The Acts of Convention
| Resolution Number: | 1979-A002 |
|---|---|
| Title: | Add Canon III.20 [Of Assistant Bishops] |
| Legislative Action Taken: | Concurred As Amended |
| Final Text: | |
Resolved, That following present Canon III.19 entitled "Of Duties of Missionary Bishops" there shall be a new Canon to be designated "Of Assistant Bishops" to be numbered Canon III.20 and to read as is hereinafter set forth with present Canon III.20 thru III.29 to be renumbered to be respectively, Canons III.21 through III.30.
TITLE III
CANON 20.
Of Assistant Bishops
Sec. 1. Whenever any Diocese shall, in the opinion of its Bishop, require additional episcopal services, the said Bishop may, with the consent of the Standing Committee of the Diocese, in lieu of requesting the election of a Coadjutor or Suffragan Bishop, ask the Diocesan Convention to approve the creation of the position of Assistant Bishop, and to authorize the Bishop to appoint a Bishop for such position, with the consent of the Standing Committee of the Diocese, and under such conditions as the Bishop may determine.
Sec. 2. Such Assistant Bishop may be appointed from among the following:
(a). Bishops now exercising jurisdiction, or serving as Suffragan Bishop, who under the Constitution and Canons, and subject to their provisions, would be eligible for election in that Diocese; Provided, That before accepting any such appointment a Bishop exercising jurisdiction as the Ordinary or as the Bishop Coadjutor shall resign that jurisdiction, or the right of succession, as the case may be:
(b). Bishops who, having previously resigned their former responsibilities, are qualified to perform episcopal acts in this Church; and
(c).Bishops of a Church in communion with this Church, in good standing, who have resigned their former responsibilities, their appointment to the position of Assistant Bishop being subject to the approval of competent authority within that Church.
Sec. 3. An Assistant Bishop so appointed shall serve at the discretion of and be under the control and direction of the Bishop having jurisdiction.
Sec. 4. No person may serve as an Assistant Bishop beyond the termination of the jurisdiction of the appointing Bishop or after attaining the age of 72 years.
| Citation: | General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Denver, 1979 (New York: General Convention, 1980), p. C-26. |
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Legislative History
| Author: | The Joint Commission on Constitution and Canons |
|---|---|
| Originating House: | House of Bishops |
| Originating Committee: | Committee on Ministry |
House of Bishops
On the sixth day, the Bishop of Pittsburgh, Chairman of the Committee on Ministry, moved the adoption of Resolution A-2 (Of Assistant Bishops).
The motion was seconded by the Bishops of Georgia.
The Bishop of Rochester moved the adoption of the following amendment:
Strike the words "by the adoption of a canon" from Resolution A-2 Sec. 1.
The motion was seconded by Bishop Doll.
Amendment carried
The motion to adopt A-2, amended as follows, was then voted on by the House:
Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring. That following present Canon III.19 entitled "Of Duties of Missionary Bishops" there shall be a new Canon to be designated "Of Assistant Bishops" to be numbered Canon III.20 and to read as is hereinafter set forth with present Canon III.20 thru III.29 to be renumbered to be respectively, Canons III.21 through III.30.
TITLE III
CANON 20
Of Assistant Bishops
Sec. 1. Whenever any Diocese shall, in the opinion of its Bishop, require additional episcopal services, the said Bishop may, with the consent of the Standing Committee of the Diocese, in lieu of requesting the election of a Coadjutor or Suffragan Bishop, ask the Diocesan Convention to approve the creation of the position of Assistant Bishop, and to authorize the Bishop to appoint a Bishop for such position, with the consent of the Standing Committee of the Diocese, and under such conditions as the Bishop may determine.
Sec. 2. Such Assistant Bishop may be appointed from among the following:
(a). Bishops now exercising jurisdiction, or serving as Suffragan Bishop, who under the Constitution and Canons, and subject to their provisions, would be eligible for election in that Diocese; Provided, That before accepting any such appointment a Bishop exercising jurisdiction as the Ordinary or as the Bishop Coadjutor shall resign that jurisdiction, or the right of succession, as the case may be:
(b). Bishops who, having previously resigned their former responsibilities, are qualified to perform episcopal acts in this Church; and
(c). Bishops of a Church in communion with this Church, in good standing, who have resigned their former responsibilities, their appointment to the position of Assistant Bishop being subject to the approval of competent authority within that Church.
Sec. 3. An Assistant Bishop so appointed shall serve at the discretion of and be under the control and direction of the Bishop having jurisdiction.
Sec. 4. No person may serve as an Assistant Bishop beyond the termination of the jurisdiction of the appointing Bishop or after attaining the age of 72 years.
Resolution adopted
(Communicated to the House of Deputies in HB Message #99)
House of Deputies
On the eighth day, HB Message #99 on Resolution A-2 was referred to the Committee on Constitution.
On the eleventh day, the Committee on Constitution presented its Report #5 on Resolution A-2, and recommended concurrence with HB Message #99.
Deputy Bartlett (Kentucky) cautioned the House not to act hastily on this matter.
Deputy Massick (Delaware) spoke against concurrence and moved to amend by striking "Standing Committee" in line 9 and replacing with "Diocesan Convention."
The Chair ruled time for debate had expired.
The question on the Massick amendment was called.
Amendment defeated
The question was called on the main motion.
Deputy Scott (Delaware) moved to table the Resolution.
Motion to table lost
Deputy Bartlett (Atlanta) on behalf of the clerical deputations of Atlanta, New Jersey, and Central & South Mexico, called for a vote by Orders on Resolution A-2, the Report of the Committee on Constitution #5.
Deputy Bates (Eastern Oregon) moved to suspend the Rules to debate Resolution A-2 further.
Motion to suspend lost
The Secretary arranged for a vote by Orders (ballot #8).
The Secretary reported the results of a vote by Orders (ballot #8)--Assistant Bishops--as follows:
| Lay | Yes--54 | No--40 | Divided--1 | Necessary--51 | Votes--101 |
| Clergy | Yes--53 | No--37 | Divided--1 | Necessary--49 | Votes--97 |
Resolution adopted
The House concurred
(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #224)
| Report Reference: | Joint Commission on Constitution and Canons, Reports to the 66th General Convention, 1979, pp. AA-7-AA-27. |
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| Abstract: | The 66th General Convention adds Canon Title III.20 to be designated "Of Assistant Bishops" and renumbers present Canons Title III.20 through III.29. |