Second Proposed Amendment to the Canons

Constitution and Canons Committee recommends: Adoption

Proposed Amendment to Title II. Canon 1. Sec. 2.

Text of Proposed Amendment:

Title II. Canon 1.

Sec. 2.    The provisions of this canon shall apply equally to all parishes of the Diocese, except that any parish receiving financial assistance for the support of its program and property shall be subject to the provisions of Section 12 13 of this Canon, which shall, in all cases of conflict, supersede any provision of the other sections of this Canon. Questions of interpretation arising with respect to this Canon shall be decided by the Ecclesiastical Authority.

Sec. 13.    (a) The provisions of this section shall apply to all parishes receiving financial assistance from the diocese for the support of their program and property.

(b) The Member of the Clergy in charge shall be nominated by the Vestry, and shall be appointed by, and shall serve at the pleasure of, the Ecclesiastical Authority. Such person shall otherwise have the authority and responsibility of the Rector in any other parish.

(c) The Ecclesiastical Authority may undertake such steps as are deemed necessary to initiate the formation of aided parishes, provided there is compliance with the provisions of the Canon “Of New Parishes.” Application for the undertaking of a new parish shall be made to the Ecclesiastical Authority in the following form:

“We, the undersigned, residents of . . . . . . . ., County or Counties of . . . . . . ., Diocese of Ohio, being desirous of obtaining the services of The Episcopal Church and being ready, according to our ability, to sustain the same, do hereby request you to inquire into our estate, and provide for us as you may deem proper and expedient. We do hereby declare ourselves, individually and collectively, ready to do that which in us lies to establish and sustain the regular worship of the said Church, and promote its influence in our midst; and we promise conformity to its doctrine, discipline, and worship. We put ourselves under your charge and will reverently obey your authority. We promise conformity to the Constitution and Canons of The Episcopal Church and of the Diocese of Ohio. In accordance with these obligations and rules we now ask the privilege of being organized as a Parish.”

All real and other property, acquired by the Diocese for the benefit of a new parish, upon the recommendation of the Trustees of the Diocese, may be conveyed to, transferred to, or vested in a Parish corporation at such time as the Diocesan Council determines that, the Parish has (if necessary) become incorporated; provided, that the provisions of the Canon ‘Of New Parishes’ be complied with, as applicable. Such conveyance, transfer and vesting shall be in trust, as specified in Section 1 above.

Proposer

The Rev. Gene Pearson, Grace Episcopal Church, Defiance

Rationale of the Proposer

As stated, Title II, Canon 1, Section 2 makes reference to Section 12 of the same canon. Section 12 makes no mention of special provisions for parishes receiving financial assistance for their support. Section 13, however, does establish provisions which apply to these parishes who receive financial assistance:

(a) The provisions of this section shall apply to all parishes receiving financial assistance…

The goal of the amended section is simply to correct the error.

Changes in Section 13 are proposed and recommended by the Constitution and Canons Committee for greater clarity.