Explanatory note

These Regulations are made under section 2 of the Church of England (Miscellaneous Provisions) Measure 2020, which requires the Archbishops’ Council to compile and maintain a national register of those who exercise ministry. These Regulations are concerned mainly with laity.

Regulation 1 provides that regulation 8 comes into force on the day after that on which the Regulations are laid before Parliament and that regulations 2 to 7 come into force on 30th January 2027.

Regulation 2 gives the meaning of “lay minister” for the purposes of these Regulations.

Regulation 3 sets out the information which is required about a lay minister for the purposes of the national register.

Regulation 4 determines who, in the case of each lay minister, is to provide the Archbishops’ Council with the required information about that lay minister.

Regulation 5 imposes requirements for providing the Archbishops’ Council with the required information about lay ministers already exercising ministry and those subsequently authorised to do so.

Regulation 6 imposes requirements for informing the Archbishops’ Council where a lay minister’s exercise of ministry is terminated or suspended.

Regulation 7 requires the Archbishops’ Council to publish and make available the registration information in relation to each lay minister.

Regulation 8 makes minor amendments to the National Ministry Register (Clergy) Regulations 2020. Paragraphs (2) and (4) provide for the duty to provide registration information for existing or new authorities to apply from the commencement of these Regulations (rather than the commencement of the 2020 Regulations). Paragraph (3) provides an exception to the duty to provide registration information where the authority is due to last for 14 days or under. Paragraph (5) makes modifications for the Isle of Man.