THE CONSTITUTION AND CANONS of the ECCLESIASTICAL PROVINCE of RUPERT’S LAND THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA The Constitution and Canons were adopted in this format at the 35th Synod in November 1976. Amendments were adopted in 1979, 1991, 1994, 1997, 2000, 2006 and 2009. This version includes the text of amendments to the Constitution adopted at second reading at the 46th Synod in June 2009, the text of two amendments that were adopted at first reading which will come into effect if confirmed by the 47th Synod in 2012, and the text of an amendment to Canon IX which came into effect after being passed by more than 75% of each Order. Updated after 47th Synod June 2012 The Ecclesiastical Province of Rupert’s Land Constitution and Canons TABLE OF CONTENTS Page CONSTITUTION..............................................................1 1.00 CONTINUING PROVISIONS AND JURISDICTION. 1 2.00 ORGANIZATION AND MEMBERSHIP OF SYNOD. 4 3.00 OFFICERS.....................................................4 4.00 COMMITTEES..................................................7 5.00 SYNOD SESSIONS..............................................8 6.00 EPISCOPAL AFFAIRS............................................9 7.00 DIOCESES....................................................1 2 8.00 GENERAL....................................................1 2 CANONS....................................................................1 5 C1.00 SESSIONAL PROCEDURE AND RULES OF ORDER.. 1 5 C2.00 PROVINCIAL COURT...........................................1 7 C3.00 ELECTION OF THE METROPOLITAN.. 1 9 C4.00 LICENSING AND INHIBITION OF CLERGY.. 2 1 C5.00 ON THE USE OF VARIOUS SERVICES. 2 1 C6.00 OATHS AND SUBSCRIPTIONS...................................2 2 C7.00 STANDING COMMITTEES......................................2 2 C8.00 RESPECTING THE CORPORATION OF THE ANGLICAN PROVINCE OF RUPERT’S LAND.................................2 3 C9.00 ELECTION OF A BISHOP........................................2 4 C10.00 ARCHIVES....................................................3 0 AN HISTORICAL NOTE (APPENDIX A)...................................3 1 ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA ECCLESIASTICAL PROVINCE OF RUPERT’S LAND CONSTITUTION WHEREAS the Synod of the Ecclesiastical Province of Rupert’s Thirty-nine Articles of Religion; and to transmit the same unimpaired Land of the Church of England, comprising the territory of the then to our posterity. Colony of Rupert’s Land, on August 3, 1875, adopted a constitution for that Province; 1.03 The General Synod, the Provincial Synod, and Synods of the Dioceses referred to in section 1.01 and the Synod of any Diocese AND WHEREAS Appendix A of this Constitution contains a hereafter formed according to the terms of this Constitution, shall summary of some of the events from that date to the completion of continue to be, and be, the legislative bodies of the Anglican Church the centennial year of the Ecclesiastical Province; of Canada within the Ecclesiastical Province. AND WHEREAS the said Constitution, as revised from time to time, General Synod Jurisdiction has now been redrawn; NOW THEREFORE the Synod of the Ecclesiastical Province of NOTE: Notes indicating differences between the description of Rupert’s Land hereby declares and enacts that the Constitution of the General Synod Jurisdiction and Provincial Synod Ecclesiastical Province shall be as follows: Jurisdiction as contained in the Constitution of the Ecclesiastical Province of Rupert’s Land and as contained PART I in the Handbook of the General Synod have been inserted in the relevant places below. 1.00 CONTINUING PROVISIONS AND JURISDICTION 1.04 Subject to section 1.05, the General Synod shall have 1.01 The Dioceses of the Arctic, Athabasca, Brandon, Calgary, authority and jurisdiction in all matters affecting in any way the Edmonton, Keewatin, Qu’Appelle, Rupert’s Land, Saskatchewan and general interest and well-being of the whole Church, and in particular: Saskatoon, each as presently constituted or as may be hereafter changed, renamed or reconstituted, and any Diocese hereafter formed (a) The constitution and organization of the General Synod in accordance with this Constitution, shall continue as and be an including the regulation of the time and place of its ecclesiastical province of the Anglican Church of Canada, and meeting, the order and conduct of its proceedings, and the continue to be called the “Ecclesiastical Province of Rupert’s Land”. appointment, functions and duties of its office bearers, executive boards, committees, departments, and officers, 1.02 The Provincial Synod accepts the Solemn Declaration for the proper conduct of its affairs. adopted by General Synod on September 14, 1893, as follows: (b) The national character, constitution, integrity and SOLEMN DECLARATION autonomy of the Anglican Church of Canada. In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. (c) The relations of the Church to other religious bodies in Amen. Canada and elsewhere. We, the Bishops, together with the Delegates from the Clergy and Laity of the Church of England in the Dominion of Canada, now (d) The relation of the Church to other Churches of the assembled in the first General Synod, hereby make the following Anglican communion. Solemn Declaration: (e) With the consent of the Provincial Synod or Synods We declare this Church to be, and desire that it shall continue, in full concerned, the creation and constitution of new Provinces communion with the Church of England throughout the world, as an within Canada. integral portion of the One Body of Christ composed of Churches which, united under the One Divine Head and in the fellowship of (f) The election, retirement and resignation of a Primate for the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, hold the One Faith the whole Church in Canada. revealed in Holy Writ, and defined in the Creeds as maintained by the undivided Primitive Church in the undisputed Ecumenical (g) The declaration of general principles governing discipline Councils; receive the same Canonical Scriptures of the Old and New in the Church. Testaments, as containing all things necessary to salvation; teach the same Word of God; partake of the same Divinely ordained Sacraments, through the ministry of the same Apostolic Orders, and NOTE: Section 1.04(g) was amended by the General Synod, with worship One God and Father through the same Lord Jesus Christ, by the consent of the Province of Rupert’s Land in 19__. It the same Holy and Divine Spirit Who is given to them that believe now reads: to guide them into all truth. (g) Structural uniformity in relation to the episcopal prerogative of licensing clergy. And we are determined by the help of God to hold and maintain the Doctrine, Sacraments, and Discipline of Christ as the Lord hath commanded in His Holy Word, and as the Church of England hath (h) The constitution and powers of a Supreme Court of received and set forth the same in “The Book of Common Prayer and Appeal, with original and appellate jurisdiction, including Administration of the Sacraments and other Rites and Ceremonies of procedure therein and the enforcement of its decrees and the Church, according to the use of the Church of England; together judgments. with the Psalter or Psalms of David, pointed as they are to be sung or said in Churches; and the Form and Manner of Making, Ordaining (i) The definition of the doctrines of the Church in harmony and Consecrating of Bishops, Priests and Deacons” and in the with the Solemn Declaration accepted by this Synod. Updated After 46th Synod - 2009 2Constitution (j) The revision, adaptation and publication of a Book of Common Prayer and a Hymnal for the Church. (q) The administration of all funds and trusts established in respect of the Church. (k) All agencies employed in the carrying on of the work of the Church as a whole including: NOTE: The 2007 General Synod gave first reading to the addition (i) its general missionary work, of paragraph (r) and the 46th Provincial Synod consented to this in June 2009. The provision will come into effect (ii) its general program of religious if it passes second reading in the 2010 General Synod: education, and, (r) the appointment, election, confirmation, consecration and resignation of a (iii) its general social service and welfare National Indigenous Anglican Bishop. work. NOTE: Section 1.04(k) was amended by the General Synod. It NOTE: The following section (s. 8) concerning General Synod, now reads: Provincial and Diocean jurisdiction concerning ecclesiastical offences and disciplinary proceedings were (k) All divisions employed in the carrying on of the work of adopted by the General Synod in 19__ [with the consent the Church. of the Province of Rupert’s Land] a) The General Synod shall have authority and jurisdiction (l) The educational standards and qualifications for with regard to: candidates for Divinity degrees conferred under the authority of the General Synod. (i) the definition of ecclesiastical offences; (ii) the penalties for ecclesiastical offence: NOTE: Section 1.04(l) was amended by the General Synod. It now reads: (iii) principles and general procedures to be observed in disciplinary proceedings in (l) The basic standards of theological education, and the The Anglican Church of Canada; qualifications and training of candidates for ministry of the Church. (iv) rights of appeal in disciplinary proceedings, and (v) the procedures to be followed in the (m) The place and ministry of women in the Church. Supreme Court of Appeal for The Anglican Church of