The secretary shall keep a roll of the members of the synod constantly up to date.
Any visitor by invitation of the president may, with the consent of the synod, address the synod but shall have no right to move any motion or amendment or to vote.
Unless the president fixes a shorter period of office, nominated members shall retire at the end of the term of 3 years referred to in rule [31] of the Church Representation Rules.
Before the first meeting of the synod after the beginning of the term of 3 years referred to in rule [31] of the Church Representation Rules and, where a casual vacancy occurs, as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter, each of the houses of clergy and laity or, where appropriate, the one house concerned, shall hold a special meeting to elect one of its members to be a vice-president of the synod. A member of the appropriate house appointed by the president shall act as chairman for such meeting, Whoever so presides shall have a vote in the election and in the case of an equality of votes the decision shall be taken by lot.
The president, unless on any occasion he nominates one of the vice-presidents or another member to take the chair, shall be chairman at meetings of the synod.
The president and each vice-president shall be chairman of the house of which he is a member, unless he is absent from or does not wish to preside at a meeting, in which case a member of the house elected by the members present shall be chairman.
Subject to these standing orders and the directions of the president, the procedure of the synod and its houses shall be regulated by the respective chairman of each.
(1) The synod shall appoint a secretary, being either a clergyman or a layman and either salaried or honorary, who shall —
(2) The secretary of the synod may attend meetings of every other committee or body referred to in standing order 77 and may take part in the discussions at such meetings, but shall not have the right to move any motion or amendment or to vote.
The standing committee may appoint an assistant secretary.
The diocesan registrar, or in the event of his absence or incapacity a person appointed for the purpose by the president, shall be the legal adviser to the synod, and when required shall attend the meetings of the synod, its houses and the standing committee.
Subject to any statutory provision and to these standing orders, the terms and conditions of service on which officers are appointed shall be determined by the standing committee.
The synod shall meet upon the summons of the president.
The president shall summon not less than 2 meetings in each year at such times and such places as he may direct after consulting the standing committee.
If either the standing committee by resolution so requests or if the president receives a requisition for that purpose signed by not less than 30 members, the president shall summon a meeting of the synod which shall be held within 8 weeks following the resolution or requisition unless a later date is specified in the resolution or requisition.
The date, time and place of ordinary meetings of the synod, when fixed, shall be announced to members as soon as possible in such manner as the president shall approve.
(1) In case of sudden emergency or other special circumstances, a meeting may be convened at not less than 7 days' notice, but the quorum for the transaction of any business at such a meeting shall be a majority of the members of each house and only business specified in the notice may be transacted.
(2) A notice under this standing order shall be in writing and signed by the secretary.
If —
the chairman shall summon a meeting of that house which shall be held within 4 weeks following the resolution or requisition unless a later date is specified in the resolution or requisition.
Subject to these standing orders and any resolution of the synod, and without prejudice to the rights of individual members to a reasonable opportunity within the time available of bringing matters before the synod, the standing committee shall settle the agenda for each of its meetings, specifying therein all business of which due notice has been received and which is in order, and shall determine the order in which the business so included shall be considered.
The secretary shall post or deliver an agenda paper to every member 21 days at least before a meeting or, in the case of a special meeting called at less than 21 days' notice, at the same time as the notice.
Save for urgent or other specially important business added thereto by direction of the president, and such matters as may arise therefrom, no business shall be considered at a meeting other than that specified in the agenda (or any notice paper relating thereto) or arising from business so specified.