{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/clergy-discipline-rules-2005/rule-17",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/clergy-discipline-rules-2005/rule-17.json",
  "legislation": "uksi/2005/2022",
  "legislation_title": "The Clergy Discipline Rules 2005",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/clergy-discipline-rules-2005",
  "path": "rule/17",
  "kind": "rule",
  "number": "17",
  "heading": "Respondent’s answer",
  "text": "(1) If the allegation of misconduct is not dismissed ..., or if the President reverses such a dismissal, the bishop shall—\n(a) notify the complainant and the respondent in writing that the allegation has not been dismissed,\n(b) provide the complainant and the respondent with a copy of the registrar’s written report unless previously provided under rules 14A(2) or 15(1),\n(c) send to the respondent a copy of form 2 in the Schedule, and\n(d) request the respondent to submit a written answer to the allegation within 21 days using form 2.\n(2) The respondent’s answer shall be in form 2 in the Schedule ... and shall—\n(a) provide the full name, contact address including postcode, and telephone number of the respondent and, if the respondent has one, an email address,\n(b) state which, if any, matters are admitted and which are contested,\n(c) ... be accompanied by any written evidence in support upon which the respondent wishes to rely, plus a copy of any such evidence,\n(d) where the respondent admits any misconduct, give details of any matters relied upon by way of mitigation,\n(e) contain a declaration that the respondent believes the facts of the answer to be true, and\n(f) be signed and dated by the respondent, and be sent or delivered to the bishop, together with a copy.\n(3) The maker of any statement submitted as evidence in support of an answer shall indicate which matters in it are within the maker’s own knowledge and which are matters of information and belief, and shall identify the source of any matters of information and belief.\n(4) Any such statement in support shall be made in form 3 in the Schedule ... and shall contain a declaration that the maker of the statement believes the facts in it are true.\n(4A) The maker of a statement in support may in the statement request that the maker’s contact details should not be disclosed to the complainant and shall give reasons for any such request.\n(4B) Where a request is made under paragraph (4A), the relevant contact details shall not be disclosed to the complainant and shall be deleted from copies of any documents to be served on the complainant unless the registrar otherwise directs.\n(4C) Where the registrar makes a direction under paragraph (4B), the registrar shall forthwith in writing notify the respondent and the maker of the statement of the reasons for making the direction.\n(5) (a) The bishop may extend time under rule 17(1)(d) for the respondent to submit an answer and any written evidence in support.\n(b) Where further time under rule 17(1)(d) is granted the bishop shall consider whether to extend time under rule 18.\n(6) The bishop on receipt shall by way of notification send to the complainant a copy of the respondent’s answer and evidence in support.\n(7) Whether or not an answer is received in accordance with this rule the bishop may proceed to make a determination under section 12(1) of the Measure.",
  "extent": "E",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Words in rule 17(1) substituted (13.7.2021) by The Clergy Discipline (Amendment) Rules 2021 (S.I. 2021/557), rule 1(2), Sch. 2"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Words in rule 17(1) omitted (1.1.2017) by virtue of The Clergy Discipline (Amendment) Rules 2016 (S.I. 2016/848), rules 5(2), 20(2)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "Word in rule 17(1)(a) substituted (13.7.2021) by The Clergy Discipline (Amendment) Rules 2021 (S.I. 2021/557), rule 1(2), Sch. 2"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F4",
      "text": "Words in rule 17(1)(b) substituted (1.1.2017) by The Clergy Discipline (Amendment) Rules 2016 (S.I. 2016/848), rules 5(3), 20(2)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F5",
      "text": "Word in rule 17(1)(d) substituted (13.7.2021) by The Clergy Discipline (Amendment) Rules 2021 (S.I. 2021/557), rule 1(2), Sch. 2"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F6",
      "text": "Words in rule 17(2) omitted (13.7.2021) by virtue of The Clergy Discipline (Amendment) Rules 2021 (S.I. 2021/557), rules 1(2), 13(5)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F7",
      "text": "Words in rule 17(2)(a) inserted (13.7.2021) by The Clergy Discipline (Amendment) Rules 2021 (S.I. 2021/557), rules 1(2), 2(2)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F8",
      "text": "Words in rule 17(2)(c) omitted (1.1.2017) by virtue of The Clergy Discipline (Amendment) Rules 2016 (S.I. 2016/848), rules 5(4), 20(2)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F9",
      "text": "Words in rule 17(4) omitted (13.7.2021) by virtue of The Clergy Discipline (Amendment) Rules 2021 (S.I. 2021/557), rules 1(2), 13(4)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F10",
      "text": "Rule 17(4A)-(4C) inserted (1.2.2014) by The Clergy Discipline (Amendment) Rules 2013 (S.I. 2013/1917), rules 7, 37(2); 2014 No. 2, s. 2"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F11",
      "text": "Word in Rules substituted (13.7.2021) by The Clergy Discipline (Amendment) Rules 2021 (S.I. 2021/557), rules 1(2), 14(a)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F12",
      "text": "Rule 17(5) substituted (1.1.2017) by The Clergy Discipline (Amendment) Rules 2016 (S.I. 2016/848), rules 5(5), 20(2)"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I1",
      "text": "Rule 17 in force at 1.1.2006, see rule 107(2)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2005/2022/rule/17",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-11-05T03:44:24.173514+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}