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The Acts of Convention

Resolution Number: 2015-C027
Title: Amend Canon I.9 [Of Provinces]
Legislative Action Taken: Concurred as Amended
Final Text:

Resolved, That Canon I.9 be amended to insert a new Section 2, to read as follows:

Sec 2. The primary purposes of the Provinces are to facilitate interdiocesan collaboration to achieve Diocesan and Episcopal Church goals, and to enable more effective communications and regional advocacy of significant programmatic efforts.; and be it further

Resolved, That the final sentence of Canon I.9.7 be amended as follows:

Each Diocese and Area Mission shall determine the manner in which its Deputies shall be chosenelected.; and be it further

Resolved, That the Provincial Leadership Council, in consultation with the Standing Commission on Constitution and Canons and any other person or group the Provincial Leadership Council deem appropriate, review the Provinces in order to develop best practices and other recommendations for Provinces, including (a) facilitating mission opportunities, communications, networking and collaboration and (b) reviewing potential geographic, affiliation and/or composition changes to Provinces; and be it further

Resolved, That the Standing Commission on Constitution and Canons is directed to study whether there should be a revision to the Canons to provide for a single Court of Review for Priests and Deacons instead of Provincial Courts of Review (Canons IV.5.4 and IV.15), and report back to the 79th General Convention.

Citation: General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Salt Lake City, 2015 (New York: General Convention, 2015), p. 449.

Legislative History

Author: Province II
Originating House: House of Deputies
Originating Committee: Governance and Structure

House of Deputies

The House of Deputies Committee on Governance and Structure presented its Report #11 on Resolution C027 (Amend Canon I.9) and moved adoption with amendment.

Original Text of Resolution:

(C027)

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That Canon I.9 be amended to insert a new Section 2, to read as follows:

Sec 2. The primary purposes of the Provincial system are to provide a structure which facilitates inter-diocesan collaboration to achieve Diocesan and Episcopal Church goals, and to enable more effective communications and regional advocacy of significant programmatic efforts.

Current Sections 2-12 should be renumbered 3-13.

Committee Amendment:

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That Canon I.9 be amended to insert a new Section 2, to read as follows:

Sec 2. The primary purposes of the Provincial systemProvinces are to provide a structure which facilitatesfacilitate inter-diocesan collaboration to achieve Diocesan and Episcopal Church goals, and to enable more effective communications and regional advocacy of significant programmatic efforts.; and be it further

Resolved, That the final sentence of Canon I.9.7 be amended as follows:

Each Diocese and Area Mission shall determine the manner in which its Deputies shall be chosenelected.; and be it further

Resolved, That the Provincial Leadership Council, in consultation with the Standing Commission on Constitution and Canons and any other person or group the Provincial Leadership Council deems [sic] appropriate, review the Provinces in order to develop best practices and other recommendations for Provinces, including (a) facilitating mission opportunities, communications, networking and collaboration and (b) reviewing potential geographic, affiliation and/or composition changes to Provinces; and be it further

Resolved, That the Standing Commission on Constitution and Canons is directed to study whether there should be a revision to the Canons to provide for a single Court of Review for Priests and Deacons instead of Provincial Courts of Review (Canons IV.5.4 and IV.15),and report back to the 79th General Convention.

Motion carried

Resolution adopted with amendment

(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #282)

House of Bishops

The House of Bishops Committee on Governance and Structure presented its Report #17 on HD Message #282 on Resolution C027 (Amend Canon I.9) and moved concurrence.

Motion carried

The House concurred

(Communicated to the House of Deputies in HB Message #395)

Resolution Concurred by Both Houses, July 3.

Abstract:   The 78th General Convention amends Canon I.9 by adding a new Section 2 to define the primary purpose of Provinces; amends language in section 7 to refer to elections, and requests a study of the Provincial Courts of Review.