The Acts of Convention

Whereas, one of the functions of the Anglican Consultative Council is to advise on inter-Anglican, Provincial and Diocesan relationships, including the division of Provinces and of Regional Councils, and the problems of extra-provincial Dioceses; and

Whereas, it is the recommendation of the Standing Commission on Structure that the General Convention abide by the charter of the Anglican Consultative Council which the General Convention adopted at Houston in 1970; and

Whereas, the fourth meeting of the Anglican Consultative Council held at Huron College, London, Ontario in May 1979, considered the subject of Dioceses seeking autonomy and reviewed a Resolution of the Executive Council of the Episcopal Church, USA, dated April 19, 1979, on this subject and affirmed the minimum criteria for autonomy as stated in that Executive Council action; and

Whereas, the present Canon of the Episcopal Church--Title I., Canon 10., Sec. 3 (e)--dealing with the subject of autonomy of extra-provincial Dioceses is not in accord with the Anglican Consultative Council on this matter; be it therefore

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That Title I, Canon 10, Sec. 3(e) be amended to read as follows:

3 (e). At the request of the Convention of a Missionary Diocese, supported by the presentation of relevant facts and a reasonable plan, the General Convention may by joint Resolution (1) permit the Diocese seeking autonomy to unite with another Province, or Regional Council having metropolitical authority, of the Anglican Communion, or (2) permit the Diocese seeking autonomy, but not planning to unite with another Province or Regional Council, to unite with no less than three other viable Dioceses at the same time which are geographically contiguous, or so located geographically as to be considered of the same region, for the purpose of establishing a new Province, or new Regional Council having metropolitical authority, of the Anglican Communion.