Constitution of the Diocese of Ohio

Article I: The Diocese of Ohio

The Diocese of Ohio is a constituent part of The Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America and accedes to the Constitution and Canons thereof. The Diocese of Ohio consists of that part of the State of Ohio lying north of the southern boundary of the Counties of Jefferson, Harrison, Tuscarawas, Coshocton, Knox, Morrow, Marion, Union, Logan, Shelby, and Mercer.

Article II: The Convention

Sec. 1. There shall be an annual Convention of the Church in the Diocese of Ohio.

Sec. 2. Members of any Convention shall be:


Sec. 3. The Convention shall meet annually at such date and place as the Ecclesiastical Authority may determine and select.

Sec. 4. The Ecclesiastical Authority may call a Special Convention. The notice shall specify the purpose(s) for which the Special Convention is called, and only business germane to such purpose(s) shall be in order, except by the affirmative vote of three-quarters of those present and voting in each of the clerical and lay orders.

Sec. 5. Notice of the meeting of any annual or Special Convention shall be mailed at least thirty days prior to the time appointed to every member of the clergy canonically resident in the Diocese, and to the Clerk of the Vestry of each Parish in canonical union with the Diocese.

Article III: The President of the Convention

Sec. 1. The Bishop of the Diocese shall have a seat and vote in the Convention, and shall be its presiding officer. The Bishop Coadjutor, if there be one, shall also have a seat and vote in the Convention, and in the absence of the Bishop, shall preside. The Bishop Suffragan, if there be one, shall also have a seat and vote in the Convention, and in the absence of the Bishop or Bishop Coadjutor, shall preside.

Sec. 2. If there be no Bishop, Bishop Coadjutor, or Bishop Suffragan of the Diocese in attendance upon the Convention, the President of the Standing Committee shall call the Convention to order for the purpose of electing a President pro tempore from among the Members of Convention.

Article IV: Convention Quorum

Sec. 1. The presence of one-half of all the members of the clergy entitled to vote in any Convention, and of representation from one-half of all Parishes entitled to be represented in the Convention, shall be necessary to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business thereat, provided, that any lesser number shall have power to meet, to receive reports, and to adjourn to a time certain; and provided further, that no Convention, once properly constituted, shall thereafter be in default of a quorum.

Sec. 2. Notwithstanding the provisions of Sec. 1 above, those Conventions electing a Bishop shall maintain a quorum for every ballot of such election.

Article V: Convention Elections

Sec. 1. There shall be a Nominating Committee for each Annual Convention, appointed by the Bishop, which shall, at least thirty days before the Convention, present a slate of candidates for all vacancies in elected offices, including unexpired terms. The Nominating Committee, in addition to considering experience and other qualifications of service, is charged to nominate so as to further Christian policies of, and concerns for, fairness, justice, and inclusiveness in regard to race, gender, age, disability, and ethnic origin.

Sec. 2. The Convention shall elect annually:

Sec. 3. When required, the Convention shall elect clerical and lay deputies and provisional deputies to the General Convention, clerical and lay delegates to the Provincial Synod, a clerical and a lay member to the Cathedral Chapter, and clerical and lay members to the Diocesan Judicial Panel.

Sec. 4. The foregoing officers shall respectively perform the duties which by Canon or general usage may be prescribed for them; and each shall continue in office until a successor is elected.

Sec. 5. Those elected to the Standing Committee and the Diocesan Council when their terms have expired, shall be ineligible for re-election to the same office for a period of one Convention year.

Sec. 6. Vacancies occurring in foregoing offices shall be filled as follows:

Article VI: Mode of Voting and Elections

Sec. 1. The clergy and lay delegates shall deliberate in one body on all matters and elections. There shall also be one vote unless a separate vote by orders is requested under Sec. 2. hereof. All elections shall be by ballot unless dispensed with by unanimous consent.

Sec. 2. A vote by orders upon the decision of any question may be called for by five Members. In such case every lay delegate from each Parish shall have one vote, and every member of the clergy entitled to vote shall have one vote. The concurrence of a majority of the votes in each order shall be necessary for a decision, except where a greater proportion is required by this Constitution or by the Canons.

Article VII: Election to the Episcopate

Sec. 1. The election of a Bishop of this Diocese or of a Bishop Coadjutor or of a Bishop Suffragan, thereof, shall take place in an Annual Convention, or in a Special Convention called for that purpose at least sixty days before the time appointed, the purpose being stated by a notice in writing and sent by the Secretary of the Standing Committee to every member of the clergy entitled to vote, and the Clerk of every Vestry in the Diocese.

Sec. 2. The election shall be by written ballot and the voting shall be by orders. Each member of the clergy and each lay delegate seated by Convention shall have one vote as provided by Article VI. A concurrent majority vote in both orders shall constitute an election. If less than two-thirds of either order be present, a concurrence of two-thirds present in that order shall be necessary for election.

Article VIII: The Chancellor

The Bishop, with the approval of the Standing Committee, may appoint a person learned in the law Chancellor of the Diocese, to advise regarding any questions of law which may arise in the administration of Diocesan affairs. The Chancellor shall be entitled ex officio to a seat in all Diocesan Conventions. The Chancellor shall continue in office until death, or resignation, or revocation of appointment by the Bishop. The Chancellor, if a member of the clergy, must be canonically resident in the Diocese and, if a member of the laity, must be an adult communicant in good standing in this Diocese.

Article IX: Parishes

Sec. 1. Parishes may be admitted into canonical union with the Diocese upon such conditions as may be prescribed by Canon. The connection of any Parish with the Diocese may be dissolved by canonical process. Any Parish which, prior to any Convention, shall not have paid all assessments for the Diocesan Fund, imposed upon it according to canon, and all premiums due to the Church Pension Fund, shall be suspended from the rights of lay representation, and shall remain thus suspended until the delinquency shall have been canceled by payment.

Article X: Amendment of the Constitution

Sec. 1. Any proposed amendment to this Constitution shall be submitted to the Bishop of the Diocese who shall refer it to the Committee on Canons for its review and recommendation.

Sec. 2. The Committee on Canons shall mail a copy of the proposed amendment and its recommendation to every member of the clergy canonically resident in the Diocese, and to the Clerk of the Vestry of each Parish in canonical union with the Diocese, at least thirty (30) days prior to the date of the Convention where the amendment is to be considered. The amendment need not be submitted for consideration to a Convention unless the amendment was received by the Bishop of the Diocese at least ninety (90) days prior to the Convention.

Sec. 3. An amendment to the Constitution shall be effective when it is approved by an affirmative two-thirds vote of the two orders voting separately at a Convention. If the amendment is approved by a majority of both orders but not by two-thirds, then it shall be tabled and considered for final action at the next Convention. If it is approved by a majority vote of both orders voting separately at the next Convention it shall be effective as provided in Sec. 4.

Sec. 4. Any amendment to the Constitution approved by the required vote at a Convention shall become effective at the time of vote, unless the amendment itself provides a different effective date.