The Acts of Convention

Whereas, the Joint Commission on World Mission has sought to assist Overseas Missionary Dioceses in their development towards autonomy; and

Whereas, an essential aspect of this development is the right of self-determination in the election of bishops to serve Missionary Dioceses either by their Diocesan Conventions or, by request of their conventions, the Synod or Regional Council of which the Diocese is a member; and

Whereas, on occasion this principle could be carried out in a more practical way by providing in the Canons of The Episcopal Church for such an Episcopal election at the request of the Diocesan Convention by the House of Bishops of the Province to which the Missionary Diocese belongs with the election being approved by the Provincial Council;

Resolved, that Canon III. 15. Sec. 1(b) be amended to read as follows:

The Convention of a Missionary Diocese may, in lieu of electing a Bishop, request that such election be made on its behalf by the Synod of the Province, or the House of Bishops of the Province subject to confirmation of the Provincial Council, or the Regional Council of Churches in communion with this Church of which the Diocese is a member, as provided in paragraph (c) of this Section; or it may request that such election be made on its behalf by the House of Bishops as provided in Sec. 2(a) of this Canon.

Resolved, that Canon III. 15., Sec. 1(c) be amended to read as follows:

In the event of an election of a Bishop by the Provincial Synod or House of Bishops of the Province, or by a Regional Council of Churches, as provided in the foregoing paragraph (b), a Certificate of the Election, signed by the presiding officer and the secretary of the Synod or Provincial House of Bishops, or Regional Council and a testimonial in the form required in Canon III. 14.1(a) signed by a constitutional majority of the Synod, Provincial House of Bishops or Regional Council shall be transmitted by its presiding officer to the Standing Committee of the Missionary Diocese on whose behalf such election was made.

The Standing Committee shall thereupon proceed as set forth in Canon III. 14.1, the above Certificate of Election and Testimonial serving in lieu of evidence of election and testimonial therein required.