The Acts of Convention

House of Bishops

Original Text of Resolution:

(B037)

Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, That Canon 20 is to be added to Title I as follows:

Of Regulations on Matters affecting Doctrine

Sec. 1. Proposal. On matters affecting Doctrine where it is believed the Church is not of one mind, Bishops seeking a clarification shall submit to the Presiding Bishop and the Committee on Doctrine in the House of Bishops no later than thirty (30) months prior to the next General Convention a proposed Doctrinal Statement which shall include (a) a supporting theological explanation of authority under Scripture, Tradition and Reason, and (b) a statement as to whether the proposed Doctrinal Statement departs from any essential point of Doctrine in the Church of England or the Anglican Communion.

Sec. 2. Publication. If the Presiding Bishop determines the Church is not of one mind on this matter and the proposal is deemed appropriate, within one month (30 days) from receipt in Section 1, the Presiding Bishop shall publish the proposed Doctrinal Statement.

Sec. 3. Counter Proposals and Comments. (a) Counter proposed Doctrinal Statements and comments may be submitted by Bishops, and faculty members of accredited seminaries to the Presiding Bishop and the Committee on Doctrine within six months (180 days) from date of publication. The Presiding Bishop shall publish these comments and counter proposals. (b) After publication in (a) additional comments by Bishops, persons designated by Bishops, and faculty members shall be submitted to the Presiding Bishop within three months (90 days). The Presiding Bishop shall publish the additional comments. (c) After publication in (b) the process will be open for three months (90 days) for comments from organizations within the church. The Presiding Bishop shall publish the comments received from organizations.

Sec. 4. Determination. Upon conclusion of the process in Section 3, if the Presiding Bishop and the Committee on Doctrine determines that a consensus has been reached, the Presiding Bishop and the Committee on Doctrine shall draft and publish a preliminary proposed Doctrinal Statement with a proposed pastoral letter on Scripture, Tradition and Reason. If the Presiding Bishop and the Commission on Doctrine determines it may depart from an essential point of doctrine in the Church of England or the Anglican Communion, it will be distributed to the Archbishop of Canterbury and the International Committee on Doctrine for the Anglican Communion for comments. The Presiding Bishop and the Committee on Doctrine shall place the final proposed Doctrinal Statement and pastoral letter on Scripture, Tradition and Reason, with any comments from the Archbishop and the International Commission, before the next General Convention. If passed by a two-thirds vote by both houses of bishops and deputies, it shall become the Doctrine of the Church on that matter. The Presiding Bishop and the House of Bishops shall publish the official Doctrinal Statement and encyclical on Scripture, Tradition and Reason in support.

Sec. 5. Implementation. Once the Presiding Bishop has initiated the process in Section 2, Bishops and Dioceses shall forbear from taking any unilateral actions inconsistent with traditional teaching and practice, unless authorized by the Presiding Bishop. Such exceptions shall be published. Violations are subject to Title IV, Canon I, Section 1. The Presiding Bishop has the authority to issue additional time periods and other guidelines not inconsistent with this Canon.

Motion carried

Resolution referred to an interim body

(Communicated to the House of Deputies in HB Message #191)