What is "suspension of presentation"?
In previous centuries, each parish or group of parishes had a Patron who appointed and paid for a priest. Patrons still exist and retain the right of presenting a priest to the Bishop for appointment. Usually, when your rector or vicar leaves, the Patron (who may be an individual or a body such as a university college) is primarily responsible for finding and presenting a new priest to the Bishop.

The Bishop, Archdeacon and PCC are also involved in various stages of the process. However, the Bishop may decide to suspend temporarily the patron's rights and, instead, appoint a priest to be in charge of the parish(es). If so, the Bishop will consult the PCC and the Patron before he makes an appointment.

So what does suspension mean (and what doesn't it mean)?
If presentation is suspended, the priest will hold a licence from the Bishop (which could in extreme circumstances be withdrawn), rather than being given the freehold (which cannot be withdrawn).

From the parish's point of view, this procedure is usually not noticeably different from the normal one. The priest in charge carries out all the functions of the rector or vicar and usually lives in the parsonage house. Suspension certainly does not mean having no-one to look after the parish(es) or a longer vacancy than usual. Nor does it affect the parish's legal status or its boundaries.

Why is presentation suspended?
The Bishop is only able to suspend for certain reasons, and with the consent of the Diocesan Pastoral and Mission Committee. Usually, he suspends because of the future possibility of changing the current grouping of parishes or the responsibilities of the clergy serving them. The changes might involve:

• linking small parishes under the care of one priest
• grouping several parishes and their clergy in a formal Team Ministry
• giving the priest in charge of a parish an additional responsibility for a neighbouring parish, or for an area of diocesan work.

Appointing a priest with a licence rather than the freehold gives the Bishop flexibility to make new arrangements for the pastoral care of parishes. Proposals for any change are always subject to a process of consultation. A priest in charge cannot object to proposed changes, whereas a rector or vicar, who holds the freehold and does have a statutory right to object, could prevent the proposals going ahead. If the proposals are found to be appropriate, they can be made permanent by what is called a pastoral scheme. Otherwise, there is flexibility to try different arrangements.

Why is the PCC being consulted?
The Bishop usually receives a recommendation from the Diocesan Pastoral and Mission Committee to suspend presentation because changes are already under consideration. The Bishop always consults the Rural Dean and deanery lay chairman, as well as the Patron and the PCC, before he makes a final decision. This gives the PCC the chance to air any concerns, either about this different procedure for appointing a new priest, or about the possible changes to the parish's pastoral care and links with its neighbouring parishes.

Why does the formal letter talk about suspension for "up to five years"?
The Pastoral Measure only allows the Bishop to suspend presentation for a maximum of five years at a time. Very often, new arrangements are agreed and put in place within a much shorter period and in those cases the suspension is lifted and the priest in charge most likely becomes the rector or vicar. If at the end of five years the arrangements are not yet sorted out, the Bishop must consult the PCC, patron and deanery representatives again before he can renew suspension.

What if the PCC has further questions or concerns?
The churchwardens, and other members of the PCC, will have the opportunity to talk to the Suffragan Bishop and/or the Archdeacon at the vacancy meeting arranged in the parish(es). If questions or concerns are raised after the vacancy meeting, then you should contact the Rural Dean, the Bishop or Archdeacon, or the staff at the Diocesan Office.