Administrative units for ministry

Through the Parishes Ordinance 1979, the Recognised Churches Ordinance 2000, the Anglican Schools Ministry Ordinance 2016 and the Extra-Parochial Ordinance 1918 the Synod has provided the basic framework for the division of the Diocese into administrative units of a convenient size for ministry, for the control of property and for the custody of funds.

By far the major part of the Diocese is divided into two types of parochial units - parishes and provisional parishes. Other areas may not be in a parochial unit because they have been declared "extra-parochial" by the Archbishop-in-Council and the Archbishop has licensed chaplains to those areas (hospitals, institutions, schools, universities etc) or because they are directly under the Archbishop for ministry purposes.

In 2000, an additional type of ministry unit called the recognised church was introduced.  In 2007, provisional recognised churches were introduced.  The meeting places of recognised churches and provisional recognised churches are also extra-parochial.

The following table shows the changes in the numbers of ministry units since 1969 -

 

For a list of the areas which have been declared extra parochial click here.

What makes a parochial unit a parish?

Our parishes have developed over many years and under different systems.  A neat definition does not exist, but the ideal parish, from its own revenues, can meet its direct ministry costs, provide and maintain adequate buildings for ministry, service debts, pay amounts payable for charges under the Cost Recoveries (Framework) Ordinance 2008 and property costs and help support the wider missionary enterprise of the Church.

Clause 6 of the Parishes Ordinance 1979 lays down the criteria to be met before the Synod considers a proposal to change the classification of a parochial unit to a parish –

(a)       during the preceding financial year the local revenues of the parochial unit are to have been not be less than the sum of –

(i)       the recommended minimum stipend for a minister, and

(ii)       the recommended fixed component of the travel allowance for a minister, and

(iii)       the recommended fixed component of the recoveries charge for parish ministry and property costs, and

(b)       during the preceding financial year the minister –

(i)       was paid or provided with a stipend or benefits in lieu of stipend the amount or value of which, in total, was not less than that part of the minimum stipend referred to in (a)(i) above, and

(ii)       was paid or provided with a travel allowance or travel benefit not less than that part of the fixed component of the travel allowance referred to in (a)(ii) above, and

(iii)       was provided with the free use of a residence or otherwise housed in accommodation approved as suitable by the Archbishop, and

(c)       all recoveries of parish ministry and property costs are to have been paid to date, and

(d)       a residence approved as suitable by the Archbishop is to be available for the minister, and

(e)       buildings suitable for worship and other purposes are to be available, they are to be in good condition and the freehold or leasehold is to be vested in the Property Trust or in other trustees, and

(f)       the parochial unit is to be able to service all its debts and be in a sound financial condition.

"Local revenues" are all money received for the purposes of the parochial unit, not including -

(i)       income from property, or

(ii)       money given to the parochial unit by any diocesan organisation, or

(iii)      money given to the parochial unit for a specified purpose, other than a purpose for or in relation to the minister's stipend, travelling expenses, superannuation or long service leave.

What makes a parochial unit a provisional parish?

A provisional parish is a parochial unit in process of change. It may be growing, it may be in decline or it may be in a holding position while a more permanent structure emerges. The principal benefit of provisional parish status is flexibility.

The Archbishop may form a provisional parish under clause 7 of the Parishes Ordinance 1979 but its existence is limited to 3 years or such time as may be determined by the regional council of the region in which the parochial unit is situated.  By implication, the minister's licence is limited to this time as it could not be given for a longer period.  At the end of this time the provisional parish reverts to the parochial unit or units from which it was created, unless an extension of time is approved.

Provisional parishes formed by the Synod under clause 5 of the Parishes Ordinance 1979 are not subject to any time limitation. A proposal for the formation of a provisional parish by the Synod is to be investigated by the regional council of the region in which the parochial unit is situated.

Changes in status of parochial units

Changes in the status of parochial units are dealt with under clauses 4, 5, 6 and 8 of the Parishes Ordinance 1979. Each year, provisional parishes are asked to consider whether they are ready for parish status and, if so, to apply for a change of classification. Applications are to be made to the Archbishop in the form of a proposal with the information required by clause 4 of the Ordinance.  The Archbishop arranges for any proposals to be investigated by the regional council and referred to the Synod.

Under clause 8 of the Parishes Ordinance 1979, if in 3 successive years a parish does not meet the stipend and travelling allowance (or benefits in lieu) of its minister and the fixed component of the cost recoveries charge from "local revenues", that parish becomes a provisional parish at the end of the next financial year. During this fourth year, the regional council may declare that clause 8 shall not apply to the parish for a specified period.  Such a declaration is given if there are special reasons why a parish should not become a provisional parish at that time.

Alteration of boundaries

Under clause 9 of the Parishes Ordinance 1979 the regional council, by resolution, may alter, clarify or define the boundaries of any one or more parochial units in its region without forming a new parochial unit. The exercise of this power requires the consent of a majority of the parish councils (if any) of each affected parochial unit. The change in boundaries takes effect from the date specified in the regional council's resolution.

Disputed proposals for the alteration of boundaries may be referred to the Synod for decision in the circumstances set out in clause 9(2) of the Parishes Ordinance 1979.

Amalgamation of parochial units

Under clause 10 of the Parishes Ordinance 1979 the regional council, by resolution, may amalgamate 2 or more parochial units to form a parish or provisional parish. No such resolution can be passed unless -

(a)       the minister licensed to one of the affected parochial units consents in writing to the proposal for amalgamation, and

(b)       there is no minister licensed to any other of the affected parochial units, and

(c)       the parish councils (if any) of each affected parochial unit, by resolution, approve of the proposal.

For the purposes of (a) and (c), a minister or parish council is taken to have consented to or approved an amalgamation unless the minister or parish council records its reasons for opposing the amalgamation and sends them to the secretary of the regional council within 3 months of being invited to do so.

An amalgamation takes effect on the date on which the relevant resolution of the regional council is passed, unless some other date is specified in the resolution. Then the amalgamation takes effect, or is deemed to have taken effect, on and from that other date.

What is a recognised church?

A recognised church is a ministry unit which operates in parallel with the ministry undertaken in parochial units.  A recognised church may be assigned a specific area of geographical responsibility, called an ecclesiastical district, in the circumstances set out in clauses 12F(1) and (2) of the Recognised Churches Ordinance 2000.  Under clause 16(1) of the Recognised Churches Ordinance 2000, where an ecclesiastical district has not been assigned to a recognised church, the responsibility of the minister of the recognised church is limited to the members of the recognised church.

Under the definition of "church" in the Recognised Churches Ordinance 2000, a group of persons who regularly meet together within the Diocese for worship as Christian people is eligible to become a recognised church provided they are not recognised by any other ordinance of the Synod as a distinct body.  An existing congregation under the pastoral leadership of a minister of a parish is also eligible to become a recognised church with the consent of the minister and parish council of the parish.  Under clause 4(1) a proposal to recognise a church may be made by 20 persons who are resident in the Diocese, members of the church and who are at least 18 years of age.

The regional council must investigate a proposal received for recognition under clause 5(1) and determine whether the church satisfies certain criteria set out in clause 7, namely -

(a)       the Archbishop is willing to appoint the person named in the proposal as the minister of the church if recognised, and

(b)       the church, if recognised, would have the ability from its own resources -

(i)       to pay the person proposed to be the minister of the church the minimum stipend and other allowances recommended at that time by the Synod or the Standing Committee, and

(ii)       to provide the person proposed to be the minister of the church with housing arrangements acceptable to that person and which had been certified as suitable to the Archbishop by the relevant archdeacon, and

(iii)       to pay all amounts payable for charges under the Cost Recoveries (Framework) Ordinance 2008, and

(c)       the church has not less than 80 members as at the date of the proposal of which the number in attendance at each regular meeting during the 3 month period to the date of the proposal has been at least two thirds of that number, and

(d)       there is satisfactory evidence that a substantial number of the members of the church support the proposal for recognition, and

(e)       if the church is a congregation which is under the pastoral leadership of a minister of a parish, the minister and parish council of the parish have consented to the proposal or the regional council otherwise approves the proposal.

Under clause 8(1), if having investigated a proposal for recognition the regional council determines that the church satisfies the relevant criteria, the regional bishop must declare that the church is a recognised church subject to the person named in the proposal to be the minister -

(a)       receiving and accepting a written offer from the Archbishop to appoint that person as a minister of the church if recognised, and

(b)       if the person is not a presbyter, accepting as part of that offer ordination as a presbyter for the purposes of being appointed minister.

Subject to certain modifications, all ordinances of the Diocese apply to a recognised church as if the meeting place of the recognised church is a church building and as if the meeting place, or the ecclesiastical district if assigned, is a parish and cure of souls within the Diocese and the minister thereof is licensed thereto as incumbent (clauses 13(1) and 14).

A recognised church ceases to be a recognised church if both the Archbishop and the Standing Committee (by resolution) determine, on the recommendation of the relevant regional council, that, in the circumstances, recognition should not continue (clause 20(1)).  A provisional recognised church also ceases to be a recognised church if both the relevant regional bishop and regional council determine that, in the circumstances, recognition should not continue (clause 20(2)).

What is a provisional recognised church?

If a regional bishop is unable to declare a church to be a recognised church because it does not meet all the criteria for recognition under clause 7, a church may be eligible to become a provisional recognised church if it meets the following criteria under clause 12B –

(a)       the Archbishop is willing to appoint the person named in the proposal for recognition as the minister of the church, and

(b)       the church, if recognised, would be likely within a period of 5 years to satisfy the financial and membership requirements for recognition under clauses 7(b) and (c), and

(c)       the regional council is willing and able to meet any shortfall in the payment by the church, if recognised, of any charges payable under the Cost Recoveries (Framework) Ordinance 2008, and

(d)       there is satisfactory evidence that a substantial number of the members of the church support the proposal for recognition, and

(e)       if the church is a congregation which is under the pastoral leadership of a minister of a parish, the minister and parish council of the parish have consented to the proposal or the regional council otherwise approves the proposal.

If a church meets these criteria, the regional council must declare that the church is a provisional recognised church subject to the person named in the proposal accepting an offer from the Archbishop to be the minister of the church and, if not ordained as a presbyter, accepting the Archbishop’s offer to be so ordained.

A provisional recognised church is generally treated as a provisional parish for the purposes of the ordinances of the Diocese.

Changing the names of parochial units and recognised churches

Under rule 9.1 of Schedules 1 and 2 of the Parish Administration Ordinance 2008 the name of a parochial unit is that last designated by the Archbishop.  The name of a parochial unit can only be changed by the Archbishop at the request of the minister and parish council, if any. The name of a parochial unit is the name of a district (eg "the Parish of Gladesville"), as distinct from the designation of a church, (eg "the Church of St Paul, Chatswood"). This usage is not, however, consistently observed. It is current practice to approve names for parochial units which use only the name of the major geographical centre. Minor name changes are not encouraged.

Under clause 19 of the Recognised Churches Ordinance 2000, the name of a recognised church is that last designated by the Archbishop. The name of a recognised church can only be changed by the Archbishop at the request of the minister and the parish council.

 

The contents of this document are for general information only. No person should rely on the contents of this document without first obtaining advice from a qualified professional person. Neither the Anglican Church Diocese of Sydney nor any organisation thereof is responsible for the results of any action taken on the basis of the contents of this document, nor for any error in or omission from this document.

 

Rules for parish administration

The Parish Administration Ordinance 2008 has slightly different provisions for parishes administered on the basis of their church or churches compared to parishes administered as a whole. Please refer to the schedules below:

Rules for parishes administered on the basis of their church or churches
(Parish Administration Ordinance 2008 Schedule 1)

Rules for parishes administered as a whole (parishes listed on this page)
(Parish Administration Ordinance 2008 Schedule 2)

 

Current as at  14 May 2012