The Ecclesiastical Offices (Terms of Service) Legislation

Helping clergy to grow in their ministry by providing fair terms of service, supporting development and ensuring a just framework of accountability

In February 2007, the General Synod agreed that draft Terms of Service legislation should move into the revision stage. This legislation will set out more clearly the rights and responsibilities of ecclesiastical officeholders and provide protection for clergy who do not currently have the freehold. For further information, please consult our FAQs (frequently asked questions) page.

The work which has led to this point began in 2002, when the Archbishops’ Council set up a group to review the terms under which Church of England clergy hold office. Following consideration of the review group’s reports in 2004 and 2005, General Synod asked the Archbishops’ Council to produce draft legislation.

In 2005, the Church of England committed itself to the aspirations set out in the Department of Trade and Industry’s statement of good practice on clergy working conditions. Church of England clergy benefit de facto from many of the provisions in the statement, and the Terms of Service legislation will have the effect of bringing clergy working conditions further inline with these aspirations.

Ecclesiastical legislation must be approved in three stages at General Synod: the draft stage; the revision stage and final draft. It then goes to Parliament for approval by both houses before it is given force by the granting of Royal Assent. General Synod is generally held twice a year so the approval process takes at least three years.

To date General Synod has considered five reports in this matter:

GS  1637-9X: Draft Ecclesiastical Offices (Terms of Service) Legislation Introductory Material, Explanatory Memorandum and Annex of Supplementary and Illustrative Material, in February 2007

GS 1631: A progress Report from the Implementation Group, in July 2006

GS1593: the Property Issues Revisited, in November 2005;

GS 1564: the Review of Clergy Terms of Service: Part two, in February 2005;

GS1527: the Review of Clergy Terms of Service: Part one, in February 2004;