Resolutions under the Measure
Petition for Episcopal Duties according to the Act of Synod
Annex A: Forms of Resolution A and B
Annex B: Form of Resolution under the Act of Synod (Resolution “C”)

Resolutions under the Measure
1. Parishes wishing to do so will be in a position to consider and, if thought appropriate, pass, the resolutions set out in Annex A below. Parishes are not required to consider the resolutions except when a vacancy in the benefice is imminent or current and the PCC is meeting to consider the parish statement under the Patronage (Benefices) Measure 1986. [In cases of vacancy, please refer to the guidance issued separately on the Vacancy Procedure]

2. Any member of the PCC may ask for either or both of the resolutions in Annex A, to be placed on the agenda of the PCC. The Secretary of the PCC has to give members at least four weeks' notice of the time and place of the meeting at which the resolution or resolutions are to be considered.

3. When the Chairman of the PCC refuses or neglects to convene a meeting to consider the resolutions, not less than one third of the members of the PCC may sign a requisition requiring him to call a meeting. If he still refuses or neglects to do so those members may forthwith convene the meeting (Church Representation Rules, Appendix II paragraph 3).

4. The PCC meeting must be attended by at least half of the members of the PCC entitled to attend. If either or both the resolutions in Annex A is passed a copy shall be sent to:
a) the diocesan bishop
b) the rural dean
c) the lay chairman of the deanery synod
d) the registrar of the diocese
e) the designated officer under the Patronage (Benefices) Measure 1986 (Diocesan Secretary)
f) the registered patron of the benefice
Only a simple majority (i.e. more than half of the members of the PCC present and voting) is necessary to pass either of the resolutions. Ex officio and co-opted members of the PCC are full voting members.

5. Provided the above conditions are satisfied a resolution may be passed at any time after the Measure comes into force. There is no time limit either on passing the resolution or keeping it in force. Similarly a resolution may be rescinded by the PCC at any time and the persons referred to in paragraph 4 must be notified.

6. Resolutions A in Annex A cannot be considered by a PCC if the incumbent, priest-in-charge, any team vicar or assistant curate of that benefice is a woman priest. *Resolution B, which would allow a woman curate to serve in a parish but not a woman incumbent, can be considered where a woman priest is serving.
*Note: Where a woman has been ordained priest abroad but is currently serving in an English parish as a deacon under the Overseas Clergy Measure 1967, she is not to be counted as a woman priest for the purposes of the Women Priests legislation whilst serving as a deacon.

DISTRICT CHURCH COUNCILS AND CONVENTIONAL DISTRICTS
7. A district church council cannot consider the resolutions; they must be dealt with by the PCC although the PCC should be sensitive to any expression of opinion of a district church council. A conventional district is considered to be a parish for the purposes of the Measure and can consider the resolutions.

TEAM COUNCILS, GROUP COUNCILS AND JOINT COUNCILS
8. In the case of team and group ministries and benefices held in plurality the resolutions set out in Annex A must be considered by the constituent PCCs. Thus, a PCC cannot delegate its functions under the Measure to a team council (in a team ministry), to a group council (in a group ministry) or to a joint PCC (in a benefice with two or more separate parishes or in benefices held in plurality).

Petition for Episcopal Duties according to the Act of Synod
9. Where a PCC has passed either or both of the resolutions set out in Annex A, the members of the PCC may consider passing a further resolution to petition the diocesan bishop asking that appropriate episcopal duties should be carried out in accordance with the Episcopal Ministry Act of Synod 1993.

10. Before considering whether to petition the diocesan bishop, a PCC will need to consult widely within the parish. The advice of the appropriate Provincial Episcopal Visitor may be sought in connection with the making or consideration of any such petition. Views on the desirability of making a petition may differ widely and the Council will need to be sensitive to the difficulties which may arise for individuals. Especial sensitivity will be required where a parish is part of a larger unit or contains within itself several churches.

11. The terms of the resolution are not statutory but a suitable form of words is suggested in Annex B. As with the resolutions in Annex A, the secretary of the PCC must give members at least four weeks' notice of the time and place of the meeting at which the motion is to be considered. The meeting must be attended by at least one half of the members of the PCC.

12. If a PCC passes the resolution in Annex B it should inform the diocesan bishop, the rural dean and the lay chairman of the deanery synod. The bishop is not obliged to make arrangements for episcopal duties to be carried out in the parish in accordance with the Act of Synod unless at least two thirds of the members of the PCC present and voting are in favour of the resolution and the incumbent or priest-in-charge is also in favour of the resolution. However, if the PCC passes the resolution by a simple majority but a two thirds majority was not achieved or the incumbent or priest-in-charge is not in favour of the resolution, the bishop may still make arrangements for the parish if he considers it expedient to do so.

13. Where a resolution under the Act of Synod is in force in the parish the PCC is required to review the working of any arrangements at least once in every period of five years. If the PCC decides to withdraw a petition this should be done subject to the same conditions as were required for the adoption of a petition (see paragraph 11 above).

Annex A
Forms of Parish Resolution under the Priests (Ordination of Women) Measure 1993

Resolution A
That this parochial church council would not accept a woman as the minister who presides at or celebrates the Holy Communion or pronounces the Absolution in the parish.

Resolution B
That this parochial church council would not accept a woman as the incumbent or priest-in-charge of the benefice or as a team vicar for the benefice.

Annex B
Form of Parish Resolution under the Episcopal Ministry Act of Synod 1993

This parochial church council resolves to petition the diocesan bishop requesting that appropriate episcopal duties in the parish should be carried out in accordance with the Episcopal Ministry Act of Synod 1993.