The Clergy Conduct Rules 2026

Rule 8 makes provision about the service or other delivery of documents to a litigation friend.

Rule 9 sets out the main information to include in a complaint form.

Rule 10 sets out additional information to include in a complaint form.

Rule 11 sets out the procedure for making a complaint about the exercise of a function imposed by the CCM or the Rules.

Rule 12 sets out the procedure for seeking permission to make a complaint out of time.

Rule 13 provides that, once a complaint is made, it is to be referred to the lead assessor on the panel of assessors.

Rule 14 sets out the procedure for allocating a complaint, according to whether it involves a grievance, misconduct that is not serious misconduct, or serious misconduct.

Rule 15 provides that, once a complaint is allocated, the parties must be notified.

Rule 16 introduces the provisions on the procedure for dealing with a grievance.

Rule 17 ensures that the parties to a grievance are provided with the Code of Practice produced by the Clergy Conduct Commission.

Rule 18 sets out the procedure for the respondent to a grievance to make a response.

Rule 19 enables the respondent to a grievance to withdraw an admission to a grievance if the President of Tribunals allows that.

Rule 20 sets out the procedure for deciding a grievance.

Rule 21 requires the creation of a “grievance record”, which includes the complaint form on the grievance, the response form and a record of the outcome.

Rule 22 sets out the procedure for the reallocation of a complaint.

Rule 23 introduces the provisions on the procedure for dealing with a complaint of misconduct which is not serious misconduct.

Rule 24 ensures that the parties to a complaint of misconduct are provided with the Code of Practice produced by the Clergy Conduct Commission.

Rule 25 sets out the procedure for the respondent to a complaint of misconduct to make a response.

Rule 26 enables the respondent to a complaint of misconduct to withdraw an admission to the complaint if the President of Tribunals allows that.

Rule 27 requires the case assessor on a complaint of misconduct to seek advice from the Investigation and Tribunals Team.

Rule 28 requires the case assessor, having completed an investigation into the complaint, to issue a report of the investigation.

Rule 29 sets out the procedure where the parties to the complaint reach an agreement under the conciliation process.

Rule 30 sets out the procedure for the reallocation of a complaint.

Rule 31 introduces the provisions on the procedure for dealing with a complaint of serious misconduct.

Rule 32 ensures that the parties to a complaint of serious misconduct are provided with the Code of Practice produced by the Clergy Conduct Commission.

Rule 33 sets out the procedure for the respondent to a complaint of serious misconduct to make a response.

Rule 34 enables the tribunal or court hearing a complaint of serious misconduct to make findings of fact based on admissions by the respondent.

Rule 35 enables the Investigation and Tribunals Team to apply for the tribunal or court for proceedings to be discontinued where the respondent has made partial admissions.

Rule 36 sets out the procedure for the respondent to withdraw an admission.

Rule 37 requires the Investigation and Tribunals Team, having completed an investigation into the complaint, to issue a report of the investigation.

Rule 38 sets out the procedure for parties to a complaint to make representations and the procedure for the President of Tribunals to make a decision.

Rule 39 sets out the procedure for requiring a person who is not a party to a complaint to produce documents which the court hearing the complaint thinks will be relevant.

Rule 40 provides that a person who fails to comply with an order under rule 39 faces the possibility of being held in contempt.

Rule 41 sets out the procedure for adding a safeguarding professional as a party to a complaint.

Rule 42 gives a safeguarding professional power to attend hearings and make written submissions about the appropriate penalty to impose.

Rule 43 requires the Chair of the tribunal or court to manage complaints actively by, for example, encouraging the parties to a complaint to co-operate.

Rule 44 gives the Chair of the tribunal or court some general case management powers, including power to adjourn a hearing or require a party to attend.

Rule 45 requires the registrar of tribunals to consult the Chair of the tribunal or court before taking steps on the proceedings on a complaint.

Rule 46 enables the Chair of the tribunal or court to exercise powers under these Rules on his or her own initiative.

Rule 47 enables the Chair of the tribunal or court to give directions for the conduct of the proceedings.

Rule 48 lists the matters on which directions may be given (for example, presentation of evidence).

Rule 49 sets out the requirements which witness statements must meet.

Rule 50 provides that, in general, a witness statement for proceedings on a complaint may not be used for other purposes.

Rule 51 sets out the procedure for using an expert report in proceedings on a complaint.

Rule 52 gives the Chair of the tribunal or court power to exclude evidence.

Rule 53 enables oral evidence to be given.

Rule 54 requires the tribunal or court to set a timetable for hearing a complaint and to decide whether it is to be in person, remote or hybrid.

Rule 55 sets out instances in which the respondent to a complaint is prohibited from cross-examining a witness in person.

Rule 56 enables the complainant to ask the registrar of tribunals to amend an allegation of misconduct.

Rule 57 sets out the limited cases in which the tribunal or court is entitled to sit in private.

Rule 58 enables the Chair of the tribunal or court to require a particular witness or expert to attend a hearing in person.

Rule 59 provides that, if a party to a complaint is absent from a hearing, the tribunal or court may not proceed unless satisfied that the party has been given written notice of the hearing.

Rule 60 enables the tribunal or court to exclude from a hearing a person who is, for example, being disruptive.

Rule 61 sets out the special measures that may be put in place where the ability of a party to participate in proceedings on a complaint by, for example, language difficulties or a mental health condition.

Rule 62 enables the tribunal or court on a complaint to order that the identity of a person involved in the proceedings is not to be published.

Rule 63 provides that proceedings on a complaint come to an automatic end if the respondent dies.

Rule 64 sets out what is to happen where the complainant dies or becomes incapacitated or is otherwise incapable of participating in the proceedings — for example, the complainant may be replaced by somebody else.

Rule 65 sets out the procedure for the complainant to withdraw a complaint.

Rule 66 enables the parties to a complaint to make representations before a penalty is imposed.

Rule 67 sets out circumstances in which the responsible bishop can be required to produce a written opinion on the appropriate penalty.

Rule 68 sets out the procedure for imposing a penalty in circumstances in which there has not been a complaint, including where a clerk in Holy Orders has been convicted of an offence.

Rule 69 requires the Chair of the tribunal or court on a complaint to make a public pronouncement of the decision.

Rule 70 provides for copies of decisions to impose penalties or administrative sanctions to be sent to the respondent and certain other persons.

Rule 71 sets out the procedure for giving a priest or deacon notice of an intended deposition.

Rule 72 sets out the procedure for a person to appeal against a notice under rule 71.

Rule 73 sets out the procedure for making a decision whether to depose a priest or deacon.

Rule 74 sets out the procedure for giving an archbishop or bishop notice of an intended deposition.

Rule 75 sets out the procedure for an archbishop or bishop to make representations in response to a notice under rule 74.

Rule 76 sets out the procedure for giving notice of a restriction order.

Rule 77 sets out the procedure for giving notice of a suspension.

Rule 78 sets out the procedure for recording the decision made on whether to make a restriction order or suspension.

Rule 79 sets out the procedure for giving notice of the revocation of a restriction order or suspension.

Rule 80 makes provision for serving or otherwise giving notice of a restriction order or suspension or of a revocation.

Rule 81 makes provision for certain persons to be given a copy of a notice of a restriction order or suspension or a revocation.

Rule 82 lists who is entitled to have access to the Archbishops’ list under section 58 of the CCM.

Rule 83 requires the archbishop to give notice to a person whose name is included on the list.

Rule 84 enables a clerk to appeal against the inclusion on the list of a conviction which has become protected under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

Rule 85 enables a clerk to appeal against the inclusion on the list of information that is incorrect.

Rule 86 provides that, where a finding of misconduct is made under the CCM or a predecessor Measure against a clerk who also works in another capacity (as a doctor or lawyer, for example), the finding of misconduct is to be notified to an appropriate person involved in that other work.

Rule 87 provides that, where a finding is made against a clerk in disciplinary proceedings relating to work that the clerk carries out in another capacity, that finding is to be notified to a senior member of clergy.

Rule 88 imposes a time limit of two years on the process under rule 87.

Rule 89 enables a clerk to appeal against the imposition of a penalty under the CCM where an adverse finding in disciplinary proceedings relating to other work that the clerk does.

Rule 90 sets out the procedure for applying for permission to appeal or request a review.

Rule 91 sets out the procedure for determining an application under rule 90.

Rule 92 sets out the procedure for applying to bring an appeal out of time.

Rule 93 enables the court hearing an appeal to strike out the appeal.

Rule 94 provides that, if a party to a complaint is absent from a hearing on an appeal, the court may not proceed unless satisfied that the party has been given written notice of the hearing.

Rule 95 provides that, in general, a witness who gave evidence on a complaint of misconduct is to be called to give evidence on an appeal or review arising from the complaint.

Rule 96 provides that, in general, only new evidence may be put before the court on an appeal or review.

Rule 97 sets out the procedure for requiring a person who was not a party to a complaint to produce documents to the court on an appeal or review.

Rule 98 sets out the procedure for amending or withdrawing an appeal.

Rule 99 sets out the powers available to the court on an appeal or review.

Rule 100 provides that decisions by the court on an appeal or review may be taken by majority.

Rule 101 sets out the procedure for bringing an appeal or requesting a review.

Rule 102 sets out the powers available to the President of Tribunals on a request to review a decision to allocate a complaint as a grievance, a decision to dismiss a complaint or a finding of fact in the report of an investigation on a complaint.

Rule 103 sets out the powers available to the President of Tribunals or other person hearing an appeal against the imposition of a restriction order or suspension.

Rule 104 sets out the powers available to the President of Tribunals on a request to review the imposition of a penalty.

Rule 105 sets out the general requirements for making an application under these Rules.

Rule 106 provides that, in general, notice of an application must be given to the parties.

Rule 107 sets out the procedure for dealing with an application at a hearing.

Rule 108 sets out the procedure for dealing with an application where there is no hearing.

Rule 109 provides that, where an application is dismissed for being vexatious, the order of dismissal must record that.

Rule 110 requires a copy of an order made on an application to be sent to the parties.

Rule 111 sets out the ways in which a document may be served or otherwise delivered.

Rule 112 defines a person’s “proper address” for the purposes of the provisions on service.

Rule 113 sets out when a document that is served or otherwise delivered is taken to be delivered.

Rule 114 introduces Schedule 2, which makes special provision for complaints of serious misconduct against clerks in Royal Peculiars.

Rule 115 gives the President of Tribunals a general power to extend a time limit under these Rules.

Rule 116 introduces Schedule 3, which provides for certain decisions to be recorded by the relevant diocesan or provincial registrar and to be published on the Church of England website.

Rule 117 requires certain information about the conviction of a clerk to be provided in writing.

Rule 118 requires certain information about the divorce or separation of a clerk to be provided in writing.

Rule 119 sets out the procedure for applications relating to vexatious litigants.

Rule 120 lists certain road traffic offences which are excluded from the provisions of the CCM relating to convictions of clerks.

Rule 121 provides that, in general, procedural irregularities do not invalidate the proceedings on a complaint.

Rule 122 imposes word and page limits on certain sections in the Forms in Schedule 1.

Footnotes