Third Proposed Amendment to the Canons

Constitution and Canons Committee recommends: No position

Proposed Amendment to Title II. Canon 3. Sec. 2.

Text of the Proposed Amendment:

Title II. Canon 3.

Sec. 2.     Each Mission Area shall form a Mission Area Council comprised of all active parochial clergy of the Mission Area and two laypersons from each parish. Each parish annually elects one representative, who is either a Vestry member or a Delegate to Annual Convention, and one representative, from the congregation at large, to serve on the Mission Area Council. Each Mission Area Council shall establish its own requirements for a quorum.

(a) Each parish shall annually elect one lay representative, who is an adult communicant in good standing according to the Canons of the Episcopal Church, to serve on the Mission Area Council. Each of the parish’s two lay representatives shall serve a two-year term and be eligible for reelection.

(b) Each Mission Area Council shall establish its own requirements for a quorum.

(ac)The Council shall elect four officers from its membership. The Council is led by a Chair (lay or ordained), Vice Chair (from the opposite order of the Chair), Treasurer, and Secretary. Each officer shall serve a one-year term and is eligible for reelection, provided that no individual shall serve more than three (3) years consecutively in any single office.

(bd)The Bishop shall appoint a Dean. The Dean serves as a liaison between the Bishop and Mission Area. She/He convenes the clergy of the Mission Area for fellowship and professional discussions. Pastorally, the Dean serves as a chaplain to the clergy of the Mission Area and the Mission Area Council. The Dean may not serve as either the Chair or Vice Chair. The Dean shall serve a three-year term.

(ce) The Mission Area Episcopal Church Women President shall serve as an ex-officio member of the Mission Area Council with seat and voice.

Proposer

The Rev. Jeremiah Williamson, St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Toledo
The Rev. Aaron Gerlach, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Sidney

Rationale of the Proposer

This amendment gives to parishes the flexibility to elect to the Mission Area Council those lay persons who they consider most appropriate without qualifiers such as vestry or Diocesan Convention delegation membership.

It also allows those whose vestry terms have expired to continue on the Mission Area Council if it is the will of the individual and their parish.

It also recognizes that not all vestry members feel called to Mission Area work; not all Mission Area Council members are inclined to serve on the Vestry or serve as a Diocesan Convention delegate.  

It also assures that the work of the Mission Area has greater continuity; under the current canon it is possible for the entire lay representation to turn over each year. The goal of this amendment is to provide greater flexibility to the parishes and the possibility of greater continuity within the Mission Area Council. It also recognizes that some individuals feel a unique calling to Mission Area work.