The Acts of Convention

House of Bishops

The House of Bishops Committee on Ministry presented its Report #3 on Resolution A081 (Amend Canon III.11.1a Regarding Standing Committee's Role in Episcopal Elections) and moved adoption.

Original Text of Resolution:

(A081)

Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring,

That Canon III.11.1 be amended as follows:

Canon III.11

Sec. 1

a. Discernment of vocation to be a Bishop Diocesan, Coadjutor, or Suffragan occurs through a process of election in accordance with the rules prescribed by the Convention of the Diocese and pursuant to the provisions of the Constitutions and Canons of this Church and the electing Diocese and any special rules adopted by the Convention of that Diocese. Unless otherwise provided in the electing Diocese's Constitution or Canons, the Standing Committee shall have oversight of, and responsibility for, any search, nomination, transition, and election processes. With respect to the election of a Bishop Suffragan, the The Diocese shall establish a nominating process either by Canon or by the adoption of rules and procedures for the election of the Bishop Suffragan at a regular or special meeting of the Diocesan Convention of the Diocese with sufficient time preceding the election of the Bishop Suffragan.

b. In lieu of electing a Bishop, the Convention of a Diocese may request that an election be made on its behalf by the House of Bishops of the Province of which the Diocese is a part, subject to confirmation by the Provincial Synod, or it may request that an election be made on its behalf by the House of Bishops of The Episcopal Church.

1. If either option in Sec. 1.b is chosen, a special Joint Nominating Committee shall be appointed unless the Diocesan Convention has otherwise provided for the nominating process. The Committee shall be composed of three persons from the Diocese, appointed by its Standing Committee, and three members of the electoral body, appointed by the President of that body. The Joint Nominating Committee shall elect its own officers and shall nominate three persons whose names it shall communicate to the Presiding Officer of the electoral body. The Presiding Officer shall communicate the names of the nominees to the electoral body at least three weeks before the election when the names shall be formally placed in nomination. Opportunity shall be given for nominations from the floor or by petition, in either case with provision for adequate background checks.

2. If either option in Sec. 1.b is chosen, the evidence of the election shall be a certificate signed by the Presiding Officer of the electoral body and by its Secretary, with a testimonial signed by a constitutional majority of the body, in the form required in Canon III.11.3, which shall be sent to the Standing Committee of the Diocese on whose behalf the election was held. The Standing Committee shall thereupon proceed as set forth in Canon III.11.3.

c. The Secretary of the body electing a Bishop Diocesan, Bishop Coadjutor, or Bishop Suffragan, shall inform the Presiding Bishop promptly of the name of the person elected. It shall be the duty of the Bishop-elect to notify the Presiding Bishop of acceptance or declination of the election, at the same time as the Bishop-elect notifies the electing Diocese.

d. No Diocese shall elect a Bishop within thirty days before a meeting of the General Convention.

Motion carried

Resolution adopted

(Communicated to the House of Deputies in HB Message #120)