# Clergy Conduct Measure 2026, Section 68: General interpretation

Extent: E
Status: prospective

(1) In this Measure—
“actual communicant” has the meaning given in Rule 83(2) of the Church Representation Rules;
“the Appointments Committee” means the Appointments Committee of the Church of England;
“barred list” has the same meaning as in the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006;
“CDM” means the Clergy Discipline Measure 2003;
“child” means a person aged under 18;
“Code of Practice” means the Code of Practice under section 9;
“complaint” means a complaint under this Measure;
“the community roll”, in relation to a cathedral, means the roll maintained for the cathedral for the purposes of section 6 of the Cathedrals Measure 2021;
“conclusive”, in relation to a conviction for an offence, is to be read with section 69;
“costs” includes expenses;
“designated person” has the meaning given in section 22(2);
“diocesan safeguarding officer”, in relation to a diocese, means the person appointed as such under Canon C 30 for that diocese;
“EJM” means the Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction Measure 1963;
“high judicial office” has the meaning given in subsection (2) below;
“lead assessor” has the meaning given in section 12(2);
“misconduct” has the meaning given in section 3;
“PCC” means parochial church council;
“resident” means ordinarily resident;
“responsible bishop” has the meaning given in section 16(12);
“the rules” means the rules made for the purposes of this Measure under section 83 of the Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction and Care of Churches Measure 2018;
“vexatious”, in relation to a complaint, application or request, has the meaning given in subsection (3) below;
“vulnerable adult” has the same meaning as in the Safeguarding and Clergy Discipline Measure 2016.
(2) “High judicial office” means—
(a) high judicial office within the meaning of Part 3 of the Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (see section 60(2) of that Act), or
(b) membership of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council.
(3) A complaint, application or request is “vexatious” if—
(a) it has little or no basis in law,
(b) it has the effect of subjecting another person to inconvenience, harassment or expense out of all proportion, or
(c) it is an abuse of process because it uses the tribunal’s or court’s process in a way significantly different from an ordinary and proper use.
(4) A reference in this Measure to the national director of safeguarding or to the national safeguarding team is to be read with section 15(9) and (10).
(5) In its application to the diocese of Leeds, this Measure has effect as if a reference to the cathedral of a diocese were a reference to any of the cathedrals of that diocese.
(6) An extra-diocesan place (including a place exempt or peculiar) is to be treated for the purposes of this Measure as situated—
(a) if it is surrounded by one diocese, within that diocese, or
(b) if it is surrounded by two or more dioceses, within such one of them as the archbishop of the province directs.
(7) Accordingly, an extra-diocesan place is to be treated as being in the province which includes the diocese in which, by virtue of subsection (6), it is situated.
(8) The seniority of bishops is determined for the purposes of this Measure by reference to the length of time that each of them has held office as a diocesan bishop in either province without interruption; and, for the purposes of that determination, the archbishops and the responsible bishop are excluded.
(9) A reference in this Measure to a meeting includes (in so far as it does not already) a reference to a meeting which persons may attend, speak at or vote in, or otherwise participate in without any, or without all, of the persons being together in the same place.
(10) A reference in this Measure to a place where a meeting is held, or is to be held, includes (in so far as it does not already) a reference to more than one place, including electronic, digital or virtual locations, web addresses or conference call telephone numbers.
(11) A person is to be regarded for the purposes of this Measure (in so far as the person would not be already) as being present at or attending a meeting at any given time if the person is at that time able to hear and be heard by, and where practicable to see and be seen by, the other persons present.
(12) A reference in this Measure to being present at or attending a meeting includes (in so far as it does not already) a reference to being present or attending by electronic means, including by telephone conference, video conference, live webcast or live interactive streaming.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukcm/2026/1/section/68 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/clergy-conduct-measure-2026/section-68
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.