20 June 2012
DIOCESES COMMISSION STATEMENT
Following the end of the consultation period on the draft
Reorganisation Scheme for the dioceses of Bradford, Ripon &
Leeds and Wakefield, the Dioceses Commission has met to consider
over 100 submissions made to it. It also heard oral evidence from
representatives of the diocesan synods of the three dioceses. It is
grateful to all those who took the trouble to write in, and to meet
with it.
The Commission has had an initial discussion about these
submissions and will be giving further consideration to them over
the summer.
The Commission has decided to proceed with a scheme which will
be published later this year, as planned. The details of that
scheme will be worked out over the next few months.
Notes
1. The Dioceses Commission published a draft scheme to
amalgamate the West Yorkshire dioceses of Bradford, Ripon &
Leeds and Wakefield on 1 November 2010. This followed extensive
consultation within the dioceses involved prior to that stage. The
statutory six month consultation period on the draft scheme ended
on 30 April 2012. Full details of the proposals can be found
at
http://www.churchofengland.org/about-us/structure/dioceses-commission/yorkshire.aspx
2. Under the Dioceses, Pastoral and Mission Measure 2007,
the Commission needs formally to decide whether or not to proceed
with a scheme in the light of the representations made to it, and,
if it does, whether or not it should be amended.
3. The Commission has previously indicated that diocesan
synods would be invited to approve its scheme early next year, with
a view to it then being brought for approval to the General Synod
in July 2013. This remains its intention.