32 Consideration of Formal Complaints by Disciplinary Tribunal

(a) As soon as practicable after its appointment, the Disciplinary Tribunal shall notify the Respondent, the Complaints Committee and, if there is one, the Complainant of the time (which shall not be sooner than 42 days from the date of such Notification) and place fixed for the hearing of the Formal Complaint.

(b) The Disciplinary Tribunal shall give the person or persons presenting and prosecuting the Formal Complaint the opportunity of:

(i) attending and being heard at the hearing of the Formal Complaint;

(ii) adducing documentary evidence;

(iii) calling witnesses (including, if desired, any Complainant) to give evidence;

(iv) cross-examining witnesses called by the Respondent; and

(v) making such submissions as he or she wishes to the Disciplinary Tribunal.

(c) The Disciplinary Tribunal shall give the Respondent the opportunity of:

(i) attending and being heard at the hearing of the Formal Complaint;

(ii) if he or she so desires, being represented before the Disciplinary Tribunal by a member of the clergy, a solicitor or a barrister;

(iii) in addition to being given in advance of the hearing the material as provided for under section 32(e), hearing the evidence against him or her;

(iv) cross-examining witnesses called by the person or persons presenting and prosecuting the Formal Complaint in accordance with section 32(h);

(v) adducing documentary evidence;

(vi) calling witnesses to give evidence on his or her behalf; and

(vii) making such submissions as he or she wishes to the Disciplinary Tribunal.

(d) The Complainant who made the Complaint giving rise to a Formal Complaint may attend any hearing of the Disciplinary Tribunal relating to that Complaint even if the Tribunal determines that the hearing shall be held in private. Any Complainant attending a hearing shall do so as an observer only and shall not have any right of audience save as provided in section 37(c).

(e) At least fourteen days in advance of the hearing, the Complaints Administrator shall deliver to the Respondent copies of or a summary of any documents or other materials, if any, which, in addition to those made available to the Respondent under section 29(b), the person presenting and prosecuting the Formal Complaint intends to rely on, and a list of such witnesses as he or she proposes calling at the hearing.

(f) At least seven days in advance of the hearing, the Respondent shall deliver to the Complaints Administrator a summary of the arguments to be presented in his or her defence, together with copies of such supporting documents as he or she proposes to rely on, and a list of such witnesses as he or she proposes calling on his or her behalf at the hearing. However, no failure by the Respondent to comply with this section 32(f) shall restrict the Respondent’s rights under section 32(c). The Respondent shall not be precluded from raising any argument or relying on any document which was not included in the material so delivered or calling any witness who was not included in the list of witness so delivered.

(g) If the Respondent does not attend the hearing fixed as aforesaid, then, the Tribunal may, in its absolute discretion, either:

(i) provided the Disciplinary Tribunal is satisfied that notice of that hearing was given to the Respondent, proceed to hear the Formal Complaint in the absence of the Respondent; or

(ii) adjourn the hearing to such other date, venue and time as the Tribunal may in its absolute discretion, determine.
If it does so adjourn the hearing, the Disciplinary Tribunal shall give to the Respondent notice of the adjourned hearing.

(h) The Complaints Committee may:

(i) appoint a solicitor or another suitable person; or

(ii) instruct a solicitor to brief counsel,
to present and prosecute such Formal Complaint before the Disciplinary Tribunal appointed to hear such Formal Complaint and to appear on any appeal therefrom before the Appeal Tribunal appointed to hear such appeal.

(i) A Disciplinary Tribunal may instruct a solicitor to act, or to brief counsel to act, as legal assessor on the hearing of any Formal Complaint.

(j) A Formal Complaint may only be withdrawn with the consent of the Disciplinary Tribunal appointed to hear that Formal Complaint.

(k) A Disciplinary Tribunal may, on the application of the person or persons appointed under section 32(h), agree to the amendment of the terms of a Formal Complaint, provided it is satisfied that the Respondent would not be unfairly prejudiced thereby.

(l) If, during the course of hearing a Formal Complaint, it becomes apparent to a Disciplinary Tribunal that the Respondent may be liable to disciplinary action in accordance with this Part of this Chapter in relation to matters not the subject matter of the Formal Complaint, it may amend the terms of the Formal Complaint to include those additional matters or it may bring those matters to the attention of the Complaints Administrator. If a Disciplinary Tribunal decides to amend a Formal Complaint it may, on the application of the Respondent or the person or persons appointed under section 32(h), adjourn the hearing for such period of time as may seem fit in the circumstances.

(m) A Disciplinary Tribunal shall have a general discretion to grant extensions and abridgments of time, adjournments and postponements where it considers it fair and proper to do so.
33 Findings and Orders of Disciplinary Tribunals

(a) If a Disciplinary Tribunal appointed to hear a Formal Complaint finds that the Formal Complaint has been proved in whole or in part in accordance with the standard of proof applicable in accordance with section 33(b), it shall make a finding to that effect; but if it finds that the Formal Complaint has not been proved in accordance with such applicable standard of proof, it shall dismiss the Formal Complaint.

(b) Subject to section 33(c), a Formal Complaint against a Respondent shall not be proved in whole or in part unless and until it has been proved by the Complaints Committee to the satisfaction of the Disciplinary Tribunal in accordance with the standard of proof applicable under this section. The standard of proof applicable shall be proof on the balance of probabilities.

(c) If, in any proceedings before a Disciplinary Tribunal, it is proved that a member of the clergy has been found guilty of any crime for the time being punishable by law in any part of Ireland he or she shall be taken to have committed that crime unless the contrary is proved.

(d) If a Disciplinary Tribunal makes a finding that a Formal Complaint has been proved in whole or in part, it may make any one or more of the following orders against the Respondent as it considers appropriate having regard to the status of the Respondent, the Tribunal's views as to the nature and seriousness of the Formal Complaint, any previous Complaint in respect of which a finding or a finding and an order have been made against the Respondent and any other circumstances that the Tribunal considers relevant:

(i) an order that no further action be taken on the Formal Complaint;

(ii) an order admonishing the Respondent;

(iii) an order severely admonishing the Respondent;

(iv) an order temporarily depriving the Respondent (who is a member of the clergy) of the Respondent’s office;

(v) an order depriving the Respondent (who is a member of the clergy) of the Respondent’s office;

(vi) an order deposing the Respondent (who is a member of the clergy) from holy orders;

(vii) an order temporarily depriving the Respondent (who is a bishop) of the Respondent’s office; and

(viii) an order permanently depriving the Respondent (who is a bishop) of the Respondent’s office.

(e) If a Disciplinary Tribunal temporarily deprives a Respondent of his or her office it may also:

(i) order the Respondent to deliver up all books, keys, and other property held by him or her by virtue of his or her office for the duration of the suspension; and / or

(ii) order that any moneys payable as stipend to the Respondent shall be sequestered for such period and subject to such conditions as the Disciplinary Tribunal may think fit.

(f) A Disciplinary Tribunal may make an order requiring the Respondent to do or to refrain from doing an act.

(g) A Disciplinary Tribunal may also make an order for costs in accordance with section 38.

(h) Any such order as is referred to in sections 33(d), 33 (e), 33 (f) and 33 (g) may be made upon such terms and conditions (if any) as the Disciplinary Tribunal may in its absolute discretion, consider appropriate.

(i) Subject to section 34(i), an order of the Disciplinary Tribunal shall take effect from the expiry of the appeal period referred to in section 34(c). Notice of any finding or order of the Disciplinary Tribunal shall as soon as practicable be given to the Respondent and, if there is one, to the Complainant and to the Complaints Committee.

(j) Details of each order made by a Disciplinary Tribunal shall be published in the Journal of the General Synod.

(k) A copy of all pleadings and documents filed in any proceedings before a Disciplinary Tribunal shall be filed of record in the registry maintained by the Complaints Administrator. All such pleadings and documents shall be open to inspection by the parties to the proceedings in question and, at the discretion of the Complaints Committee, to any other person.

34 Appeals and Appointment of Appeal Tribunal

(a) A Respondent may appeal against a finding or order of a Disciplinary Tribunal on the grounds that:

(i) the finding is wrong; and / or

(ii) the order is excessive; and / or

(iii) the finding and / or the order is flawed because of a serious procedural or other irregularity in the proceedings before the Disciplinary Tribunal.

(b) No appeal shall lie in respect of a matter of doctrine or ritual on which the House of Bishops has issued a statement in accordance with section 39.

(c) If a Respondent wishes to appeal a finding or order of a Disciplinary Tribunal, he or she must within 21 days (or such longer period as the Disciplinary Tribunal may allow) of the date of the service upon him or her of such order, give notice of appeal to the chairperson of the Disciplinary Panel. Any such notice shall state the grounds of appeal and the grounds so stated shall not thereafter be amended except with the leave of the Appeal Tribunal appointed to hear such appeal.

(d) The chairperson or, failing him or her, the vice-chairperson of the Disciplinary Panel shall as soon as practicable after the receipt of such notice of appeal appoint an Appeal Tribunal from, except for any bishops appointed, the members of the Disciplinary Panel. Where the Appellant is a member of the clergy the Appeal Tribunal shall consist of a lawyer as chairperson, one layperson and one member of the clergy. Where the Appellant is a bishop, the Appeal Tribunal shall consist of a lawyer as chairman, two laypersons and two bishops nominated by the House of Bishops. No former member of the Complaints Committee or Disciplinary Panel who has been concerned with the Complaint or Formal Complaint which is the subject of the appeal shall be eligible for appointment to such Appeal Tribunal. No person who is ordinarily resident in the diocese in which the Appellant is beneficial or licensed shall be eligible for appointment to such Appeal Tribunal.

(e) If, for any reason, prior to the time fixed for the hearing of the Appeal, any member of the Appeal Tribunal becomes unable to act, the chairperson or, failing him or her, the vice-chairperson of the Disciplinary Panel shall co-opt another eligible person from the Disciplinary Panel to act in his or her place.

(f) If, for any reason, any member of the Appeal Tribunal (other than the chairperson thereof) is, during the course of the hearing, unable to continue to attend the hearing, the remaining members, provided that they are not less than three in number, may continue with the hearing, but if the Appellant is present they shall do so only if he or she consents. Save as aforesaid the appeal shall be re-heard by a new Appeal Tribunal appointed by the chairperson or, failing him or her, the vice-chairperson of the Disciplinary Panel.

(g) If at any time during the course of the hearing of an appeal the Appeal Tribunal is of the opinion that it is for any reason inappropriate for it to complete the hearing, the chairperson or, failing him or her, the vice-chairperson of the Disciplinary Panel shall appoint a new Appeal Tribunal to re-hear the appeal.

(h) Where an appeal is re-heard pursuant to sections 34(f) or 34(g), none of the members of the original Appeal Tribunal may be appointed to the new Appeal Tribunal.

(i) If notice of appeal is served on the chairperson of the Disciplinary Panel in accordance with section 34(c) the order of Disciplinary Tribunal shall not have effect until the appeal has been withdrawn or determined and, where determined, it shall only have effect in accordance with the order of the Appeal Tribunal.

35 Hearing of Appeals by Appeal Tribunal

(a) As soon as practicable after its appointment, the Appeal Tribunal shall notify the Appellant, the Complaints Committee and, if there is one, the Complainant of the time (which shall not be sooner than 42 days from the date of such notification) and place fixed for the hearing of the appeal.

(b) Unless the Appellant, the Complaints Committee and the Appeal Tribunal agree otherwise, appeals shall be conducted and heard as follows:

(i) in the case of an appeal on the grounds set out in section 34(a)(i) (or an appeal which includes those grounds), the appeal (or that part of the appeal, as the case may be) on such grounds shall be by way of re-hearing and shall be conducted and heard as though at first instance, in which case, the Complaints Committee shall first present its case to the Appeal Tribunal with the same burden and standard of proof as applied before the Disciplinary Tribunal and the Appellant may then present its case; and

(ii) in the case of an appeal made on the grounds set out in sections 34(a)(ii) or 34(a)(iii) (or an appeal which includes those grounds), the appeal (or that part of the appeal, as the case may be) on such grounds shall be heard in such manner as the Appeal Tribunal appointed to hear such appeal may, in its absolute discretion, direct.

The Appeal Tribunal appointed to hear an appeal may, in its absolute discretion, admit any evidence not presented at the hearing of the Formal Complaint by the Disciplinary Tribunal. If either the Appellant or the Complaints Committee wish to introduce any new evidence not presented at the hearing of the Formal Complaint by the Disciplinary Tribunal they shall give the other and the Disciplinary Tribunal notice of such desire at least 14 days prior to the date set for the hearing of the appeal.

(c) The Appeal Tribunal shall give the Appellant the opportunity of:

(i) attending and being heard at the hearing of appeal;

(ii) if he or she so desires, being represented before the Appeal Tribunal by a member of the clergy, a solicitor or a barrister;

(iii) hearing the evidence put forward by or on behalf of the Complaints Committee;

(iv) cross-examining witnesses called by the person or persons appointed under section 32(h);

(v) adducing documentary evidence;

(vi) calling witnesses to give evidence on his or her behalf; and

(vii) making such submissions as he or she wishes to the Appeal Tribunal.

(d) The Appeal Tribunal shall give the Complaints Committee the opportunity of:

(i) attending and being heard at the hearing of the appeal;

(ii) adducing documentary evidence;

(iii) calling witnesses (including, if desired, any Complainant) to give evidence;

(iv) cross-examining witnesses called by the Appellant; and

(v) making such submissions as they wish to the Appeal Tribunal.

(e) The Complainant who made the Complaint giving rise to the appeal may attend at the hearing of the appeal even if the Appeal Tribunal determines that the hearing shall be held in private. Any Complainant attending a hearing shall do so as an observer and shall have no right of audience save as provided in section 37(c).

(f) If the Appellant does not attend the hearing fixed as aforesaid, then the Appeal Tribunal may, in its absolute discretion, either:

(i) provided that the Appeal Tribunal is satisfied that notice of that hearing was given to the Appellant or Appellants, dismiss the appeal; or

(ii) adjourn the appeal hearing to such other date, venue and time as it may, in its absolute discretion, determine.
If it does so adjourn the hearing, the Appeal Tribunal shall give to the Appellant notice of the dismissal and / or adjourned hearing.

(g) If the Appeal Tribunal dismisses an appeal pursuant to section 35(f) and the Appellant applies to have the appeal re-listed for hearing within 21 days of the Notice of Dismissal being sent to the Appellant, the Appeal Tribunal may re-list the appeal if, in its absolute discretion, it is satisfied that the non-attendance of the Appellant at the appeal was for some reason which merits the reversal of the dismissal.

(h) The Appeal Tribunal may instruct a solicitor to act, or to brief counsel to act, as legal assessor on the hearing of any appeal.

(i) An appeal may only be withdrawn with the consent of the Appeal Tribunal appointed to hear that appeal.

(j) If, during the course of hearing an appeal, it becomes apparent to an Appeal Tribunal that the Appellant may be liable to disciplinary action in accordance with this Part of this Chapter in relation to matters not the subject matter of the appeal, it may bring those matters to the attention of the Complaints Administrator.

(k) An Appeal Tribunal shall have a general discretion to grant extensions and abridgments of time, adjournments and postponements where it considers it fair and proper to do so.

36 Orders of Appeal Tribunal

(a) On any appeal, the Appeal Tribunal may affirm, vary or rescind any finding or order of the Disciplinary Tribunal in respect of which the appeal was brought, and may substitute any other finding or order (on such terms and conditions (if any) as it, in its absolute discretion, considers appropriate) which the Disciplinary Tribunal might have made on the original Formal Complaint, or may, if the Appeal Tribunal, in its absolute discretion, considers it appropriate, order that the Formal Complaint which resulted in the finding or order of the Disciplinary Tribunal in respect of which the appeal was brought be heard de novo by a different Disciplinary Tribunal. An Appeal Tribunal may also make an order for costs under section 38.

(b) An order of the Appeal Tribunal shall take effect as from the date thereof unless the Appeal Tribunal, in its absolute discretion, directs that it shall take effect from some other date (not being earlier than the date of the order appealed against) as shall be specified in the order.

(c) Notice of any finding or order of the Appeal Tribunal shall as soon as practicable be given to the Appellant, and, if there is one, to the Complainant and to the Complaints Committee.

(d) Details of each order made by an Appeals Tribunal shall be published in the Journal of the General Synod.

(e) A copy of all pleadings and documents filed in any proceedings before an Appeal Tribunal shall be filed of record in the registry maintained by the Complaints Administrator. All such pleadings and documents shall be open to inspection by the parties to the proceedings in question and, at the discretion of the Complaints Committee, to any other person.

37 Hearings of Tribunals to be in Public

(a) All hearings by a Disciplinary Tribunal or an Appeal Tribunal may be held in public unless:

(i) not later than 14 days before the date set for the hearing, an application is made to the Tribunal by the Complainant, the Respondent or Appellant (as the case may be) or the Complaints Committee to have the hearing or part of it held in private; and

(ii) the Tribunal, in its absolute discretion, determines that the holding in public of any hearing or any part thereof would be inappropriate.

If the Tribunal determines that any hearing or any part thereof should not be held in public, then that hearing or the relevant part thereof shall be held in private.

(b) On receipt of an application under section 37(a), the Tribunal will inform the Complainant, the Respondent or Appellant (as the case may be) and the Complaints Committee of the fact that application has been made to the Tribunal to have the whole or part of the hearing held in private and invite the said persons (and any other person it considers may be affected) to make such written submissions, if any, as they wish on the issue of whether or not the hearing, or the part of the hearing in issue, should be heard otherwise than in public.

(c) In addition the Tribunal may, in its absolute discretion, give each of the Respondent or Appellant (as the case may be), the Complainant and the Complaints Committee (and any other person it considers may be affected) an opportunity of being heard before it in relation to whether or not the hearing or any part thereof should be heard in private. If the Tribunal gives any of such persons such an opportunity it shall offer a like opportunity to the other or others of them. Any such hearing shall be in private.

(d) A Tribunal shall not consider an application to have a hearing held in private which is brought otherwise than in accordance with the provisions of this section 37 and, in particular, shall not consider an application which is not brought within the time period specified in section 37(a).

(e) A Tribunal may require any person attending a hearing (whether held in public or private) to give their name and address.

(f) A Tribunal may expel from a hearing any person who is or becomes disruptive to the proceedings of such Tribunal or who fails to comply with section 37(e).

38 Costs

(a) In addition to such other orders as may be made by a Disciplinary Tribunal or an Appeal Tribunal (including an order that no further action be taken) a Disciplinary Tribunal or an Appeal Tribunal may, in its absolute discretion, direct that the Respondent or Appellant, as the case may be, pay the Complaints Committee such sum for costs as the Tribunal may, in its absolute discretion, determine.

(b) In determining such sum for costs:

(i) the Disciplinary Tribunal may take account of any and all fees, costs and expenses of whatsoever nature incurred by or on behalf of the Disciplinary Bodies, in relation to the Complaint and Formal Complaint; and

(ii) the Appeal Tribunal may take account of such fees, costs and expenses as the Disciplinary Tribunal may take account of and also any and all fees, costs and expenses incurred by or on behalf of the Disciplinary Bodies in relation to the appeal.

(c) Any such costs shall be paid within twenty-one days of the date of the service upon the Respondent or Appellant, as the case may be, of the order in respect of costs save that if notice of appeal in accordance with section 34(c) is given costs awarded by a Disciplinary Tribunal shall not be payable until the determination of the appeal, and then subject to any order made by the Appeal Tribunal in relation thereto.

(d) Any sum payable under any order for costs shall be deemed to be a contract debt due from the Respondent or Appellant in question to the Complaints Committee and shall be recoverable by action.

(e) Save as provided in section 38(f), neither a Respondent nor an Appellant, as the case may be, shall be entitled to any award of costs as against any Disciplinary Body or any other party whatsoever in relation to any fees, costs and expenses of whatsoever nature incurred by or on behalf of the Respondent or the Appellant, as the case may be, in relation to the Complaint, Formal Complaint or the appeal.

(f) If a Complaint is found not proven in whole or in part, the Respondent or the Appellant (as the case may be) may apply to the Disciplinary Tribunal or the Appeal Tribunal for his or her costs. However, costs do not automatically follow the event. The Disciplinary Tribunal or the Appeal Tribunal may order the payment in favour of the Respondent or the Appellant out of the General Purposes Fund of such sum for costs as the Disciplinary Tribunal or the Appeal Tribunal may determine, up to the maximum level as decided upon from time to time by the Representative Body, upon consideration of the following factors:

(i) the extent to which the Disciplinary Bodies acted reasonably in the exercise of their respective duties;

(ii) the financial prejudice to the Respondent or Appellant concerned if an order for costs was not to be made in his or her favour;

(iii) whether it is just and reasonable to award costs; and

(iv) the need for the Disciplinary Bodies to make reasonable and apparently sound decisions without the General Synod suffering financial prejudice if those decisions are successfully challenged.

Payment of any sum so ordered to be paid out of the General Purposes Fund may, in the light of the resources available to the General Purposes Fund and the other demands on it, be deferred and paid over such period of time as the Representative Body may consider is reasonable in the circumstances.

(g) An Appeal Tribunal may, in its order, reduce or increase any costs ordered by the Disciplinary Tribunal in addition to any order it may make in relation to the costs of the appeal.

39 Matters of Doctrine and Ritual

(a) Where, in any matter which may be before a Disciplinary or Appeal Tribunal, a question relating to the doctrine or ritual of the Church of Ireland arises that Tribunal shall, if it considers that an understanding of the doctrine or ritual concerned is necessary to enable it to make a ruling on the matter, request the House of Bishops to issue a statement setting out the collective understanding of the House of Bishops of the current and orthodox position of the Church of Ireland on such doctrine and ritual.

(b) A Disciplinary Tribunal or Appeal Tribunal which has made a request to the House of Bishops in accordance with section 39(a) shall adjourn, in such manner as it thinks fit, the hearing of the matter that has given rise to such request until the House of Bishops has given its statement.

(c) The terms of the request to the House of Bishops will be settled by agreement between the Respondent or Appellant (as the case may be) on the one hand and the person or persons appointed under section 32(h) on the other hand with the approval of the relevant Tribunal or, in default of agreement, by the relevant Tribunal. Once settled the request will be signed by the chairperson of the Tribunal and forwarded to the secretary to the House of Bishops.

(d) The Respondent or, as the case may be, the Appellant and the person or persons appointed under 32(h) shall be entitled to make written submissions to the House of Bishops on the subject matter of the request.

(e) On receipt of a request under this section the House of Bishops shall meet to consider such request and, having considered any written submissions made to it and followed whatever procedures, in its absolute discretion, it considers appropriate, shall give its statement in writing on the request. Where the matter giving rise to the request involves a bishop, such bishop shall not partake in the consideration by the House of Bishops of the question of doctrine or ritual that arises.

(f) The statement of the House of Bishops on a request made in accordance with this section shall be binding on the Respondent or, as the case may be, the Appellant and the Tribunal concerned solely in respect of the matter under consideration by the Tribunal.

40 Register

(a) The Complaints Administrator shall maintain a register of all orders made by any Disciplinary Tribunal and any Appeal Tribunal. Such register will be open to inspection by members of the public during normal opening hours at the Representative Church Body Library.

(b) If any person believes that an error has been made in any entry in such register, he or she may apply to the Complaints Administrator to have the error rectified. If the Complaints Administrator determines that an error has been made the Complaints Administrator shall duly rectify the register.

41 Indemnity

(a) The members of the Disciplinary Bodies shall be indemnified by the Representative Body from all losses and expenses incurred by them in or about the discharge of their respective duties, except for any loss or expense as happen from their own respective wilful act, neglect or default.

(b) No member of a Disciplinary Body shall be liable for any act, omission or default of any other member of a Disciplinary Body unless the same happens from his or her own wilful act, neglect or default.

42 Transitional Provisions

(a) Any proceedings commenced before a Diocesan Court or the Court of the General Synod before 1 January 2009 shall continue to be governed by the provisions in that behalf of the Constitution of the Church of Ireland as were in force immediately prior to that date.

(b) Notwithstanding anything in this Part of this Chapter, no sanction may be imposed on a bishop or a member of the clergy by a Disciplinary Tribunal or by an Appeal Tribunal, which was not provided for in the Constitution of the Church of Ireland effective at the time the event, which rendered such bishop or member of the clergy liable to such sanction, occurred.

(c) No bishop or member of the clergy may be subject to disciplinary action on grounds that would not have rendered the bishop or member of the clergy in question liable to disciplinary action under the Constitution of the Church of Ireland effective at the time the alleged event, giving rise to such disciplinary action, occurred.


APPENDIX A
FORM OF PETITION
In the Diocesan Court of [or In the Court of the General Synod, as the case may be].

A. B., Petitioner.
C. D., Respondent.
I, A.B. of , a member of the Church of Ireland and having agreed to submit to the authority of the Church of Ireland and the laws and tribunals thereof, petitioner, do hereby seek the following relief [here state the relief sought]

I seek that relief on the following grounds, that is to say [here state the grounds],
A. B., petitioner.
Dated this day of .
APPENDIX B
FORM OF APPEAL
In the Court of the General Synod.

A. B., Appellant.
C. D., Respondent.
I, A. B., the respondent [or petitioner, as the case may be], in a cause in the Diocesan Court of the dioceses of
, in which C.D., now of , herein named as respondent, was petitioner [or respondent, as the case may be], do hereby appeal from the judgment or order of the said Diocesan Court, pronounced in the said cause on the day of, upon the following grounds, that is to say [here state the grounds of the appeal,]. And having lodged £ / € as security for the costs and expenses, I require my appeal to be heard by the Court of the General Synod.
A. B., appellant.
Dated this day of .

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