Explanatory Statement

1. This Bill aims to update the provisions of the Extra-Parochial Ordinance, to expand the circumstances in which a property may be declared extra-parochial, and to enable the Archbishop to appoint a member of the clergy or a lay person as a chaplain to an extra-parochial building, institution or property.

2. Clause 2 of the Bill has amendments which will define "parish" as in the Church Administration Ordinance 1990.

3. Clause 3 of the Bill is mainly editorial, standardising an expression "building, institution or property" used in several places in the 1918 Ordinance. However there is a substantive amendment in clause 3(b) designed to enable other types of properties than those identified in the 1918 Ordinance, to be declared extra-parochial. An example might be a public hall which is hired for a special ministry.

4. Clause 4 is to enable the Archbishop to appoint either a member of the clergy or a layperson as a chaplain of an extra-parochial building, institution or property. This amendment will make it clear that the Archbishop may appoint to an extra-parochial building, institution or property a chaplain who is a member of the clergy, or a layperson. This would include deaconesses, parish sisters and a growing number of competent laypersons now engaged in stipendiary ministry within parishes.

5. Clause 5 of the Bill is to enable the Archbishop to declare a building, institution or property extra-parochial on the recommendation of a Regional Council.

6. Clause 6 of the Bill is to prevent the automatic temporary reversion of buildings, institutions and properties during a vacancy in the office of chaplain, to the parochial units from which they came.

7. Clause 7 of the Bill is a saving clause.

8. The Standing Committee recommends that the Synod pass the Bill as an ordinance.

For and on behalf of the Standing Committee

MARK PAYNE
Diocesan Secretary
14 August 1998