Regulation 29A Holding office beyond the age of 70F1

A person who holds or is to hold office under Common Tenure and has attained the age of 70 years may be appointed, or may have his or her appointment continued, for a fixed term or under terms which provide for the appointment to be terminated on the occurrence of a specified event if the person occupies a post by virtue of a direction given under this regulation.

An archbishop may give a direction for a person holding the office of diocesan bishop in the archbishop’s province who has attained the age of 70 years to continue to hold that office for the period specified in the direction.

A diocesan bishop may, with the concurrence of the archbishop in whose province the diocese is situated, give a direction for a person holding the office of suffragan bishop or dean in the diocese who has attained the age of 70 years to continue to hold that office for the period specified in the direction.

A diocesan bishop may give a direction for a person holding the office of residentiary canon or archdeacon in the diocese who has attained the age of 70 years to continue to hold that office for the period specified in the direction.

In the case of an office holder who is a qualifying residentiary canon, the diocesan bishop may not give a direction under paragraph (4) without having obtained the written agreement of the dean of the cathedral.

A diocesan bishop may give a direction for a person who has attained the age of 70 years to hold or to continue to hold the office of incumbent of a benefice in the diocese, or to hold or to continue to hold an office in the diocese under a licence granted by the bishop, for the period specified in the direction (including in a case where the person was holding the office immediately before attaining that age).

The power to give a direction under a paragraph of this regulation includes, in the case of a person holding office by virtue of a previous direction under that paragraph, a power to give one or more further directions under that paragraph.

The period specified in a direction given under paragraph (2), (3) or (4)—

The period specified in a direction given under paragraph (5)—

An archbishop or diocesan bishop may not give a direction under this regulation unless he or she considers that the person in question will be capable of performing the duties of the office throughout the period for which the person is to hold the office.

A diocesan bishop may not give a direction under paragraph (5) in the case of a person holding the office of incumbent or priest in charge of, or vicar in a team ministry for, a benefice in the diocese or the office of assistant curate in the diocese unless the bishop—

In deciding whether to give a direction under this regulation, an archbishop or diocesan bishop shall have regard to any guidance issued by the Archbishops’ Council.

A direction given under this regulation must be in writing.