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The Election Process

At the June 2024 Synod of the Melbourne Anglican Diocese, the registrar of the Diocese provided this information Statement about how the process for the election by the synod of the next Archbishop of Melbourne

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Archbishop election process –
Presentation by Registrar to 1 June 2024 Special Synod

Thank you, Archbishop.

  • I will overview the key requirements for electing the next Archbishop, as detailed in the Archbishop Election Act 2022 and the Melbourne Archbishopric Act 1980.

  • What I will say is not a substitute for these Acts and you should refer to the Acts if you require any clarification, or further details.

  • The text of what I will say will be available on the Synod page of the Parish Portal.

1. Candidates for Archbishop

  • First, who can be a candidate for Archbishop.

  • A candidate for Archbishop must be a clerk in full orders, being either an Anglican priest or bishop.

  • A candidate must be under 70 years of age.

  • A candidate must meet safe ministry requirements, as assessed by the Episcopal Standards Committee.

  • A person must give their consent in order to be a candidate.

  • A person must be supported by a majority of the clerical members of the Board of Nominators and a majority of the lay members of the Board of Nominators to be included on the list of candidates.

2. Board of Nominators

  • Now the Board of Nominators.

  • A new Board of Nominators was elected at the October 2023 Synod.

  • The Board comprises 18 members – 9 clerks and 9 lay people.

  • I expect the Board will be convened on 10 August this year, being six months before the See is to become vacant.

  • The Board must elect one of its members as its chair and another as its deputy chair.

  • The Board may appoint a Secretary from within or outside its members.

  • The Board members and Secretary must sign a confidentiality statement in a form prescribed by the Archbishop in Council.

  • The Archbishop Election Act provides for dealing with Board members who are affected by a conflict, either as a candidate or the immediate family member of a candidate.

  • The Board is free to determine its own processes and procedures, including for engaging with election Synod members:

  • The Board’s objective is to produce a list of 2 to 6 clerks for consideration by the election Synod.

  • The Board must consider candidates whose names are submitted by ten or more election Synod members, although it may also consider other candidates and can have names submitted to it from a broader range of people.

  • The Board must consult with the Diocesan Bishops of the Province in forming its list of candidates.

  • The Board must settle the list of candidates no sooner than 6 weeks after its first meeting and no later than the day before an election Synod commences.

  • The Board must prepare an information statement about each candidate.

  • The Board’s documents and records must be permanently and securely retained upon the installation of the new Archbishop

3. Nomination of Candidates

  • Now the nomination of candidates.

  • On the basis that the Board is convened on 10 August this year, I will write to each election Synod member inviting them to submit names of candidates by a specified means to the Board of Nominators by 10 September this year.

4. Election Synod members

  • Next, election Synod members.

  • The Archbishop Election Act specifies who is eligible to be an election Synod member.

  • A Clerk is an election Synod member if:

    • The clerk is licensed on the date when the See became vacant, and

    • The clerk is licensed on the date when the election Synod is convened, and

    • The clerk’s licence is not suspended.

  • A lay election Synod member is:

    • A person who is elected by a parish or an Authorised Anglican Congregation, or

    • A person who is elected or appointed to one of the lay representative positions specified in the Synod Act, or

    • A person who is an alternate lay representative as provided for in the Archbishop Election Act.

  • The Archbishop Election Act provides for a lay person not being a lay election Synod member in certain circumstances, for example by ceasing to be a communicant member of the Church.

6. Proceedings of the election Synod

  • Next, the proceedings of the election Synod.

  • The objective of any election Synod is to elect an Archbishop from the Board’s list of two to six candidates.

  • To be elected Archbishop, a candidate requires the votes of not less than two-thirds of the clerical members and not less than two-thirds of the lay members present at the meeting.

  • At the election Synod:

    • the Board may report on its proceedings

    • the Board will give election Synod members the list of candidates, and an information statement for each candidate

    • the Board will introduce each candidate, and

    • there will be addresses about each candidate and debate on the merits of each candidate.

  • The Archbishop Election Act provides for the balloting procedure at an election Synod:

  • There can initially be up to four balloting cycles before a meeting is adjourned.

  • If no candidate is elected Archbishop after four balloting cycles, the meeting is adjourned for between 7 and 21 days.

  • Two further ballots can be held at a meeting when the election Synod is reconvened.

  • If no candidate is elected Archbishop in the sixth balloting cycle the meeting stands adjourned indefinitely and the Board of Nominators must bring a fresh list of candidates.

  • If at an election Synod convened to consider the fresh list of candidates no candidate is elected Archbishop by the sixth balloting cycle the chair must declare that the meeting is dissolved and that a Board of Electors is to be elected.

7. Board of Electors

  • Now, the Board of Electors.

  • The Archbishop Election Act provides for Synod to elect the Board of Electors only if it is needed.

  • The Board of Electors would consist of 24 members – 12 clerks and 12 lay people.

  • A decision of the Board of Electors to elect a clerk as Archbishop would require the support of not less than three-quarters of the clerical members of the Board of Electors and the support of not less than three-quarters of the lay members of the Board of Electors.

  • If the Board of Electors cannot within 12 months elect an Archbishop, a new Board of Electors would be elected.

8. Confirmation and installation of the new Archbishop

  • Finally, the confirmation and installation of the new Archbishop.

  • In order to become Archbishop, the elected candidate:

    • must be confirmed by the Diocesan Bishops of the Province, or a majority of them, as being canonical fit

    • must be confirmed by the Episcopal Standards Committee as meeting the screening requirements

    • must satisfy the legal requirements for the office of Archbishop under the law of the Church and the state

    • must accept the office, and

    • must be installed as Archbishop within twelve months of election.

9. Closing

  • In the coming months, may I suggest Synod members:

    • consider suitable candidates and be ready to nominate them to the Board of Nominators from 10 August this year

    • become familiar with the Archbishop Election Act that is available on the Diocesan website, and

    • pray for the Archbishop, the Administrator, the members of the Board of Nominators and those who might be willing to be considered candidates for our next Archbishop.

  • Thank you for your attention.

The Anglican Diocese of Melbourne is a place where the dignity of each person is recognised, respected and fostered and is committed to ensuring the safety of vulnerable persons, particularly children. The Diocese has zero tolerance for child abuse and will treat very seriously all allegations and concerns.  

In line with this commitment to child safety, the Diocese has put in place policies and procedures to uphold the Victorian Child Safe Standards. These standards aim to promote child safety, prevent child abuse and set up processes to properly respond to allegations of child abuse.  Further information regarding the requirements of the Diocese can be found here: https://www.melbourneanglican.org.au/safe_ministry_documents/ In particular, any candidates will be required to have a valid Working with Children Check and to undergo Safe Ministry Checks and regular Safe Ministry training, and to be under Professional Supervision.

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