The Acts of Convention
| Resolution Number: | 2024-A053 |
|---|---|
| Title: | Amend Canon IV.2 [Of Terminology Used in This Title], Canon IV.8.1 [Of Pastoral Response], and Canon IV.8.5 [Of Pastoral Response] |
| Legislative Action Taken: | Concurred as Amended |
| Final Text: | |
Resolved, That the 81st General Convention amend Canons IV.2 to read as follows:
Canon IV.2
Intake Officer shall mean means one
or more persons designated by the Bishop Diocesan after consultation
with the Disciplinary Board, unless otherwise selected pursuant to
diocesan canons, to whom information regarding Offenses is reported. The
following individuals may not serve as an Intake Officer: (a) any
Bishop; (b) any member of the Standing Committee of the Diocese where
the matter is pending. Every Diocese must have at least one Intake
Officer who has no direct employment or compensation relationship with
the Diocese where the matter is pending.
And be it further
Resolved, That the 81st General Convention amend Canon IV.8.1 to read as follows:
Canon 8: Of Pastoral Response
Sec. 1. The Bishop Diocesan shall provide for
appropriate pastoral response whenever any report is made to the Intake
Officer. Such pastoral response shall embody respect, care, and concern
for affected persons and Communities. The response shall be designed so
as to promote healing, repentance, forgiveness, restitution, justice,
amendment of life and reconciliation among all involved or affected. If
the report involves an allegation of Sexual Misconduct, the Bishop
Diocesan shall is encouraged to provide for a professional
pastoral care assessment in order to provide an appropriate pastoral
response. The pastoral response will include all affected persons and
communities. The pastoral care response will be based on the
professional pastoral care assessment pastoral response that
will include the provision of assistance by a mental health professional
with appropriate skills for meaningful response to affected persons.
And be it further
Resolved, That the 81st General Convention amend Canon IV.8.5 to read as follows:
Sec. 5. The Bishop Diocesan may designate a person one or more persons to be responsible for the implementation of the pastoral response. Such person may must not be
the Intake Officer. The duties of such person may include coordination
of pastoral care and coordination of communications between the Bishop
Diocesan and Advisors.
| Citation: | General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Louisville, 2024 (New York: General Convention, 2024), pp. 919-921. |
|---|
Legislative History
| Author: | Standing Commission on Structure, Governance, Constitution and Canons |
|---|---|
| Originating House: | House of Deputies |
| Originating Committee: | Title IV Disciplinary Canons |
House of Deputies
The House of Deputies Committee on Title IV: Discipline Canons presented its Report #1 on Resolution A053 (Amend Canons IV.2, IV.8.1, and IV.8.5 Regarding the Role of Intake Officers) and moved adoption.
Original Text of Resolution:
(A053)
Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring,
That the 81st General Convention amend Canons IV.2 to read as follows:
Canon IV.2
Intake Officer shall mean means one
or more persons designated by the Bishop Diocesan after consultation
with the Disciplinary Board, unless otherwise selected pursuant to
diocesan canons, to whom information regarding Offenses is reported. The
following individuals may not serve as an Intake Officer: (a) any
Bishop; (b) any member of the Standing Committee of the Diocese where
the matter is pending; or (c) any person that holds an office,
is employed by, or maintains a compensation relationship with the
Diocese where the matter is pending in which such employment, office, or
other compensation relationship includes responsibility for the
deployment of Clergy or pastoral care of members of the Clergy.
And be it further.
That the 81st General Convention amend Canon IV.8.1 to read as follows:
Canon 8: Of Pastoral Response
Sec. 1. The Bishop Diocesan shall provide for
appropriate pastoral response whenever any report is made to the Intake
Officer. Such pastoral response shall embody respect, care, and concern
for affected persons and Communities. The response shall be designed so
as to promote healing, repentance, forgiveness, restitution, justice,
amendment of life and reconciliation among all involved or affected. If
the report involves an allegation of Sexual Misconduct, the Bishop
Diocesan shall is encouraged to provide for a professional
pastoral care assessment in order to provide an appropriate pastoral
response. The pastoral response will include all affected persons and
communities. The pastoral care response will be based on the
professional pastoral care assessment pastoral response that
will include the provision of assistance by a mental health professional
with appropriate skills for meaningful response to affected persons.
And be it further.
Resolved, that the 81st General Convention amend Canon IV.8.5 to read as follows:
Canon IV.8.5
Sec. 5. The Bishop Diocesan may designate a person one or more persons to be responsible for the implementation of the pastoral response. Such person may must not be
the Intake Officer. The duties of such person may include coordination
of pastoral care and coordination of communications between the Bishop
Diocesan and Advisors.
Motion carried
Resolution adopted
(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #10)
House of Bishops
The House of Bishops Committee on Title IV: Disciplinary Canons presented its Report #35 on HD Message #10 on Resolution A053 (Amend Canons IV.2, IV.8.1, and IV.8.5 Regarding the Role of Intake Officers) and moved concurrence.
The Rt. Rev. Frank Louge, Diocese of Georgia made a motion to amend the resolution (FA053).
Proposed Amendment:
Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring,
That the 81st General Convention amend Canons IV.2 to read as follows:
Canon IV.2
Intake Officer shall mean means one
or more persons designated by the Bishop Diocesan after consultation
with the Disciplinary Board, unless otherwise selected pursuant to
diocesan canons, to whom information regarding Offenses is reported. The
following individuals may not serve as an Intake Officer: (a) any
Bishop; (b) any member of the Standing Committee of the Diocese where
the matter is pending.; or (c) any person that holds an office, is
employed by, or maintains a compensation relationship with the Diocese
where the matter is pending in which such employment, office, or other
compensation relationship includes responsibility for the deployment of
Clergy or pastoral care of members of the Clergy. Every
Diocese shall have at least one Intake Officer who is not employed by or other compensation relationship with the Diocese where
the matter is pending.
And be it further.
That the 81st General Convention amend Canon IV.8.1 to read as follows:
Canon 8: Of Pastoral Response
Sec. 1. The Bishop Diocesan shall provide for
appropriate pastoral response whenever any report is made to the Intake
Officer. Such pastoral response shall embody respect, care, and concern
for affected persons and Communities. The response shall be designed so
as to promote healing, repentance, forgiveness, restitution, justice,
amendment of life and reconciliation among all involved or affected. If
the report involves an allegation of Sexual Misconduct, the Bishop
Diocesan shall is encouraged to provide for a professional
pastoral care assessment in order to provide an appropriate pastoral
response. The pastoral response will include all affected persons and
communities. The pastoral care response will be based on the
professional pastoral care assessment pastoral response that
will include the provision of assistance by a mental health professional
with appropriate skills for meaningful response to affected persons.
And be it further.
Resolved, that the 81st General Convention amend Canon IV.8.5 to read as follows:
Canon IV.8.5
Sec. 5. The Bishop Diocesan may designate a person one or more persons to be responsible for the implementation of the pastoral response. Such person may must not be
the Intake Officer. The duties of such person may include coordination
of pastoral care and coordination of communications between the Bishop
Diocesan and Advisors.
Proposed Amendment:
The Rt. Rev. Sally French, Diocese of New Jersey made an amendment to the amendment adding the word directly prior to employed. Every Diocese shall have at least one Intake Officer who is not directly employed by or other compensation relationship with the Diocese where the matter is pending.
A vote was taken on the amendment to the amendment.
Motion carried
Amendment adopted
A vote was taken on the Amendment.
Motion carried
Amendment adopted
A vote was taken on Resolution A053 as amended.
Motion carried
Resolution adopted with amendment
(Communicated to the House of Deputies in HB Message #186)
House of Deputies
The House of Deputies Committee on Title IV: Disciplinary Canons presented its Report #55 on HB Message #186 on Resolution A053 (Amend Canons IV.2, IV.8.1, and IV.8.5 Regarding the Role of Intake officers) and moved adoption with amendment.
Committee Amendment:
Canon IV.2
Intake Officer shall mean means one
or more persons designated by the Bishop Diocesan after consultation
with the Disciplinary Board, unless otherwise selected pursuant to
diocesan canons, to whom information regarding Offenses is reported. The
following individuals may not serve as an Intake Officer: (a) any
Bishop; (b) any member of the Standing Committee of the Diocese where
the matter is pending.; or (c) any person that holds an office, is
employed by, or maintains a compensation relationship with the Diocese
where the matter is pending in which such employment, office, or other
compensation relationship includes responsibility for the deployment of
Clergy or pastoral care of members of the Clergy. Every
Diocese shall have at least one Intake Officer who is not directly
employed by or other compensation relationship with the Diocese where
the matter is pending. Every Diocese must have at least one Intake
Officer who has no direct employment or compensation relationship with
the Diocese where the matter is pending.
And be it further.
That the 81st General Convention amend Canon IV.8.1 to read as follows:
Canon 8: Of Pastoral Response
Sec. 1. The Bishop Diocesan shall provide for
appropriate pastoral response whenever any report is made to the Intake
Officer. Such pastoral response shall embody respect, care, and concern
for affected persons and Communities. The response shall be designed so
as to promote healing, repentance, forgiveness, restitution, justice,
amendment of life and reconciliation among all involved or affected. If
the report involves an allegation of Sexual Misconduct, the Bishop
Diocesan shall is encouraged to provide for a professional
pastoral care assessment in order to provide an appropriate pastoral
response. The pastoral response will include all affected persons and
communities. The pastoral care response will be based on the
professional pastoral care assessment pastoral response that
will include the provision of assistance by a mental health professional
with appropriate skills for meaningful response to affected persons.
And be it further.
Resolved, that the 81st General Convention amend Canon IV.8.5 to read as follows:
Sec. 5. The Bishop Diocesan may designate a person one or more persons to be responsible for the implementation of the pastoral response. Such person may must not be
the Intake Officer. The duties of such person may include coordination
of pastoral care and coordination of communications between the Bishop
Diocesan and Advisors.
Motion carried
Resolution adopted with amendment
(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #303)
House of Bishops
The House of Bishops Committee on Title IV: Disciplinary Canons presented its Report #60 on HD Message #303 on Resolution A053 (Amend Canons IV.2, IV.8.1, and IV.8.5 Regarding the Role of Intake officers) and moved concurrence.
Motion carried
The House concurred
(Communicated to the House of Deputies in HB Message #294)
Resolution Concurred by Both Houses, June 28.
| Report Reference: | Standing Commission on Structure, Governance, Constitution and Canons, Reports to the 81st General Convention, 2024. |
|---|---|
| Abstract: | The 81st General Convention amends Canons IV.2, IV.8.1, and IV.8.5 to clarify the definition and role of the Intake Officer. |
| Notes: | Many actions completed by the House of Deputies resulted in two messages being sent to the House of Bishops. The Acts of Convention followed the Journal Editor’s lead in using the first message number as the official message. House of Deputies Message #10 was followed by House of Deputies Message #52. |