Church Representation Rules

The Church Representation Rules are a vital tool for all involved in parochial, deanery, diocesan and national Church governance.

This edition states the Church Representation Rules as at 1 January 2025.

This 2025 edition presents the new Church representation rules introduced in 2020, reflecting amendments made by six different pieces of legislation approved since the previous 2022 edition.

• View the Church Representation Rules online

Basic Outline of the Rules

Part 1 – Church Electoral Roll

• Makes provision for the compilation and revision of church electoral rolls.

Part 2 – Parish Governance

• Provides for the model Rules in Part 9 to apply to each parish, but that is subject to the other provisions of Part 2 which enable a parish to make a scheme to amend or supplement, or to replace, the model Rules under the procedure set out in that Part.

Part 3 – Deanery Synods

• Makes provision for the composition of, and elections to, Deanery Synods.

Part 4 – Diocesan Synods

• Makes provision for the composition of, and elections to, Diocesan Synods

Part 5 – House of Laity of the General Synod

• Makes provision for the membership of, and elections to, the House of Laity.

Part 6 – Appeals

• Makes provision for appeals against decisions relating to enrolment on a church electoral roll and elections.

Part 7 – Disqualifications etc

• Makes provision for persons to be disqualified from serving as a member of synodical bodies and for the vacation of a member’s seat on such a body in specified circumstances.

Part 8 – Miscellaneous

• Makes miscellaneous provisions for the purposes of the Rules, including provisions relating to the handling of personal data, casual vacancies, communication by email or post and interpretation.

Part 9 – Parish Governance: Model Rules

• Contains the model Rules for parish governance. These provide for matters such as annual and other parochial church meetings, elections of members of parochial PCCs and deanery synods, the composition and business of PCCs, and the making of schemes for joint councils for ‘connected parishes’. The model Rules will apply automatically unless a parish makes a scheme under Rule 12 to amend or supplement, or to replace, the model Rules.
  • Section A: Annual Parochial Church Meeting
  • Section B: Parochial Church Council
  • Section C: Joint Councils

Part 10 – Forms

• Contains the forms which are required to be used for the purposes of the Rules.

Part 11 – Index

• Contains an index of defined terms for the purposes of the Rules.