The Acts of Convention

Resolved, That the 80th General Convention amend Canon III.10.2 to read as follows.

Sec. 2 Clergy Ordained by Bishop of Churches in Full Communion with This Church

a.

1. A Member of the Clergy, ordained by a Bishop of another Church in full communion with this Church, or by a Bishop consecrated for a foreign land by Bishops of this Church under Article III of the Constitution, shall, before being permitted to officiate in any Congregation of this Church, exhibit to the Member of the Clergy in charge, or, if there be no Member of the Clergy in charge, to the Vestry thereof, a certificate of recent date, signed by the Ecclesiastical Authority of the Diocese that the person ’s letters of Holy Orders and other credentials are valid and authentic, and given by a Bishop in full communion with this Church, and whose authority is acknowledged by this Church; and also that the person has exhibited to the Ecclesiastical Authority satisfactory evidence of (i) moral and godly character and of (ii) theological qualifications.

2. Before being permitted to take charge of any Congregation, or being received into any Diocese of this Church as a Member of its Clergy, the Ecclesiastical Authority shall receive Letters Dimissory or equivalent credentials under the hand and seal of the Bishop with whose Diocese the person has been last connected, which letters or credentials shall be delivered within six months from the date thereof. Before receiving the Member of the Clergy the Bishop shall require a promise in writing to submit in all things to the Discipline of this Church, without recourse to any foreign jurisdiction, civil or ecclesiastical; and shall further require the person to subscribe and make in the Bishop’s presence, and in the presence of two or more Presbyters, the declaration required in Article VIII of the Constitution. The Bishop and at least one Presbyter shall examine the person as to knowledge of the history of this Church, its worship and government. The Bishop, also being satisfied of the person’s theological qualifications, may then receive the person into the Diocese as a Member of the Clergy of this Church.

3. The provisions of this Section Sections 2 and 3 shall be applicable to all Members of the Clergy ordained in any Church in full communion with this Church as specified in Canon I.20, subject to the terms of the covenant of The Episcopal Church and the other Church or Churches as adopted by the General Convention and by the denominational authority or similar body for those Churches that are not members of the Anglican Communion by action of the Anglican Consultative Council.