The Acts of Convention

House of Deputies

The House of Deputies Committee on Governance and Structure presented its Report #38 on Resolution A180 (Amend Article V, Section 1 - Admission of a Diocese - First Reading) and moved the resolution, recommending rejection.

Original Text of Resolution:

(A180)

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That Article V, Section 1, of the Constitution of The Episcopal Church, be amended to read as follows:

Sec. 1. A new Diocese may be formed, with the consent of the General Convention and under such conditions as the General Convention shall prescribe by General Canon or Canons, (1) by the division of an existing Diocese; (2) by the junction of two or more Dioceses or of parts of two or more Dioceses; (3) by the erection into a Diocese of an unorganized area evangelized as provided in Article VI; or (4) by the admission of an extra-provincial Diocese or part thereof of the Anglican Communion or of a Diocese or Dioceses or part of one or more Dioceses of an existing Province of the Anglican Communion. The proceedings shall originate in a Convocation of the Clergy and Laity of the unorganized area called by the Bishop for that purpose; or, with the approval of the Bishop, in the Convention of the Diocese to be divided; or (when it is proposed to form a new Diocese by the junction of two or more existing Dioceses or of parts of two or more Dioceses) by mutual agreement of the Conventions of the Dioceses concerned, with the approval of the Bishop of each Diocese. ; or (in the case of the admission of a Diocese of the Anglican Communion) in the Convention of such Diocese, provided that any authorization that may be required by the Anglican Communion be obtained prior to admission. In case the Episcopate of a Diocese be vacant, no proceedings toward its division shall be taken until the vacancy is filled. After consent of the General Convention, when a certified copy of the duly adopted Constitution of the new Diocese, including an unqualified accession to the Constitution and Canons of this Church, shall have been filed with the Secretary of the General Convention and approved by the Executive Council of this Church, such new Diocese shall thereupon be in union with the General Convention.

Motion defeated

Resolution rejected

(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #338)