below,
the deputy president of tribunals shall act for the president
when the president is absent or is unable or unwilling to act.
(4) The president or deputy president
of tribunals may select any person who may be appointed as the
chairman of a disciplinary tribunal under section 22(1) below
to act in his place when he is absent or unable or unwilling to
act.
5 Registrar of tribunals
(1) The
archbishops of Canterbury and York shall each for his province,
after consultation with the president of tribunals, appoint a
person to be the registrar of tribunals for the province for the
purposes of this Measure.
(2) A person so appointed shall be
a person who has a general qualification within the meaning of
the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990 (c. 41).
(3) The person holding the office of
registrar of tribunals for a province shall vacate that office
on the date on which he attains the age of seventy years or such
earlier age as may be prescribed by regulations made by the House
of Bishops of the General Synod under section 5 of the Ecclesiastical
Judges and Legal Officers Measure 1976 (1976 No. 2).
(4) The registrar of tribunals for
a province may resign his office by instrument in writing under
his hand addressed to, and served on, the archbishop of the province
and the instrument shall specify the date, being a date not less
than twelve months after the service of the instrument or such
earlier date as the archbishop may allow, on which the resignation
is to take effect.
(5) The appointment of a person as
registrar of tribunals for a province may be terminated by an
instrument in writing under the hand of the archbishop of the
province (after consultation with the president of tribunals)
addressed to, and served on, that person, and the instrument shall
specify the date, being a date not less than twelve months after
the date of service of the instrument, on which the appointment
is to terminate.
(6) The registrar of tribunals for
a province shall exercise the functions conferred on him by this
Measure and in addition shall have the following duties -
(a) to direct and supervise
the general administration of disciplinary tribunals in the province;
(b) to exercise such other
functions as may be prescribed.
(7) If the person holding the office
of registrar of tribunals for a province is for any reason unable
or unwilling to perform the duties of a registrar or it would
be inappropriate for him to perform those duties, the registrar
of tribunals for the other province shall perform those duties
and, for that purpose, shall have all the powers and duties of
the registrar of the first-mentioned province.
6 Jurisdiction in disciplinary proceedings
(1) A disciplinary tribunal constituted
for a diocese has jurisdiction to hear and determine disciplinary
proceedings under this Measure against a priest or deacon -
(a) who, when the misconduct
complained of was alleged to have been committed, held preferment
in the diocese or, subject to subsection (3) below, was resident
therein; or
(b) who is alleged to have
officiated as a minister in the diocese without authority.
(2) The Vicar-General's court of each
of the provinces of Canterbury and York constituted in accordance
with the provisions of this Measure has jurisdiction to hear and
determine disciplinary proceedings under this Measure -
(a) against any bishop who,
when the misconduct complained of was alleged to have been committed,
held preferment in the province or, subject to subsection (3)
below, was resident therein; or
(b) against any bishop who
is alleged to have officiated as a minister in the province without
authority; or
(c) against the archbishop
of the other province.
(3) Where disciplinary proceedings in respect
of any matter are instituted under section 10 below against -
(a) a priest or deacon in
the diocese in which he holds or held preferment or in which he
is alleged to have officiated as a minster without authority,
or
(b) a bishop in the province
in which he holds or held preferment or in which he is alleged
to have officiated without authority,
no such proceedings in respect
of the same matter shall be instituted in any other diocese or
the other province, as the case may be, on the basis of residence
therein and any such proceedings previously instituted on that
basis shall be discontinued.
(4) Where disciplinary proceedings
in respect of any matter are instituted under section 10 below
against -
(a) a priest or deacon in
the diocese in which he is alleged to have officiated without
authority, or
(b) a bishop in the province
in which he is alleged to have officiated without authority,
no such proceedings in respect
of the same matter shall be instituted in any other diocese or
the other province, as the case may be, on the basis of preferment
therein and any such proceedings previously instituted on that
basis shall be discontinued.
(5) In this section and elsewhere in this
Measure "preferment" has the meaning assigned to it
by section 43 below.
Disciplinary proceedings concerning matters
not involving
doctrine, ritual or ceremonial
7 Application
(1) The following provisions of this
Measure shall have effect for the purpose of regulating proceedings
against a clerk in Holy Orders who is alleged to have committed
an act or omission other than one relating to matters involving
doctrine, ritual or ceremonial, and references to misconduct shall
be construed accordingly.
(2) Proceedings in relation to matters
involving doctrine, ritual or ceremonial shall continue to be
conduced in accordance with the 1963 Measure.
8 Misconduct
(1) Disciplinary proceedings under
this Measure may be instituted against any archbishop, bishop,
priest or deacon alleging any of the following acts or omissions
-
(a) doing any act in contravention
of the laws ecclesiastical;
(b) failing to do any act
required by the laws ecclesiastical;
(c) neglect or inefficiency
in the performance of the duties of his office;
(d) conduct unbecoming or
inappropriate to the office and work of a clerk in Holy Orders.
(2) In the case of a minister licensed
to serve in a diocese by the bishop thereof, the licence shall
not be terminated by reason of that person's misconduct otherwise
than by way of such proceedings.
(3) Subject to subsection (4) below,
no proceedings in respect of unbecoming or inappropriate
conduct shall be taken in respect of the lawful political opinions
or activities of any archbishop, bishop, priest or deacon.
(4) Notwithstanding subsection (3)
above, it shall be unbecoming or inappropriate conduct for any
archbishop, bishop, priest or deacon to be a member of, or to
promote, or express or solicit support for, a political party
or other organisation whose constitution, policies, objectives,
activities or public statements are declared in writing by the
House of Bishops to be incompatible with the teaching of the Church
of England in relation to the equality of persons or groups of
different races.
(5) It shall be the duty of the
House of Bishops to take appropriate steps to publish any declaration
made under subsection (4) above.
(6) Without prejudice to subsection
(5) above, the House of Bishops shall lay any declaration made
under subsection (4) above before the General Synod and, if 25
or more members of the Synod give notice in accordance with its
Standing Orders that they wish the declaration to be debated,
it shall come into force on the date on which the declaration
is approved by the General Synod.
(7) Any declaration made under subsection
(4) above which is not debated by the General Synod in accordance
with subsection (6) above shall come into force at the expiry
of the period required by the Standing Orders for the giving of
the notice under subsection (6).
(8) Any declaration made under subsection
(4) above may be revoked by a resolution of the House of Bishops
and subsections (5), (6) and (7) above shall apply to any such
resolution as they apply to a declaration under subsection (4).
(9) Any declaration made by the
House of Bishops under subsection (4) above shall require the
assent of a majority of not less than two-thirds of the members
of the House present and voting.
(10) In subsection (4) above "races"
shall be construed in accordance with section 9 of the Equality
Act 2010.
9 Limitation of time for institution
of proceedings
No disciplinary proceedings under
this Measure shall be instituted unless the misconduct in question,
or the last instance of it in the case of a series of acts or
omissions, occurred within the period of one year ending with
the date on which proceedings are instituted:
Provided that, when the misconduct
is one for which the person concerned has been convicted either
on indictment or summarily, proceedings may be instituted within
twelve months of the conviction becoming conclusive, notwithstanding
that the aforesaid period of one year has elapsed:
And provided further that the president
of tribunals may, if he considers that there was good reason why
the complainant did not institute proceedings at an earlier date,
after consultation with the complainant and the respondent, give
his written permission for the proceedings to be instituted after
the expiry of the said period of one year.
10 Institution of proceedings
(1) Disciplinary proceedings under
this Measure may be instituted against any person who is subject
to the jurisdiction of a disciplinary tribunal or the Vicar-General's
court by virtue of section 6 above, by way of complaint made in
writing, only as follows -
(a) in the case of a priest
or deacon, by -
(i) a person nominated
by the parochial church council of any parish which has a proper
interest in making the complaint, if not less than two-thirds
of the lay members of the council are present at a duly convened
meeting of the council and not less than two-thirds of the lay
members present and voting pass a resolution to the effect that
the proceedings be instituted; or
(ii) a churchwarden
of any such parish; or
(iii) any other person
who has a proper interest in making the complaint;
(b) in the case of a bishop,
by -
(i) a person nominated
by the bishop's council of the diocese concerned, if not less
than two-thirds of the members of the council are present at a
duly convened meeting of the council and not less than two-thirds
of the members present and voting pass a resolution to the effect
that the proceedings be instituted; or
(ii) any other person
who has a proper interest in making the complaint;
(c) in the case of an archbishop
by -
(i) a person nominated
by the archbishop's council of his diocese if not less than two-thirds
of the members of the council are present at a duly convened meeting
of the council and not less than two thirds of the members present
and voting pass a resolution to the effect that the proceedings
be instituted; or
(ii) any other person
who has a proper interest in making the complaint.
(2) A complaint under this section shall
be laid -
(a) in the case of a priest
or deacon, before the diocesan bishop concerned,
(b) in the case of a bishop,
before the archbishop concerned,
(c) in the case of an archbishop,
before the other archbishop,
and references in the following
provisions of this Measure to the bishop by whom a complaint is
received shall, in the case of proceedings against a bishop or
archbishop, be construed as references to the archbishop or other
archbishop respectively.
(3) A complaint made under this section
shall be accompanied by written particulars of the alleged misconduct,
and written evidence in support of the complaint shall be sent
to the bishop or archbishop, as the case may be, either with the
complaint or at such later time as he may allow.
11 Preliminary scrutiny of complaint
(1) When a complaint in writing has
been made in accordance with section 10 above it shall be referred
in the first instance to the registrar of the diocese or province
concerned, as the case may be, who shall thereupon scrutinise
the complaint in consultation with the complainant with a view
to -
(a) forming a view as
to whether or not the parochial church council or other person
making the complaint has a proper interest in doing so or, if
the complainant purports to be a churchwarden, establishing that
he is such, and
(b) forming a view as
to whether or not there is sufficient substance in the complaint
to justify proceeding with it in accordance with the following
provisions of this Measure,
and the registrar shall notify
the respondent that the complaint has been referred to him.
(2) Having scrutinised the complaint
the registrar shall, within the period of twenty-eight days following
its receipt by him or such longer period as he considers to be
justified in the particular circumstances of the case, send a
written report to the bishop by whom the complaint was received
setting out the registrar's views and thereupon the bishop shall
deal with the complaint in accordance with the following provisions
of this Measure, having regard to the registrar's report:
Provided that the period of twenty-eight
days referred to above shall not be extended as aforesaid more
than once.
(3) On receipt of the registrar's report
the bishop may dismiss the complaint and, if he does so, he shall
give written notice of the dismissal to the complainant and the
respondent, together with a copy of the report.
(4) On receipt of a notice of dismissal
the complainant may request the president of tribunals to review
the dismissal, and the president may then uphold the dismissal
or, if he considers the dismissal to be plainly wrong, reverse
it and direct the bishop to deal with the complaint in accordance
with section 12 below.
(5) Where the registrar proposes to
extend the period of twenty-eight days referred to in subsection
(2) above, he shall, before doing so, consult the complainant
and the respondent.
(6) The registrar may delegate any
or all of his functions under this section to such person as he
may designate.
12 Courses available to bishop
(1) If the complaint is not dismissed
under section 11(3) above the bishop shall, within the period
of twenty-eight days following the receipt by him of the registrar's
report under section 11(2) above or the president of tribunal's
direction under section 11(4), as the case may be, or such longer
period as he considers to be justified in the particular circumstances
of the case, determine which of the following courses is to be
pursued -
(a) he may take no further
action, in which case the provisions of section 13 below apply;
or
(b) he may, if the respondent
consents, direct that the matter remain on the record conditionally,
in which case the provisions of section 14 below apply; or
(c) he may direct that an
attempt to bring about conciliation in accordance with section
15 below is to be made; or
(d) he may impose a penalty
by consent in accordance with section 16 below; or
(e) he may direct that the
complaint is to be formally investigated in accordance with section
17 below.
(2) Where the bishop proposes to extend
the period of twenty-eight days referred to in subsection (1)
above he shall, before doing so, consult the complainant and the
respondent.
13 No further action
(1) Where the bishop determines that
there is to be no further action the following provisions of this
section shall apply.
(2) The bishop shall reduce his determination
to writing and shall give a copy of it to the complainant and
the respondent.
(3) The complainant may refer the complaint
to the president of tribunals and, if the president considers
that the bishop's determination was plainly wrong, he may direct
the bishop to pursue such of the courses specified in section
12(1)(b) to (e) above as he considers appropriate, in which case
the bishop shall proceed accordingly.
14 Conditional deferment
(1) Where the bishop, with the consent
of the respondent, determines that the matter is to be recorded
conditionally the following provisions of this section shall apply.
(2) The complaint and the bishop's
determination shall be notified to the archbishop concerned and
remain on a record maintained by the diocesan registrar concerned
for such period not exceeding five years as the bishop may determine
and, subject to subsection (3) below, no further action shall
be taken.
(3) Notwithstanding the provisions
of section 9 above, if another complaint is made under section
10 above against the respondent and that complaint is dealt with
under paragraph (c), (d) or (e) of section 12(1) above, the recorded
complaint may be dealt with under any of those paragraphs together
with the other complaint.
(4) The bishop shall reduce his determination
to writing and give a copy of it to the complainant and the respondent.
He shall also supply them with a statement explaining the effect
of subsections (2) and (3) above.
15 Conciliation
(1) Where the bishop determines that
an attempt to bring about conciliation is to be made he shall
afford the complainant and the respondent an opportunity to make
representations and, if both of them agree to the appointment
of a conciliator, an appointment shall be made under subsection
(2) below.
(2) The appointment of a conciliator
shall be by the bishop with the agreement of the complainant and
the respondent.
(3) The bishop shall not appoint any
person to be a conciliator unless he is satisfied that there is
no reason to question the impartiality of that person.
(4) A conciliator appointed under this
section shall use his best endeavours to bring about a conciliation
between the complainant and the respondent and -
(a) if, within the period
of three months following his appointment or such further period
as he may, with the agreement of the complainant and the respondent,
allow a conciliation is brought about, he shall submit a report
on the case to the bishop, together with such recommendations
as he may wish to make;
(b) if a conciliation is
not brought about but the complainant and the respondent agree
that another conciliator should be appointed, the bishop may appoint
that other person as the conciliator for the purposes of this
section;
(c) if a conciliation is
not brought about and the complainant and the respondent do not
agree as aforesaid, he shall refer the matter back to the bishop.
(5) If -
(a) the complainant and the
respondent do not agree to the appointment of a conciliator or
as to the person to be appointed, or
(b) the matter is referred
back to the bishop by the conciliator under subsection (4)(c)
above,
the bishop shall proceed to deal
with the complaint under paragraph (a), (b), (d) or (e) of section
12(1) above.
16 Penalty by consent
(1) Where the bishop considers that
the imposition of a penalty by consent might be appropriate, he
shall afford the complainant and the respondent an opportunity
to make representations and, if the respondent consents to the
imposition of a penalty under this section and he and the bishop
agree as to the penalty, the bishop shall, subject to subsection
(2) below, proceed accordingly and thereafter no further step
shall be taken in regard thereto.
(2) Where it is agreed that prohibition
for the life or resignation is the appropriate course the respondent
or the bishop may, within the period of seven days following the
date of the agreement, withdraw his agreement and the prohibition
or resignation shall not be implemented in pursuance of this section.
(3) If the consent of the respondent
to the imposition of a penalty under this section is not obtained
or he and the bishop are unable to reach agreement as to the nature
of the penalty, the bishop shall proceed to deal with the complaint
under paragraph (e) of section 12(1) above.
(3A) At any time after the bishop
has directed, under section 12(1)(e) above, that the complaint
be formally investigated in accordance with section 17 below or
after the president of tribunals has referred the complaint to
a disciplinary tribunal, the bishop and the respondent may, if
the respondent admits the misconduct which is the subject of the
complaint, agree to the imposition of a penalty under this section
and the bishop shall, subject to subsection (2) above, proceed
accordingly and thereafter no further step shall be taken in regard
thereto.
(4) The bishop shall notify the complainant
of any action taken in pursuance of this section and shall also
notify the archbishop of the province concerned and the registrar
of the diocese concerned of any penalty agreed in pursuance of
subsection (1) above.
17 Formal investigation
(1) Where the bishop directs that the
complaint is to be formally investigated, he shall refer the matter
to the designated officer and it shall then be the duty of that
officer to cause inquiries to be made into the complaint.
(2) After due inquiries have been made
into the complaint the designated officer shall refer the matter
to the president of tribunals for the purpose of deciding whether
there is a case to answer in respect of which a disciplinary tribunal
or the Vicar-General's court, as the case may be, should be requested
to adjudicate.
(3) If the president of tribunals decides
that there is a case for the respondent to answer he shall declare
that as his decision and refer the complaint to a disciplinary
tribunal or the Vicar-General's court, as the case may be, for
adjudication.
(4) If the president of tribunals decides
that there is no case for the respondent to answer he shall declare
his decision, and thereafter no further steps shall be taken in
regard thereto.
(5) The president of tribunals shall
reduce his decision to writing and shall give a copy of it to
the complainant, the respondent, the bishop and the designated
officer.
18 Conduct of proceedings
(1) In disciplinary proceedings under
this Measure it shall be the duty of the designated officer or
a person duly authorised by him to conduct the case for the complainant.
(2) In any such proceedings the president
of tribunals may direct -
(a) that the complaint is
to be withdrawn, whereupon no further action shall be taken in
the proceedings; or
(b) that an attempt or further
attempt to bring about conciliation is to be made, whereupon the
provisions of section 15 above shall apply.
(3) In any such proceedings -
(a) the standard of proof
to be applied by the tribunal or court shall be the same as in
proceedings in the High Court exercising civil jurisdiction;
(b) the determination of
any matter before the tribunal or court shall be according to
the opinion of the majority of the members thereof and shall be
pronounced in public together with its reasons therefor;
(c) the hearing shall be
in private, except that the tribunal or court, if satisfied that
it is in the interests of justice so to do or the respondent so
requests, shall direct that the hearing shall be in public in
which case the tribunal or court may, during any part of the proceedings,
exclude such person or persons as it may determine.
19 Imposition of penalty
(1) Upon a finding by a disciplinary
tribunal or the Vicar-General's court in disciplinary proceedings
that the respondent committed the misconduct complained of, the
tribunal or court may -
(a) impose on the respondent
any one or more of the penalties mentioned in section 24 below;
or
(b) defer consideration of
the penalty, and for that purpose may adjourn the proceedings;
or
(c) impose no penalty.
(2) Before imposing a penalty the disciplinary
tribunal or court may invite -
(a) in the case of a disciplinary
tribunal, the bishop of the diocese concerned, or
(b) in the case of the Vicar-General's
court, the archbishop concerned or, if the respondent is an archbishop,
the other archbishop,
to express in writing his
views as to the appropriate penalty and the tribunal or court
shall have regard to any such views in imposing the penalty, if
any and the views of the bishop or archbishop, as the case may
be, shall be conveyed in writing to the respondent:
Provided that, if the bishop
or archbishop has given evidence in the proceedings, he shall
not be consulted.
(3) In this section any reference to
a penalty includes a reference to an order for conditional discharge
under section 25 below.
20 Right of appeal
(1) Subject to the following provisions
of this section, in disciplinary proceedings under this Measure
-
(a) the respondent may appeal
against any penalty imposed on him, and
(b) the respondent on a question
of law or fact, and the designated officer, on a question of law,
may appeal against any finding of the disciplinary tribunal or
the Vicar-General's court,
to the Arches Court of Canterbury
(where the proceedings take place in the province of Canterbury)
or the Chancery Court of York (where the proceedings take place
in the province of York).
(1A) An appeal by the respondent
or the designated officer may only be brought with the leave of
the disciplinary tribunal or the Vicar-General's court, as the
case may be, or the appeal court.
(1B) Any application for leave of
the appeal court under subsection (1A) -
(a) shall be heard jointly
by the Dean of the Arches and Auditor and one judge appointed
by the president of tribunals for the purpose of those proceedings
from among the persons serving on the provincial panel of the
relevant province, who shall be a lay person in the case of an
application by the respondent and a person in Holy Orders in the
case of an application by the designated officer;
(b) may, if the Dean of
the Arches and Auditor so directs, be determined without a hearing;
and
(c) shall be granted if
at least one of the judges considers either that the appeal would
have a real prospect of success or that there is some other compelling
reason why the appeal should be heard.
(1C) If the disciplinary tribunal
or the court grants the application for leave, it may direct that
the issues to be heard on the appeal be limited in such way as
the tribunal or the court may specify.
(2) Subject to subsection (3) below,
proceedings on an appeal under subsection (1) above shall be heard
and disposed of by the Dean of the Arches and Auditor sitting
with two persons in Holy Orders and two lay persons appointed
by the president of tribunals for the purpose of those proceedings
from among the persons nominated to serve on the provincial panel
of the relevant province otherwise than by the bishop of the diocese
concerned.
(3) In the case of an appeal from
a decision of the Vicar-General's court -
(a) one of the persons
in Holy Orders shall be in Episcopal Orders, whether or not that
person has been nominated to serve on the provincial panel mentioned
in subsection (2) above, and
(b) where the appeal is
by an archbishop, subsection (2) shall have effect as if the reference
to persons nominated to serve on the provincial panel otherwise
than by the bishop of the diocese concerned were a reference to
persons (other than the person in Episcopal Orders) nominated
to serve on the provincial panel of the other province.
(4) Before the president of tribunals
appoints a person to sit as a judge for the purpose of proceedings
on an appeal under subsection (1) or on an application for leave
to appeal under subsection (1A) above he shall satisfy himself
that there is no reason to question the impartiality of that person.
(5) Before appointing a person
to sit as a judge for the purpose of proceedings on an appeal
under subsection (1) or on an application for leave to appeal
under subsection (1A) above the president of tribunals shall afford
an opportunity to the respondent to make representations as to
the suitability of that person to be appointed.
Composition of tribunal and Vicar-General's
court
21 Provincial panels
(1) It shall be the duty of the Clergy
Discipline Commission to compile and maintain for each province,
in accordance with the provisions of subsection (2) below, a list
(hereinafter referred to as "the provincial panel")
of persons available for appointment under the following provisions
of this Measure as members of a disciplinary tribunal or of the
Vicar-General's court.
(2) Each provincial panel shall contain
the names of -
(a) two lay persons from
each diocese nominated by the bishop of the diocese after consultation
with the bishop's council, being persons who are resident in the
diocese and are on the electoral roll of a parish in the diocese
or on the community roll of a cathedral which is not a parish
church;
(b) two persons in Holy Orders
from each diocese nominated by the bishop of the diocese after
consultation with the bishop's council, being persons who have
served in Holy Orders for at least seven years and are resident
in the diocese;
(c) ten persons nominated
by the archbishop of the relevant province, being persons who
have a seven year general qualification within the meaning of
section 71 of the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990 (c. 41) or
who have held or are holding high judicial office or the office
of Circuit judge;
(d) such persons as may be nominated
under subsection (3) below.
(3) The archbishop of the relevant
province may also nominate for inclusion on the provincial panel
-
(a) not more than five persons
who are resident in the province and are on the electoral roll
of a parish in the province or on the community roll of a cathedral
which is not a parish church; and
(b) not more than five persons
who have served in Holy Orders for at least seven years and reside
in the province.
(4) No lay person who is not
an actual communicant, within the meaning of rule 54(1) of the
Church Representation Rules (1969 No. 2 Sch. 3), shall be nominated
to serve on the provincial panel.
(5) Persons nominated to serve on the
provincial panel shall so serve for a period of six years, and
on retiring from the panel shall be eligible to be nominated to
serve for not more than one further period of six years:
Provided that, of the persons
nominated to serve on the provincial panel on the first occasion
after the passing of this Measure, half of those nominated under
paragraph (a) of subsection (2) above, half of those nominated
under paragraph (b), half of those nominated under paragraph (c)
and half of those nominated under subsection (3) above shall retire
from the panel after serving for a period of three years, those
retiring being determined by lot.
(6) Where the period of service of
a person nominated to serve on the provincial panel expires while
he is a member of a disciplinary tribunal or of the Vicar-General's
court to which proceedings under this Measure are referred, he
shall continue to be a member of the tribunal or court until the
completion of the proceedings.
(7) Where a casual vacancy occurs on
the provincial panel the Archbishop of the relevant province or
the bishop of the relevant diocese, as the case may be, may nominate
a person to fill the vacancy, and the provisions of subsection
(2) and (4) above, relating to qualifications and consultations
shall apply for the purposes of this subsection as they applied
for the purposes of the nomination of the person whose place he
takes on the panel.
(8) Any person nominated to fill a
casual vacancy shall serve only for the unexpired term of service
of the person whose place he takes on the panel.
22 Disciplinary tribunals
(1) A disciplinary
tribunal shall consist of five members as follows -
(a) the chairman, who shall
be the president of tribunals or such other person as he may appoint
as chairman from those nominated under section 21(2)(c) above
to serve on the relevant provincial panel;
(b) two lay persons appointed
by the president of tribunals from those nominated under section
21(2)(a) or (3)(a) above otherwise than by the bishop of the diocese
concerned to serve on the relevant provincial panel; and
(c) two persons in Holy Orders
appointed by the president of tribunals from those nominated under
section 21(2)(b) or (3)(b) above otherwise than by the bishop
of the diocese concerned to serve on the relevant provincial panel.
(2) The president of tribunals shall not
appoint any person to be a member of a disciplinary tribunal unless
he is satisfied that there is no reason to question the impartiality
of that person, and before doing so he shall afford an opportunity
to the respondent to make representations as to the suitability
of that person to be appointed.
23 Vicar-General's court
(1) The Vicar-General's court, when
exercising its jurisdiction in disciplinary proceedings under
this Measure against a bishop, shall consist of five members as
follows -
(a) the chairman, who shall
be the Vicar-General of the relevant province unless he declares
himself to be personally acquainted with the complainant or the
respondent or he is otherwise unable to act, in which case
the president of tribunals shall appoint a person to be the chairman
from those nominated under section 21(2)(c) above to serve on
the provincial panel of either province;
(b) two persons in Holy Orders
appointed by the president of tribunals, of whom one shall
be in Episcopal Orders and the other shall be appointed from among
those nominated to serve on the provincial panel of the province
other than that in which the bishops serves;
(c) two lay persons appointed
by the president of tribunals from among those nominated under
section 21(2)(a) or 3(a) above to serve on the provincial panel
of the province other than that in which the bishop serves.
(2) The Vicar-General's court, when
exercising its jurisdiction in disciplinary proceedings under
this Measure against an archbishop of a province, shall consist
of five members as follows -
(a) the chairman, who shall
be the Vicar-General of the other province unless he declares
himself to be personally acquainted with the complainant or the
respondent or he is otherwise unable to act, in which case
the president of tribunals shall appoint a person to be chairman
from those nominated under section 21(2)(c) above to serve on
the provincial panel of the other province;
(b) two persons in Holy Orders
appointed by the president of tribunals, of whom one shall
be in Episcopal Orders and the other shall be appointed from among
those nominated to serve on the provincial panel of the other
province;
(c) two lay persons appointed
by the president of tribunals from among those nominated under
section 21(2)(a) or 3(a) above to serve on the provincial panel
of the other province.
(3) The president of tribunals shall
not appoint any person to be a member of the Vicar-General's court
of a province unless he is satisfied that there is no reason to
question the impartiality of that person, and before doing so
he shall afford an opportunity to the respondent to make representations
as to the suitability of that person to be appointed
Penalties
24 Types of penalty
(1) One
or more of the following penalties may be imposed on a respondent
upon a finding that he has committed any misconduct, namely -
(a) prohibition for life,
that is to say prohibition without limit of time from exercising
any of the functions of his Orders;
(b) limited prohibition,
that is to say prohibition for a specific time from exercising
any of the functions of his Orders;
(c) removal from office,
that is to say, removal from any preferment which he then holds;
(d) in the case of a minister
licensed to serve in a diocese by the bishop thereof, revocation
of the licence;
(e) injunction, that is to
say, an order to do or to refrain from doing a specified act;
(f) rebuke.
(2) No penalty of removal from office
imposed on an archbishop or bishop or on any person holding any
preferment the right to appoint to which is vested in Her Majesty
(not being a parochial benefice) shall have effect unless and
until Her Majesty by Order in Council confirms the penalty.
25 Conditional discharge
(1) Where, upon a finding that the
respondent has committed any misconduct, the disciplinary tribunal
or Vicar-General's court, as the case may be, is of opinion, having
regard to the circumstances including the nature of the misconduct
and the character of the respondent, that it is inexpedient to
impose a penalty it may make an order discharging him subject
to the condition that he commits no misconduct during such period
not exceeding two years from the date of the order as may be
specified in the order.
(2) Before making an order under subsection
(1) above the tribunal or court shall explain to the respondent
in ordinary language that if he commits further misconduct during
the period specified in the order a penalty may be imposed for
the original misconduct.
(3) Where, under subsection (4) below,
a penalty is imposed on a person conditionally discharged under
subsection (1) above for the misconduct in respect of which the
order for conditional discharge was made, that order shall cease
to have effect.
(4) If a person in whose case an order
has been made under subsection (1) above is found, in disciplinary
proceedings under this Measure, to have committed misconduct during
the period specified in the order, the disciplinary tribunal or
the Vicar-General's court, as the case may be, may deal with him
for the misconduct for which the order was made in any manner
in which it could deal with him if it had just found that he had
committed that misconduct.
26 Removal of prohibition for life and deposition
(1) Where by virtue of anything done
under this Measure or the 1963 Measure a priest or deacon is prohibited
for life or deposed he may make an application to the archbishop
concerned for the prohibition or deposition to be nullified on
the grounds -
(a) that new evidence has
come to light affecting the facts on which the prohibition or
deposition was based; or
(b) that the proper legal
procedure leading to the prohibition or deposition was not followed.
(2) If the archbishop, on an application
made in accordance with subsection (1) above, considers that the
prohibition or deposition was not justified he may, after consultation
with the Dean of the Arches and Auditor, declare that the prohibition
or deposition be nullified, whereupon it shall be treated for
all purposes in law as never having been imposed.
(3) This section shall apply to archbishops
and bishops who are prohibited for life or deposed as it applies
to priests and deacons who are prohibited for life or deposed,
with the following adaptations -
(a) in the case of an archbishop,
the references to the archbishop concerned shall be read as references
to the Dean of the Arches and Auditor and the reference to consultation
with him shall be omitted;
(b) in the case of a bishop,
the references to the archbishop concerned shall be read as references
to the archbishop of the other province.
27 Removal of limited prohibition
Where by virtue of anything done
under this Measure or the 1963 Measure an archbishop, bishop,
priest or deacon is prohibited from exercising functions for a
specific time he and the archbishop or bishop of the province
or diocese concerned (or his successor in office) acting jointly
may make an application to the Dean of the Arches and Auditor
sitting with the two Vicars-General for the removal of the prohibition;
and on receiving such an application they may make an order removing
the prohibition, whereupon he shall be eligible for any preferment.
28 Restoration on pardon
Where by virtue of anything done
under this Measure an archbishop, bishop, priest or deacon is
prohibited from exercising functions or removed from office his
incapacities shall cease if he receives a free pardon from the
Crown and he shall be restored to any preferment he previously
held if it has not in the meantime been filled.
29 Disobedience to penalty etc.
Any person (including a person
deposed from Holy Orders under the 1963 Measure) who performs
in the Church of England any function which, under a penalty imposed
on him under this Measure or a censure imposed on him under the
1963 Measure, he is not permitted to perform commits an act of
misconduct under this Measure and, in the case of a person deposed
from Holy Orders, disciplinary proceedings under this Measure
may be instituted against him in respect of the misconduct as
if he had not been deposed.
Proceedings in secular courts
30 Convictions for criminal offences
and matrimonial orders, etc.: priests and deacons
(1) If a person who is a priest or
deacon -
(a) is convicted, -
(i) whether in England
or elsewhere, of any offence for which a sentence of imprisonment
(including one which is not implemented immediately) is passed
on him, or
(ii) of any offence,
other than a summary offence, committed in England and Wales,
or
(b) has a decree of divorce
or an order of judicial separation made against him following
a finding of adultery, behaviour in such a way that the petitioner
cannot reasonably be expected to live with the respondent or desertion
and, in the case of divorce, the decree has been made absolute,
or
(c) is included in a barred
list,
he shall be liable without further
proceedings to a penalty of removal from office or prohibition
(whether for life or limited) or both.
(1A) In this Measure "barred
list" means the children's barred list or the adults' barred
list established in accordance with section 2(1) of and Schedule
3 to the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006.
(2) Where a person is liable to a penalty
of removal from office or prohibition or both by virtue of subsection
(1) above and the bishop of the relevant diocese proposes to impose
such a penalty, he shall, after consultation with the president
of tribunals, inform that person in writing of the proposal, together
with an invitation to send representations in writing to the bishop
within the period of twenty-eight days. On the expiry of that
period the bishop shall decide whether or not to impose the penalty
and shall inform that person in writing of the decision. If
the decision is to impose the penalty, that person may request
the archbishop of the relevant province to review the decision
and upon such a review the archbishop may uphold or reverse the
decision after consideration of all the circumstances, including
any representations made under this subsection.
(3) Subject to subsection (3A) below,
a penalty shall not be imposed under subsection
(1)(a) or (b) after the expiry of the period of two years
beginning with the date on which the conviction becomes
conclusive or, as the case may be, the decree absolute or order
is made.
(3A) The president of tribunals
may, on application by the bishop of the relevant diocese, extend
the period of two years referred to in subsection (3) above if,
after consultation with the priest or deacon concerned, he is
satisfied that the bishop did not know of the existence of the
conviction or, as the case may be, of the decree absolute or order.
(4) Where a penalty is to be imposed
under this section, it shall be imposed by the bishop of the relevant
diocese, and before imposing it the bishop shall require the registrar
of his diocese to give (if it is practicable to do so) not less
than fourteen days notice in writing to the priest or deacon concerned
of the time and place at which the penalty will be imposed and
if the priest or deacon appears at that time and place he shall
be entitled to be present when the penalty is imposed.
(5) When imposing a penalty under this
section the bishop shall be attended by the registrar of this
diocese. The penalty shall be reduced to writing and a copy
thereof shall be sent to the archbishop of the province concerned
and to the registrar of the diocese concerned.
(6) The functions exercisable under
this section by an archbishop shall, during the absence abroad
or incapacity through illness of the archbishop or a vacancy in
the see, be exercised by the other archbishop.
(7) In this section "relevant
diocese" means -
(a) the diocese in which
the priest or deacon, in relation to whom a penalty may be imposed
under this section, holds preferment at the date on which the
conviction which justifies the imposition of the penalty
becomes conclusive or, as the case may be, the date of the
decree absolute of divorce or the date of the order of judicial
separation; or
(b) if at that date he is
not holding preferment, but is residing in a diocese, the diocese
in which he is residing at that date; or
(c) if at that date he neither
holds preferment nor resides in a diocese, the diocese in which
he last held preferment before that date or, in the case of a
priest or deacon who has not held preferment in any diocese, the
diocese in which he was ordained.
31 Convictions for criminal offences
and matrimonial orders, etc.: bishops and archbishops
(1) If a person who is a bishop or
archbishop -
(a) is convicted (whether
in England or elsewhere) of an offence mentioned in section
30(1)(a)(i) or (ii) above, or
(b) has a decree of divorce
or an order of judicial separation made against him following
a finding of adultery, behaviour in such a way that the petitioner
cannot reasonably be expected to live with the respondent or desertion
and, in the case of divorce, the decree has been made absolute,
or
(c) is included in a barred
list,
he shall be liable without further
proceedings to a penalty of removal from office or prohibition
(whether for life or limited) or both.
(2) Where a person is liable to a penalty
of removal from office or prohibition or both by virtue of subsection
(1) above and the archbishop concerned proposes to impose such
a penalty, he shall, after consultation with the president of
tribunals, inform that person in writing of that proposal, together
with an invitation to send representations in writing to the archbishop
within the period of twenty-eight days. On the expiry of that
period the archbishop shall decide whether or not to impose the
penalty and shall inform that person in writing of the decision.
If the decision is to impose a penalty, that person may -
(a) if he is a bishop, request
the other archbishop, or
(b) if he is an archbishop,
request the president of tribunals,
to review the decision and upon
such a review the archbishop or the president of tribunals, as
the case may be, may uphold or reverse the decision after consideration
of all the circumstances, including any representations made under
this subsection.
(3) Subject to subsection (3A) below,
a penalty shall not be imposed under this section after the
expiry of the period of two years beginning with the date on which
the conviction becomes conclusive or, as the case may be,
the decree absolute or order is made.
(3A) The president of tribunals
may, on application by the archbishop, if the person liable to
a penalty under this section is a bishop, or the other archbishop,
if the person liable is an archbishop, extend the period of two
years referred to in subsection (3) above if, after consultation
with the bishop or archbishop concerned, he is satisfied that
the archbishop or the other archbishop, as the case may be, did
not know of the existence of the conviction or, as the case may
be, of the decree absolute or order.
(4) Where a penalty is to be imposed
under this section it shall be imposed -
(a) in the case of a person
who is a bishop, by the archbishop of the relevant province after
consultation with the two senior diocesan bishops of the province,
and
(b) in the case of a person
who is an archbishop, by the other archbishop after consultation
as aforesaid.
(5) When imposing a penalty under this
section the archbishop shall be attended by the registrar of his
province. The penalty shall be reduced to writing and a copy
thereof shall be recorded in the registry of the province concerned
and sent to the archbishop concerned.
(6) The functions exercisable under
this section by the archbishop of the relevant province shall,
during the absence abroad or incapacity through illness of the
archbishop or a vacancy in the see, be exercisable by the other
archbishop.
(7) In this section "bishop"
means any diocesan bishop, any suffragan bishop and any other
bishop.
32 Consequences of penalties imposed under
section 30 or 31
Where
a penalty of removal from office or prohibition is imposed on
any person pursuant to the provisions of section 30 or 31 above
the penalty shall have effect subject to the provisions of sections
24 to 29 above, and the like consequences shall ensue in all respects
as if such person had been found to have committed misconduct
under this Measure and such a penalty had been imposed on him.
33 Duty to disclose criminal convictions and
arrests
(1) A person in Holy Orders who (whether
in England or elsewhere) is convicted of an offence or is arrested
on suspicion of committing an offence shall be under a duty, within
the period of twenty-eight days following the conviction or arrest,
-
(a) in the case of a priest
or deacon, to inform the bishop of the diocese concerned,
(b) in the case of a bishop,
to inform the archbishop concerned, and
(c) in the case of an archbishop,
to inform the other archbishop,
of the conviction or arrest.
(2) Failure to comply with the
requirements of subsection (1) above shall be regarded as a failure
to do an act required by the laws ecclesiastical for the purposes
of section 8(1) above.
34 Duty to disclose details of divorce
and separation orders
(1) A person in Holy Orders in respect
of whose marriage a decree nisi of divorce has been made absolute
or an order of judicial separation has been made shall be under
a duty, within the period of twenty-eight days following the decree
or order, -
(a) in the case of a priest
or deacon, to inform the bishop of the diocese concerned,
(b) in the case of a bishop,
to inform the archbishop concerned, and
(c) in the case of an
archbishop, to inform the other archbishop,
(i) of the decree
or order,
(ii) as to whether
he was the respondent in the proceedings, and
(iii) if he was the respondent,
of any finding of adultery, unreasonable behaviour or desertion
against him and of the details or particulars of the conduct
which led to any such finding.
(2) Failure to comply with the requirements
of subsection (1) above shall be regarded as a failure to do an
act required by the laws ecclesiastical for the purposes of section
8(1) above.
34A Duty to disclose inclusion in a barred
list
(1) A person in Holy Orders who
is included in a barred list shall be under a duty, within
the period of twenty-eight days following his inclusion -
(a) in the case of a priest or deacon, to
inform the bishop of the diocese concerned,
(b) in the case of a bishop, to inform the
archbishop concerned, and
(c) in the case of an archbishop, to inform
the other archbishop,
(i) of his inclusion
in the barred list, and
(ii) of the reasons
for his inclusion.
(2) Failure to comply with the requirements
of subsection (1) above shall be regarded as a failure to do an
act required by the laws ecclesiastical for the purposes of section
8(1) above.
Miscellaneous
35 Application of 1963 Measure's provisions
(1) The following provisions of the
1963 Measure shall apply for the purpose of this Measure as they
apply for the purposes of that Measure, with the adaptations specified
in subsection (2) below -
Section 58 (payment of costs)
Section 60 (powers re-costs)
Section 61 (recovery of costs)
Section 62 (payment of expenses)
Section 63 (fees payable)
Section 71 (performance of duties
during suspension etc)
Section 72 (occupation of parsonage
house)
Section 73 (suspension of penalty
during appeal)
Section 74 (restrictions during
suspension etc.)
Section 75 (provisions as to
lapse on avoidance of preferment)
Section 76 (rights of patronage
during suspension etc.)
Section 78 (recording of declarations
etc.)
Section 80 (place of sitting)
Section 81 (evidence etc.)
Section 83(2) and (3) (savings).
(2) In the application of those provisions
for the purposes of this Measure they shall be read with the following
adaptations -
(a) subject to the following
provisions of this subsection, for any reference to the 1963 Measure
there shall be substituted a reference to this Measure;
(b) for any reference to
an offence cognisable under section 14 of the 1963 Measure there
shall be substituted a reference to misconduct;
(c) any reference to a court
shall be construed as including a reference to a disciplinary
tribunal;
(d) for any reference to
a declaration made or to be made in accordance with the provisions
of the 1963 Measure there shall be substituted a reference to
a penalty imposed under section 30 or 31 above;
(e) any reference to a person
nominated to promote proceedings shall be construed as a reference
to a person who may, by virtue of section 10 above or section
42 below, institute disciplinary proceedings under this Measure;
(f) for any reference to
suspension or inhibition there shall be substituted a reference
to prohibition;
(g) for any reference to
a censure there shall be substituted a reference to a penalty.
36 Suspension of priest or deacon
(1) Where -
(a) a complaint in writing
is made under section 10(1) above against a priest or deacon holding
any preferment in a diocese, or
(b) a priest or deacon holding
any preferment in a diocese is arrested (whether in England
or elsewhere) on suspicion of committing a criminal offence,
or
(c) a priest or deacon
holding any preferment in a diocese is convicted of any offence
mentioned in section 30(1)(a) above, or
(d) a priest or deacon
holding any preferment in a diocese is included in a barred list,
the bishop of the diocese may,
by notice in writing served on him, suspend him from exercising
or performing without the leave of the bishop any right or duty
of or incidental to his office:
Provided that, in the case of
a complaint made as aforesaid, the priest or deacon shall not
be suspended under this subsection unless and until the complaint
falls to be considered under section 12(1) above.
(2) The bishop may at any time, by
notice in writing served on the priest or deacon concerned, revoke
a notice of suspension served under subsection (1) above.
(3) Where a notice of suspension is
served under subsection (1)(a) or (b) above and it has
not been revoked under subsection (2) the suspension shall continue
until the expiry of the period of three months following service
of the notice or until the proceedings under this Measure or for
the criminal offence are concluded, whichever occurs earlier,
but if the proceedings are not concluded before the expiry of
that period a further notice of suspension under subsection (1)(a)
or (b) above may be served, and this subsection shall apply
in relation to the further suspension as it applied to the earlier
suspension or suspensions.
(3A) Where a notice of suspension
is served under subsection (1)(c) or (d) above and it has not
been revoked under subsection (2), the suspension shall continue
until the expiry of the period of three months following service
of the notice or until a penalty is imposed on the priest or deacon
under section 30(1) above, whichever occurs earlier, save that
a further notice of suspension under subsection 1(c) or (d) may
be served pending conclusion of any step taken under section 30(2)
or (4), and this subsection shall apply in relation to the further
suspension as it applied to the earlier suspension or suspensions.
(4) Where a notice of suspension is
served under subsection (1) above the bishop may, after consultation
with the churchwardens and with the incumbent or priest in charge
concerned, make such arrangements as he thinks fit for the ministrations
of the church or churches concerned while the suspension remains
in force.
(5) While a notice of suspension under
subsection (1) above remains in force in relation to a priest
or deacon he shall not interfere with any person performing the
services of a church in pursuance of arrangements made under subsection
(4) above, and any such interference shall be regarded as an act
in contravention of the laws ecclesiastical for the purposes of
section 8(1) above.
(6) A priest or deacon on whom a notice
of suspension is served under subsection (1) above may appeal
against the suspension to the president of tribunals and on any
such appeal the president of tribunals may, within twenty-eight
days following the lodging of the appeal, either confirm or revoke
the suspension.
37 Suspension of bishop or archbishop
(1) Where -
(a) a complaint in writing
is made under section 10(1) above against a bishop or archbishop,
or
(b) a bishop or archbishop
is arrested (whether in England or elsewhere) on suspicion
of committing a criminal offence, or
(c) a bishop or archbishop
is convicted of any offence mentioned in section 30(1)(a) above,
or
(d) a bishop or archbishop
is included in a barred list,
the archbishop of the province
in which the bishop holds office or, in the case of an archbishop,
the other archbishop, may with the consent of the two most senior
diocesan bishops in that province or the province of the other
archbishop, as the case may be, by notice in writing suspend him
from exercising any right or duty of or incidental to his office:
Provided that, in the case of a complaint
made as aforesaid, the bishop or archbishop shall not be suspended
under this subsection unless and until the complaint falls to
be considered under section 12(1) above.
(2) The archbishop may at any time,
by notice in writing served on the bishop or archbishop concerned,
revoke a notice of suspension served under subsection (1) above.
(3) Where a notice of suspension is
served under subsection (1) above the archbishop may, after consultation
with the two most senior diocesan bishops of his province, make
such arrangements as he thinks fit for the ministrations of the
diocese or province concerned while the suspension remains in
force.
(4) While a notice of suspension under
subsection (1) above remains in force in relation to a bishop
or archbishop he shall not interfere with any person performing
functions in pursuance of arrangements made under subsection (3)
above.
(5) In this section "bishop"
means any diocesan bishop, any suffragan bishop or any other bishop.
(6) Subsections (3), (3A) and
(6) of section 36 above shall apply for the purposes of this section
as they apply for the purposes of that section, but as if for
any reference to a priest or deacon there were substituted a reference
to the bishop or, as the case may be, the archbishop and as if,
in subsection (3A), the references to sections 30(1) and 30(2)
were references, respectively, to sections 31(1) and 31(2).
38 Archbishops' list
(1) Subject to the following provisions
of this section, it shall be the duty of the archbishops acting
jointly to compile and maintain a list of all clerks in Holy Orders
-
(a) on whom a penalty or
censure (by consent or otherwise) has been imposed under this
Measure or the 1963 Measure; or
(b) who have been deposed
from Holy Orders under the 1963 Measure; or
(c) who have executed a deed
of relinquishment under the Clerical Disabilities Act 1870 (c.
31); or
(d) who have resigned preferment
following the making of a complaint in writing against them under
section 10(1) above or under the 1963 Measure; or
(dd) whose name is included
in a barred list; or
(e) who, in the opinion of
the archbishops, have acted in a manner (not amounting to misconduct)
which might affect their suitability for holding preferment.
(2) Where the archbishops have included
a person falling within paragraphs (a) to (dd) of subsection
(1) above in the list the archbishop of the relevant province
shall take all reasonable steps to inform that person in writing
that they have done so and of the particulars recorded
in respect of that person. That person may request the president
of tribunals to review the matter and upon such a review the president
of tribunals shall direct that that person should continue to
be included in the list or should be excluded therefrom and, in
the former case, may also direct that the particulars relating
to that person should be altered in such manner as may be specified.
(3) Where the archbishops propose
to include a person falling within paragraph (e) of subsection
(1) above in the list the archbishop of the relevant province
shall take all reasonable steps to inform that person in writing
of the proposal and the particulars to be recorded, together with
an invitation to send comments or representations in writing to
the archbishop within the period of twenty-one days. On the expiry
of that period the archbishops shall decide whether or
not to include that person in the list and the archbishop of
the relevant province shall inform that person in writing
of their decision. If the decision is to include that
person in the list that person may request the president of tribunals
to review the decision and upon such a review the president of
tribunals shall uphold or reverse the decision.
(4) It shall be the duty of the archbishops
to review the inclusion of a person in the list, in such manner
as may be prescribed, on the expiry of the period of five years
following the inclusion and also if requested to do so by that
person or by the bishop of a diocese.
Provided that that person shall
not be entitled to make a request under this subsection within
the said period of five years nor within the period of five years
following any previous review.
39 Code of Practice
(1) It shall be the duty of the Clergy
Discipline Commission to formulate guidance for the purposes of
the Measure generally and, with the approval of the Dean of the
Arches and Auditor, to promulgate the guidance in a Code of Practice.
(2) The Clergy Discipline Commission
may at any time amend or replace a Code of Practice issued under
subsection (1) above by a further Code of Practice issued in accordance
with the provisions of this section.
(3) A Code of Practice 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 Clergy Discipline Commission.
(3A) If the Code has been approved
by the General Synod with amendment, it shall be referred to the
Clergy Discipline Commission.
(3B) Where a draft Code of Practice
is referred to the Clergy Discipline Commission under subsection
(3A) above, then the Commission may either-
(a) issue 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 Commission.
(4) Where the Business Committee of
the General Synod determines that a Code of Practice 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 wishes the Code to be debated, or
(b) notice is so given by
any such member that he wishes to move an amendment to the Code,
the Code shall, for the purposes
of subsection (3) above, be deemed to have been approved by the
General Synod without amendment.
40 When convictions etc. are to be deemed
conclusive
(1) Proceedings under this Measure
and a conviction by a secular court shall become conclusive for
the purposes of this Measure -
(a) where there has been
an appeal, upon the date on which the appeal is dismissed or abandoned
or the proceedings on appeal are finally concluded, but, if varied
on appeal, shall be conclusive only as so varied, and so far as
it is reversed on appeal shall cease to have effect;
(b) if there is no such appeal,
upon the expiration of the time limited for such appeal, or in
the case of a conviction where no time is so limited, of two months
from the date of the conviction; and
(c) in the case of a conviction
against which there is no right of appeal from the date of the
conviction.
(2) After the conviction of a clerk
in Holy Orders by a secular court becomes conclusive a certificate
of such conviction shall, for the purposes of this Measure be
conclusive proof that he has committed the act therein specified.
(3) In the event of any such conviction
by a secular court as makes a clerk in Holy Orders subject to
removal from any preferment, or renders him liable to proceedings
under this Measure the court shall cause the prescribed certificate
of the conviction to be sent to the bishop of the diocese in which
the court sits, and such certificate shall be preserved in the
registry of the diocese, or of any other diocese to which it may
be sent by the direction of the bishop.
41 Compensation
Any
person in respect of whom a penalty of removal from office or
revocation of a licence to serve in a diocese is imposed under
this Measure and subsequently revoked on appeal shall be entitled
to compensation, and the provisions of Schedule 4 to the Pastoral
Measure 1983 (1983 No. 1) shall apply in relation to such a person
as they apply to an incumbent of a benefice deemed to be vacated
by virtue of section 25 of that Measure.
42 Application of Measure is special cases
(1) In the application of this Measure
to the following -
Cathedral clergy
Chaplains of prisons, hospitals,
universities, schools and institutions in an extra-parochial
place
Chaplains of the armed forces
of the Crown
Ministers who have a licence
from the archbishop of a province to preach throughout the province
Ministers who have a licence
from the University of Oxford or Cambridge to preach throughout
England
it shall be read with the following
adaptations.
(2) In the case of a clerk in Holy
Orders serving in a cathedral church, disciplinary proceedings
may be instituted only by -
(a) a person nominated by
the council of the cathedral church; or
(b) any other person, if
the diocesan bishop concerned determines that that person has
a proper interest in making the complaint.
(3) In the case of a chaplain of a
prison, hospital, university, school or other institution, disciplinary
proceedings may be instituted only by a person duly authorised
by the diocesan bishop concerned to institute such proceedings.
(4) In the case of a chaplain of one
of the armed forces of the Crown -
(a) disciplinary proceedings
may be instituted only if the archbishop of Canterbury determines
that the person concerned has a proper interest in making the
complaint;
(b) the complaint shall be
laid before the archbishop of Canterbury and references to the
diocesan bishop concerned shall be construed as references to
that archbishop.
(5) In the case of a minister who has
a licence from the archbishop of a province-
(a) disciplinary proceedings
may be instituted only by a person duly authorised by the archbishop
to institute such proceedings;
(b) the complaint shall be
laid before that archbishop and references to the diocesan bishop
concerned shall be construed accordingly.
(6) In the case of a minister who has
a licence from the University of Oxford or Cambridge -
(a) disciplinary proceedings
may be instituted only by a person duly authorised by the archbishop
of Canterbury to institute such proceedings;
(b) the complaint shall be
laid before that archbishop and references to the diocesan bishop
concerned shall be construed accordingly.
43 Interpretation
(1) In this Measure, unless the context
otherwise requires -
"the 1963 Measure" means
the Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction Measure 1963 (1963 No. 1);
"barred list" has the
meaning assigned to it by section 30(1A) above;
"the Commission" means the
Clergy Discipline Commission;
"designated officer" means
an officer of the legal office of the National Institutions of
the Church of England designated by the Archbishops' Council for
the purposes of this Measure;
"diocese" means a diocese
in the province of Canterbury or a diocese in the province of
York and "diocesan" shall be construed accordingly;
"disciplinary tribunal"
means a bishop's disciplinary tribunal constituted in accordance
with section 22 above;
"high judicial office" has
the meaning assigned to it by section 25 of the Appellate Jurisdiction
Act 1876 (c. 59);
"limited prohibition" has
the meaning assigned to it by section 24(1)(b) above;
"misconduct" means any act
or omission referred to in section 8(1) above;
"preferment" includes an
archbishopric, a bishopric, archdeaconry, dignity or office in
a cathedral or collegiate church, and a benefice, and every curacy,
lectureship, readership, chaplaincy, office or place which requires
the discharge of any spiritual duty;
"prescribed" means prescribed
by rules made under section 26 of the Care of Churches and Ecclesiastical
Jurisdiction Measure 1991 (1991 No. 1);
"prohibition for life" has
the meaning assigned to it by section 24(1)(a) above and "prohibited
for life" shall be construed accordingly;
"relevant province" means,
according to the context, the province of Canterbury or the Province
of York;
"resident" means ordinarily
resident;
"Vicar-General's court"
means the Vicar-General's court constituted in accordance with
section 23 above.
(2) For the purposes of this Measure
an extra-diocesan place (including any place exempt or peculiar
other than a Royal Peculiar) which is surrounded by one diocese
shall be deemed to be situate within that diocese, and an extra-diocesan
place which is surrounded by two or more dioceses shall be deemed
to be situate within such one of them as the archbishop of the
relevant province may direct.
(3) For the purposes of this Measure
the seniority of diocesan bishops (other than archbishops) shall
be determined by reference to the length of time that each of
them has held office as diocesan in either province without interruption
from any cause.
45 Rules
(1) Rules made under section 26(1)
of the Care of Churches and Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction Measure
1991 (1991 No. 1) may make provision for carrying into effect
the provisions of this Measure and, accordingly, in that subsection
after paragraph (e) there shall be inserted the words -
"(f) the Clergy Discipline Measure
2003;".
(2) In section 26(2) of that Measure
-
(a) in paragraph (a) for
the words from "commissions" to "Measures
1990 and 1994", there shall be substituted the words
"disciplinary tribunals, commissions, committees and examiners
provided for in the 1963 Measure, the Care of Cathedrals Measures
1990 and 1994 or the Clergy Discipline Measure 2003";
(b) in paragraph (c) after
the word "courts" there shall be inserted the words
"disciplinary tribunals,";
(c) after paragraph (c)
there shall be inserted the words "(cc) the procedure and
practice where complaints are referred to registrars under section
11 of the Clergy Discipline Measure 2003".
(3) In section 25(2)(c) of that Measure
after the words "1963 Measure" there shall be inserted
the words "or disciplinary proceedings under the Clergy Discipline
Measure 2003,".
46 Repeals
The enactments specified in Schedule
2 to this Measure are hereby repealed to the extent specified
in the second column of the Schedule.
47 Transitional provisions
(1) Nothing in this Measure shall affect
any proceedings instituted under Part III of the 1963 Measure
or declaration made under Part IX thereof before the date on which
section 8 above comes into operation, and the provisions of that
Measure shall continue to apply in relation to any such proceedings
or declaration as if this Measure had not been passed.
(2) Proceedings under this Measure
may be instituted in relation to misconduct committed before the
date on which section 8 above comes into operation:
Provided that the provisions
of the 1963 Measure shall continue to apply in relation to any
offence under that Measure committed before that date which does
not constitute misconduct under this Measure as if this Measure
had not been passed.
(3) This Measure shall not affect any
censure, deposition, declaration of deprivation and disqualification
or notice of inhibition imposed under the 1963 Measure, but any
such censure, or declaration shall be deemed for the purposes
of this Measure to be a penalty imposed under this Measure of
the kind corresponding to the censure or declaration, and sections
26 to 29 above shall have effect in relation thereto accordingly.
(4) Section 30 and 31 above shall apply
in relation to sentences of imprisonment passed before, as well
as after, the date on which those sections come into operation.
48 Citation, commencement and extent
(1) This Measure may be cited as the
Clergy Discipline Measure 2003.
(2) This Measure shall come into operation
on such date as the archbishops of Canterbury and York may jointly
appoint, and different dates may be appointed for different provisions.
(3) This Measure shall extend to the
whole of the Provinces of Canterbury and York except the Channel
Islands and the Isle of Man, but the provisions thereof may be
applied to the Channel Islands as defined in the Channel Islands
(Church Legislation) Measures 1931 and 1957, or either of them,
in accordance with those Measures and if an Act of Tynwald or
an instrument made in pursuance of an Act of Tynwald so provides,
shall extend to the Isle of Man subject to such exceptions, adaptations
or modifications as may be specified in the Act of Tynwald or
instrument.
SCHEDULES
SCHEDULE 1 Section
44(2).
AMENDMENT OF ECCLESIASTICAL JURISDICTION
MEASURE 1963
1 The Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction
Measure 1963 (1963 No. 1) shall be amended as follows.
2. In section 1(1) after the words
"original jurisdiction" there shall be inserted the
words "in non-disciplinary matters".
3. In section 3 -
(a) in subsection (2)(b)
for the words "prolocutor of the Lower House of the Convocation"
there shall be substituted the words "president of tribunals
from among the persons serving on the provincial panel";
(b) in subsection (2)(c)
for the words from "Chairman" to "appropriate"
there shall be substituted the words "president of tribunals
from among the persons serving on the provincial panel of the
relevant province";
(c) in subsection (4) for the
words from "Chairman" to "Courts" there shall
be substituted the words "president of tribunals appoints
a person to be a judge of either of the said Courts under paragraph
(c) of subsection (2) of this section";
(d) in subsection (5)(b)(ii) for
the words from "Upper" to "resolves" there
shall be substituted the words "president of tribunals determines".
(4) In section 7 -
(a) in subsection (1A) after
the word "York" there shall be inserted the words "(including
that Court as constituted in accordance with the Clergy Discipline
Measure 2003");
(b) after subsection (1A)
there shall be inserted the following subsection-
"(1B) Each of
the said Courts shall also have jurisdiction to hear and determine
appeals from judgments, orders or decrees of disciplinary tribunals
within the provinces for which they are constituted respectively.".
(c) in subsection (2) for
the words from "(a) in a civil suit" to the end there
shall be substituted the words -
"(a) in a
disciplinary case, at the instance of any party to the proceedings
on a question of law and the defendant on a question of fact;
(b) in any other case, at
the instance of any party to the proceedings but only with the
leave of the consistory court or the Vicar-General's Court as
the case may be or, if leave is refused by that court, of the
Dean of the Arches and Auditor".
5 In section 12 -
(a) after the words "consistory
court" there shall be inserted the words ", Vicar-General's
court or disciplinary tribunal";
(b) for the words "or
officers of any such court" there shall be substituted the
words ", members or officers of any such court or tribunal".
6 In section 47 -
(a) in subsection (1) for
the words from "shall" to "in any other case,"
there shall be substituted the words "under this Measure
shall be heard and disposed of";
(b) in subsection (2) for
the words from the beginning to "proceedings" there
shall be substituted the words "Proceedings under this Measure".
7 In section 49(3) for the words
from the beginning to "ceremonial" there shall be substituted
the words "In proceedings under this Measure".
8 In section 50 after the word
"pronounced" there shall be inserted the words "in
pursuance of proceedings under this Measure".
9 In section 52 after the word
"deposed" there shall be inserted the words "under
this Measure".
10 In section 66(1) at the end there shall be
inserted the words -
"disciplinary
tribunal", president of tribunals" and "provincial
panel" have the same meanings as in the Clergy Discipline
Measure 2003".
11 In section 67 the words from "shall
be determined in accordance" to "between each other"
shall be omitted.
12 In section 69 for the words "Parts
IV, V and VI" there shall be substituted the words "Part
VI".
13 In section 74(1) after the words "this
Measure" there shall be inserted the words "for a specified
time".
14 In section 76(1) after the words "this
Measure" there shall be inserted the words "for a specified
time".
SCHEDULE 2 Section
46.
REPEALS
Measure
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Extent of repeal
|
1963 No. 1, Ecclesiastical
Jurisdiction Measure 1963
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In section 1, in subsection (2) paragraph (b), and in subsection (3), paragraph (a) and in paragraph (c) the words from "of any commission" to "also".
In section 6, in subsection (1) paragraph (a).
In section 7, in subsection (1)(a) the letter "(a),".
Section 9.
In section 11, subsection (1).
In section 14, in subsection (1) the words from "(b) any other offence" to the end of the subsection.
In section 15, the words from "but this limitation" to the end.
In section 16, the words from "Provided that" to the end.
Part IV.
Part V.
In section 46, in subsection (1) the words from "other than" to "this Measure" and in subsection (2) the words from the beginning to "section sixty-nine of this Measure".
Section 54.
Part IX.
Section 68.
In section 69 the words from "Provided that" to the end.
In section 70 the words "IV, V or".
Section 77.
Section 79.
Schedule 2.
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