Anglican Church of Australia Constitution Act 1973

Section 8

1. Composition of Synod

The Synod consists of –

the Bishop;

all clerks in holy orders licensed to officiate in the Diocese;

all deaconesses licensed to officiate in the Diocese;

representatives of the laity elected in accordance with the rules contained in Schedule 5;

the Chancellor of the Diocese, the Church Advocate, the Diocesan Treasurer, and the person chosen by the corporate trustees referred to in section 10 to be their chairman; and

a representative of Youth Synod from each Archdeaconry elected in accordance with the rules contained in Schedule 5.

In this clause Youth Synod means the meeting by that name of the youth of the Diocese which is summoned by the Bishop.

2. Powers of Bishop The Bishop may prorogue or dissolve the Synod and issue mandates for the election of synodsmen.

3. Triennial Synods The Bishop shall within 3 years after the day on which the Synod first meets after a general election of synodsmen dissolve the Synod and issue mandates for a fresh general election.

4. Synod to meet yearly

The Bishop shall at least once in every year summon the Synod to meet.

The Synod may adjourn from time to time as may be decided by a majority of the members present.

5. Special meetings

The Bishop may summon a meeting of the Synod for any special purposes.

In the summons for that meeting, or by notice to the members in some other manner, the Bishop shall state the special purpose for which the Synod has been summoned, and that meeting shall be deemed to be a special session of Synod.

No business may be transacted at a special session of Synod other than that which the Synod has been summoned to consider.

The term of office, powers, and duties of committees appointed at any ordinary session of Synod to meet during the recess are not limited or otherwise affected by a special session of Synod.

6. Presidency At meetings of the Synod the Bishop, or in his absence –

shall preside.

his suffragan bishop, if any, or the senior of them, if more than one, being present;

failing any such person, the archdeacon, being present, or the senior archdeacon present, if more than one; or

failing any such person, a chairman appointed by the members then present –

7. Ordinances and resolutions, how made

Ordinances and resolutions shall be made with the assent of the Bishop and of a majority of the members present, except as provided in subclause (2).

On the order of the Bishop, or on the request of 3 clerks in holy orders or 3 synodsmen, the votes of the clerks in holy orders present and the votes of the lay members present shall be taken separately and instead of a majority of the members present a majority of the clerks in holy orders present and a majority of the lay members is then required.

When voting is subject to subclause (2) deaconesses vote with the clerks in holy orders.

8. Qualification of synodsmen A person is capable of being a synodsman only if he is –

above the age of 18 years and, in the case of a representative of Youth Synod, under the age of 25 years;

a communicant of the Church; and

resident in the Diocese.

9. Vacation of office of synodsman

The office of a synodsman becomes vacant if he –

gives his written resignation to the Bishop's Registrar, the secretary of the Diocesan Council, or the Secretary or Synod;

dies;

is absent from the Diocese for 12 months; or

ceases to be capable of being a synodsman as provided in clause 8.

If a doubt arises whether the office of a synodsman is vacant as provided in this clause the Bishop may decide the matter and his written decision is conclusive.