Constitution & Canons Constitution & Canons Together with the Rules of Order For the government of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America Otherwise Known as The Episcopal Church Adopted and Revised in General Convention, 1789-2015 2015 Copyright 2016. The Episcopal Church Edited by The Archives of the Episcopal Church General Convention Office 815 Second Avenue New York, New York 10017 Third Printing TABLE OF CONTENTS CONSTITUTION OF THE GENERAL CONVENTION Preamble.....................................................................................................................................1 Article I: Of the General Convention......................................................................................... 1 II: Of Bishops......................................................................................................................3 III: Of Bishops Consecrated for Foreign Lands..............................................................4 IV: Of the Standing Committee.........................................................................................4 V: Of Admission of New Dioceses................................................................................. 5 VI: Of Missionary Dioceses................................................................................................6 VII: Of Provinces...................................................................................................................7 VIII: Of Requisites for Ordination.......................................................................................7 IX: Of Courts........................................................................................................................8 X: Of The Book of Common Prayer...............................................................................9 XI: Of Dioceses and Missionary Dioceses.......................................................................9 XII: Of Amendments to the Constitution......................................................................... 9 CANONS OF THE GENERAL CONVENTION Title I Organization and Administration Canon 1: Of the General Convention.......................................................................................11 2: Of the Presiding Bishop.............................................................................................24 3: Of the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society................................................. 28 4: Of the Executive Council...........................................................................................29 5: Of the Archives of the Episcopal Church............................................................... 36 6: Of the Mode of Securing an Accurate View of the State of This Church......... 38 7: Of Business Methods in Church Affairs..................................................................39 8: Of The Church Pension Fund...................................................................................41 9: Of Provinces.................................................................................................................43 10: Of New Dioceses........................................................................................................ 46 11: Of Missionary Jurisdictions........................................................................................48 12: Of Standing Committees............................................................................................51 13: Of Parishes and Congregations.................................................................................51 14: Of Parish Vestries........................................................................................................52 15: Of Congregations in Foreign Lands.........................................................................52 16: Of Clergy and Congregations Seeking Affiliation with This Church..................55 17: Of Regulations Respecting the Laity........................................................................ 56 18: Of the Celebration and Blessing of Marriage..........................................................58 19: Of Regulations Respecting Holy Matrimony.......................................................... 59 20: Of Churches in Full Communion.............................................................................60 v CONTENTS Title II Worship Canon 1: Of the Due Celebration of Sundays......................................................................... 61 2: Of Translations of the Bible...................................................................................... 61 3: Of the Standard Book of Common Prayer............................................................. 61 4: Of the Authorization of Special Forms of Service.................................................64 5: Of the Music of the Church.......................................................................................64 6: Of Dedicated and Consecrated Churches............................................................... 64 Title III Ministry Canon 1: Of the Ministry of All Baptized Persons..................................................................67 2: Of Commissions on Ministry....................................................................................67 3: Of Discernment...........................................................................................................68 4: Of Licensed Ministries................................................................................................68 5: Of General Provisions Respecting Ordination.......................................................70 6: Of the Ordination of Deacons..................................................................................71 7: Of the Life and Work of Deacons............................................................................76 8: Of the Ordination of Priests......................................................................................80 9: Of the Life and Work of Priests................................................................................86 10: Of Reception of Clergy from other Churches......................................................101 11: Of the Ordination of Bishops.................................................................................107 12: Of the Life and Work of a Bishop..........................................................................114 13: Of Dioceses without Bishops..................................................................................125 14: Of Religious Orders and Other Christian Communities.....................................125 15: Of the General Board of Examining Chaplains................................................... 127 16: Of the Board for Transition Ministry.....................................................................129 Title IV Ecclesiastical Discipline Canon 1: Of Accountability and Ecclesiastical Discipline................................................... 131 2: Of Terminology Used in This Title........................................................................131 3: Of Accountability......................................................................................................135 4: Of Standards of Conduct.........................................................................................135 5: Of Disciplinary Structures....................................................................................... 136 6: Of Intake and Referral of Information Concerning Offenses...........................139 7: Of Pastoral Direction, Restricted Ministry, and Administrative Leave............. 141 8: Of Pastoral Response................................................................................................143 9: Of Agreements Between Bishops Diocesan and Respondents..........................144 10: Of Conciliation.......................................................................................................... 145 11: Of Investigations....................................................................................................... 145 12: Of Conference Panels...............................................................................................146 13: Of Hearing Panels..................................................................................................... 148 14: Of Accords and Orders............................................................................................152 15: Of Review...................................................................................................................155 16: Of Abandonment of The Episcopal Church........................................................158 17: Of Proceedings for Bishops.....................................................................................161 18: Of Modification and Remission of Orders........................................................... 165 vi CONTENTS 19: Of General Provisions..............................................................................................166 20: Of Transitional Provisions and Conforming Amendments............................... 175 Title V General Provisions Canon 1: Of Enactment, Amendment, and Repeal.............................................................. 179 2: Of Terminology Used in These Canons................................................................180 3: Of Bodies of General Convention; Quorum........................................................180