evidence: The Commission on Ministry presented a Bill dealing with gender balance amongst parochial nominators to General Synod this morning (Thursday September 30). Bill No 2 seeks to ensure that those who act as parochial nominators at a time of vacancy have within their ranks a measure of gender balance and thus assist in representing the demographic of the parish or group of parishes. Proposing Bill No 2, Hazel Corrigan (Hon Sec) said the Commission on Ministry wished to ensure there was gender balance amongst parochial nominators rather than to have an entirely male or entirely female group of parochial nominators. "Typically, it is the parochial nominators who meet with candidates and discuss the needs of the parish and these changes would ensure that candidates are not meeting an either all male or all female group of parochial nominators. It is important that the parochial nominators, in as far as possible, represent the breadth of the parish or parishes and including both male and female together will help to do this," she said. [...] Canon Gillian Wharton (Hon Sec) said that the Commission on Ministry had given the matter serious consideration. It is hoped in time that gender balance will also apply to diocesan nominators, she said, but there are some dioceses in which there are very few women clergy. She explained that the commission is not suggesting that there be gender balance but rather that there be at least one man and one woman among the parochial nominators. She agreed that no one wanted to be the token person there because of their gender. She said it was necessary to make a difference now.