Anglican District of Virginia

ANGLICAN CHURCH IN NORTH AMERICA DIOCESE OF THE MID-ATLANTIC

2012 SYNOD MEETING October 13, 2012 All Saints’ Church, Woodbridge, Virginia

RESOLUTION APPROVING AMENDMENT TO DIOCESAN CANONS CONCERNING DEFINITIONS OF CONGREGATIONS, MISSIONS, AND MISSION FELLOWSHIPS

WHEREAS, Canon 1 of Title V of the Diocesan Canons provides that no amendment to the Canons “may be adopted until it has been reviewed by the Constitution and Canons Committee and its recommendations given to the Synod”; and

WHEREAS, the Constitution and Canons Committee has reviewed the amendment, as set forth below, concerning definitions of Congregations, Missions, and Mission Fellowships and recommends that these amendments be adopted by the Synod; and

WHEREAS, in accordance with Title IA, Canon 5, Section 3.b of the Diocesan Canons, the text of the proposed amendment and the recommendations of the Constitution and Canons Committee were reported via email to the Synod 60 or more days before this Synod meeting; and

WHEREAS, if in accordance with Canon 1 of Title V of the Diocesan Canons this amendment be approved by the Synod it will then be adopted; whereby it is

RESOLVED, that these amendments to the Diocesan Canons be and are hereby approved and adopted by the Synod of the Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic on this ____ day of October 2012.

______, Secretary

Amendment to Diocesan Canons concerning definitions of Congregations, Missions, and Mission Fellowships Title IB, Canon 1, Section 1

1 of 3 Title IB, Canon 1, Section 1 Current text: A. Any group may seek to affiliate with the Diocese as a Congregation as provided in this Canon. A Congregation normally is a discipling community of worshippers that i. Has a rector or priest in charge at least half time who is under the authority of the Bishop; ii. Has an Average Sunday Attendance of at least 50; iii. Conducts weekly worship in a public place in accordance with the doctrine and forms of worship, including the Book of Common Prayer, which comply with the Constitution and Canons of the Province; iv. Has established a network of ministries for service, fellowship, prayer, discipleship, or Bible study; v. Has a demonstrated ability to fund its own operations without the support of the Diocese or another Congregation; and vi. Is organized in accordance with Section 3 of this Canon. B. Any group not meeting the above six requirements that wishes to be recognized as a Congregation may apply to the Standing Committee for a waiver of one or more of these requirements. C. Any group not meeting the requirements set forth in Subparagraph A for Congregations may apply to the Standing Committee to be recognized as a Mission.

Proposed text: A. Any group may seek to affiliate with the Diocese as a Congregation as provided in this Canon. A Congregation normally is a discipling community of worshippers that meets the following criteria: i. Has a rector or priest in charge at least half time who is under the authority of the Bishop; ii. Has an Average Sunday Attendance of at least 50; iii. Conducts weekly worship in a public place in accordance with the doctrine and forms of worship, including the Book of Common Prayer, which comply with the Constitution and Canons of the Province; iv. Has established a network of enabled ministries for prayer, evangelism, discipleship, service, fellowship, or and Bible study; v. Has a demonstrated ability to fund its own operations without the support of the Diocese or another Congregation; and vi. Is organized in accordance with Section 3 of this Canon. B. Any group not meeting the above six requirements that wishes to be recognized as a Congregation may apply to the Standing Committee for a waiver of one or more of these requirements. C. Any group not meeting the requirements set forth in Subparagraph A for Congregations may apply to the Standing Committee to be recognized as a Mission or, if not eligible to be a Mission, a Mission Fellowship. The definitions of Mission and Mission Fellowship are established by the Great Commission Committee with the approval of the Standing Committee. 2 of 3 Rationale for proposed change: These changes were recommended by the Great Commission Committee. The changes in Section 1.A are edits to clarify and improve the definition of “Congregation.” The change in section 1.B1 provides for a Mission Fellowship to be defined by the Great Commission Committee and approved by the Standing Committee. An increasing number of small groups of worshipping believers—groups that are not ready to be Missions—are seeking to affiliate with the Diocese. Bishop Guernsey and the Great Commission Committee requested that Mission Fellowship be defined to provide a minimal canonical status to help facilitate diocesan ministry to these groups.

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