Constitution & Canons of the Reformed Episcopal Church As Adopted 2014 (version 3.4) with proposed changes to the Constitution adopted for first reading in 2014 marked in strikeout and brackets Prepared by the Committee on Constitution and Canons in consultation with the Bishops, Committee on Doctrine and Worship, and the General Committee of the Reformed Episcopal Church and adopted by the Fifty-fourth General Council June 11-13, AD 2014 Blue Bell, Pennsylvania CONSTITUTION AND CANONS OF THE REFORMED EPISCOPAL CHURCH CONTENTS Constitution ARTICLE I Authority ....................................................................................................................................1 ARTICLE II Name..........................................................................................................................................1 ARTICLE III Doctrinal Position.......................................................................................................................1 ARTICLE IV Of Erroneous or Strange Teaching.............................................................................................1 ARTICLE V Of Authority ..............................................................................................................................2 ARTICLE VI Composition of the General Council..........................................................................................2 ARTICLE VII Of the General Council..............................................................................................................2 ARTICLE VIII Officers of the General Council..................................................................................................3 ARTICLE IX Proceedings of the General Council...........................................................................................3 ARTICLE X Of the General Committee.........................................................................................................4 ARTICLE XI Of the Book of Common Prayer................................................................................................4 ARTICLE XII Of Bishops .................................................................................................................................5 ARTICLE XIII Of Membership in the Anglican Church in North America .......................................................5 ARTICLE XIV Of Parish Property......................................................................................................................5 ARTICLE XV Of Amendments.........................................................................................................................5 Canons TITLE I THE MINISTRY ............................................................................................................................7 CANON 1 Of Postulants....................................................................................................................................7 CANON 2 Of General Provisions Concerning Postulants for Holy Orders.......................................................8 CANON 3 Of the Normal Standard of Learning and Examination of Candidates for Holy Orders..................9 CANON 4 Of a Board of Examining Chaplains...............................................................................................10 CANON 5 Of Ordination to the Diaconate .....................................................................................................11 CANON 6 Of Ordination to the Presbyterate..................................................................................................13 CANON 7 Of General Provisions Respecting Ordination ...............................................................................15 CANON 8 Of Ministers Ordained in Foreign Countries by Bishops in Communion with this Church...........16 CANON 9 Of the Ordination of Deacons in Special Cases .............................................................................16 CANON 10 Of Ministers Ordained in Churches not in Communion with this Church.....................................17 CANON 11 Of the Ordination and Consecration, and Reception of Bishops...................................................19 CANON 12 Of Missionary Bishops...................................................................................................................22 CANON 13 Of Suffragan Bishops .....................................................................................................................23 CANON 14 Of the Consecration of Bishops for Foreign Lands........................................................................24 CANON 15 Of the Presiding Bishop and His Office.........................................................................................25 CANON 16 Of Duties of Bishops......................................................................................................................26 CANON 17 Of Duties of Missionary Bishops....................................................................................................27 CANON 18 Of the Filling of Vacant Cures........................................................................................................28 CANON 19 Of Ministers and Their Duties.......................................................................................................28 CANON 20 Of Deacons....................................................................................................................................32 CANON 21 Of Persons Not Ministers in this Church Officiating in any Congregation Thereof........................32 CANON 22 Of Deaconesses..............................................................................................................................33 CANON 23 Of Religious Communities.............................................................................................................33 CANON 24 Of Lay Ministry..............................................................................................................................34 i TITLE II ECCLESIASTICAL DISCIPLINE...............................................................................................36 CANON 25 Of Amenability, Citation, and Attendance......................................................................................36 CANON 26 Of Offenses ...................................................................................................................................36 CANON 27 Of the Establishment of Courts and Their Jurisdiction ..................................................................37 CANON 28 Of the Membership of the Courts..................................................................................................39 CANON 29 Of the Rules of Procedure of Courts..............................................................................................39 CANON 30 Of Diocesan Boards of Inquiry......................................................................................................40 CANON 31 Of Special Procedures for Presentments Charging Particular Acts.................................................41 CANON 32 Of Sentences..................................................................................................................................42 CANON 33 Of the Dissolution of the Pastoral Relation....................................................................................43 CANON 34 Of the Solemnization of Holy Matrimony......................................................................................43 CANON 35 Of Regulations Respecting the Laity...............................................................................................44 TITLE III WORSHIP...................................................................................................................................46 CANON 36 Of Translations of the Bible...........................................................................................................46 CANON 37 Of the Standard Book of Common Prayer ....................................................................................46 CANON 38 Of the Authorization of Special Forms of Service..........................................................................46 CANON 39 Of the Due Celebration of Sundays ...............................................................................................46 CANON 40 Of the Music of the Church ...........................................................................................................46 CANON 41 Of the Consecration of Churches...................................................................................................47 TITLE IV ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION.........................................................................48 CANON 42 Of the General Council..................................................................................................................48 CANON 43 Of the Mode of Securing an Accurate View of the State of this Church.........................................48 CANON 44 Of Business Methods in Church Affairs.........................................................................................53 CANON 45 Of the Initial Extent of Dioceses ....................................................................................................53 CANON 46 Of Standing Committees................................................................................................................54