Synodical Government Measure 1969
The Synodical Government Measure 1969 is a Church of England measure passed by the National Assembly of the Church of England replacing the National Assembly with the General Synod of the Church of England.
Background
In 1919, the Parliament of the United Kingdom passed the Church of England Assembly (Powers) Act 1919 establishing the National Assembly of the Church of England. After the measure was passed, the previous state of arrangements was referred to as "paralysis" in the Ecclesiastical Law Journal.Until this measure passed there were "many complications" with having the National Assembly and the convocations side-by-side, and it was deemed that the laity had too little share of power in the National Assembly.
Provisions
Most of the powers of the Convocations of York and Canterbury were transferred to the General Synod, consisting of:The measure established deanery synods which would be the lowest rung of the Church's hierarchy. To be eligible to be elected to the House of Laity you need to be elected to a deanery synod first.
Electoral roll
Originally, the measure established the voting age as 17. This has since been reduced to 16 through the passage of the Church Representation and Ministers Measure 2019.Channel Islands
The measure applied to the Channel Islands, through the .Amendments
In 1971, the measure was amended by the ' so that "special majorities" would be required to change the relationship between the Church of England and another church.In 1974, the measure was amended by the ' so that the constitutions of the Convocations of York and Canterbury would be required to change the relationship between the Church of England and another church.
In 2003, the measure was amended by the so that there would be a regular review of the arrangements for pastoral supervision.
Legislation passed by the Church must now comply with the Human Rights Act 1998.