vicars are not appointed, the right under which the patron makes a presentation of the living to his chosen candidate being suspended under section 67 of the pastoral measure 1983, and perhaps 3,500 clergy are consequently merely licensed by the bishop as priests-in-charge; although 5,500 rectors and vicars continue to enjoy freehold, but all are invited to relinquish the freehold and change to "common tenure" (to which all licensed clergy will automatically transfer in 2011). There is no contract, and no employment in any case: freeholders, licensed clergy, and those under common tenure are in law "office-holders". Abolition On February 15, 2005, the General Synod of the Church of England decided to abolish the system of parson's freehold, gradually replacing it with a system entitled common tenure, which would apply to all clerics equally, removing the present distinction between those with freehold and those without. Under common tenure, the present proposal is that parsonages would pass to the diocese. Furthermore, such clergy would undergo assessment procedures to ensure that they are performing their function adequately, and parishioners would have further rights to those enjoyed under the Clergy Discipline Measure to complain about their parish priests. If found unsatisfactory, it would be possible to remove such priests with greater ease. However, priests will be entitled to some modest compensation for loss of office, and gain the right of appeal to secular employment tribunals. The Ecclesiastical Offices (Terms of Service) Measure 2009 (No. 1), giving effect to these changes, is now in force. Notes References Bowlby, Rt. Revd. Ronald. 'The Parson's Freehold and Clergy Discipline'. 3 Ecclesiastical Law Journal 30 (1993–95); Bursell, Rupert. 'The Parson's Freehold'. 2 Ecclesiastical Law Journal 259 (1990–92); Phillimore, "Ecclesiastical Law"; Parson & Parish, passim, the journal of the English Clergy Association. External links Abolition reports Telegraph BBC Church Times Anti-Abolition Parish Church of St. Michael Cornhill Prayer Book Society Church of England ecclesiastical polity