The Acts of Convention

Resolved, That the 80th General Convention of The Episcopal Church provide for reception of Bishops of the Anglican Communion into The Episcopal Church to serve as Assistant Bishops and as bishops with provisional charge of a diocese, and also to serve as Bishops of Dioceses that have been admitted into union with the General Convention, by amending each and every one of the following interrelated canons: Canon III.10, Canon III.12.1, Canon III.12.5.b.3, and Canon III.13.1, as follows:

Amend Canon III.10 to change the title of the Canon to read as follows:

Canon 10: Of Reception of Bishops, Priests, and Deacons Clergy from other Churches

Amend Canon III.10.1 to read as follows:

Sec. 1. Prior to reception or ordination of a priest or deacon, the following must be provided

Amend Canon III.10 to add a new Section 5, to read as follows:

Sec. 5. Reception into this Church of a Bishop of a Church or Province in the Anglican Communion.

a. A Bishop in good standing of a member church or Province of the Anglican Communion, or of a national or local church with Extra-Provincial status in the Anglican Communion, who seeks to serve in this Church as an Assistant Bishop as provided in Canon III.12.5.b.3, or as a Bishop with provisional charge of a Diocese as provided in Canon III.13.1, may be received into The Episcopal Church pursuant to the requirements set out in this Section.

b. A Bishop in good standing of a member church or Province of the Anglican Communion, or of a national or local church with Extra-Provincial status in the Anglican Communion, which church or Province is seeking admission into union with The Episcopal Church, may be received into The Episcopal Church pursuant to the requirements set out in this Section, provided that if the Bishop’s selection to serve the church or Province was by a process other than election by a Convention, Synod, or other governing body, the Bishop shall provide evidence that the Convention, Synod, or other governing body has affirmed that selection;

c. A Bishop seeking to be received into The Episcopal Church shall provide to the Presiding Bishop the following:

1. evidence of the Bishop’s having been duly ordered Bishop in the Anglican Communion;

2. evidence of the Bishop’s moral and godly character;

3. a background check, according to the criteria established by the Presiding Bishop;

4. certificates from a licensed medical doctor and a licensed psychologist authorized by the Presiding Bishop, and, as necessary, from a psychiatrist and/or a professional specializing in evaluation for substance, chemical, and alcohol use and abuse and other addictive patterns, also authorized by the Presiding Bishop, that they have thoroughly examined the Bishop as to that person’s medical, psychological, and psychiatric condition and for substance, chemical and alcohol use and abuse and other addictive patterns and have not discovered any reason why the person would not be fit to undertake the work for which the person has been chosen as a Bishop in this Church. Forms and procedures agreed to by the Presiding Bishop shall be used for this purpose;

5. evidence of the Bishop having received the training set out in Section 1.c of this Canon; and

6. evidence of the Bishop having been examined by at least three Bishops of this Church as to knowledge of this Church, its worship and governance, including the follow topics:

i. Church History: the history of the Anglican Communion and The Episcopal Church.

ii. Doctrine: the Church’s teachings as set forth in the Creeds and in An Outline of the Faith, commonly called the Catechism.

iii. Liturgics: the principles and history of Anglican worship; the contents of the Book of Common Prayer.

iv. Practical Theology:

1. The office and work of a Deacon and Priest in this Church.

2. The conduct of public worship.

3. The Constitution and Canons of The Episcopal Church and of the Diocese in which the Bishop will serve.

4. The use of voice in reading and speaking.

7. The points of Doctrine, Discipline, Polity, and Worship in which the church or Province from the Bishop has come differ from this Church. This portion of the examinations will be conducted, in part at least, by written questions and answers, and the replies kept on file with the Office of Pastoral Development for at least three years.

In the case of a Bishop seeking to be received into this Church under subsection .b of this Canon, evidence that the General Convention has consented to the admission of the church or Province pursuant to Article V, Section I of the Constitution.

d. Upon receipt of the items set out in subsection .c of this Canon to the satisfaction of the Presiding Bishop, the Presiding Bishop, without delay, shall notify every Bishop of this Church exercising jurisdiction and every Standing Committee of this Church of the Presiding Bishop’s receipt of those items, and request from each a statement of consent, or withholding of consent, to the reception of the Bishop into The Episcopal Church. Each Bishop with jurisdiction and each Standing Committee shall within 90 days of the sending of the notification respond to the Presiding Bishop or the Presiding Bishop’s designee indicating their consent or their withholding of consent.

e. If a majority of the Bishops with jurisdiction and of the Standing Committees consents to the reception, the Bishop shall make the written declaration required by Article VIII of the Constitution of The Episcopal Church in the presence of the Presiding Bishop and two episcopal witnesses, at which point the Presiding Bishop shall certify that the Bishop is received into The Episcopal Church; provided that, in the case of a Bishop seeking to be received into this Church under subsection .b of this Canon, such certification shall not issue until the Executive Council has issued the approval set out on Article V, Section 1 of the Constitution.

Amend Canon III.12.1 to read as follows:

Sec. 1.Formation.

Following election or reception and continuing for three years following ordination or reception, new Bishops and Bishops received into this Church shall pursue the process of formation authorized by the House of Bishops. This process of formation shall provide a mentor for each newly ordained and received Bishop.”

Amend Canon III.12.5.b.3 to read as follows:

3. Bishops in good standing of member churches or Provinces of the Anglican Communion, or of national or local churches with Extra-Provincial status in the Anglican Communion, provided they are received into this Church under Canon III.10.5. Persons who are Bishops in good standing of Churches that are members of the Anglican Communion by action of the Anglican Consultative if they:

i. have previously resigned their former responsibilities;

ii. have received approval, by a competent authority within the Church of their ordination as a Bishop of that Church;

iii. have exhibited satisfactory evidence of moral and godly character and having met theological requirements;

iv. have promised in a writing submitted to the Bishop Diocesan making the appointment, and witnessed by two other Bishops of this Church, to submit in all things to the Doctrine, Discipline and Worship of this Church;

v. have submitted to and satisfactorily passed thorough examinations covering the medical, psychological, psychiatric and other conditions described in Canon III.11.1, pursuant to the requirements of and procedures set forth in Canon III.11.1;

vi. have undergone background screening and, if feasible, background checks as provided in Canon III.11.1;

vii. have been examined by the Bishop Diocesan and at least two other Bishops of this Church as to knowledge of this Church, its worship and governance:

1. Church History: the history of the Anglican Communion and The Episcopal Church.

2. Doctrine: the Church’s teaching as set forth in the Creeds and in An Outline of the Faith, commonly called the Catechism.

3. Liturgics: the principles and history of Anglican worship; the contents of the Book of Common Prayer.

4. Practical Theology:

i. The office and work of a Deacon and Priest in this Church.

ii. The conduct of public worship.

iii. The Constitution and Canons of The Episcopal Church and of the Diocese in which the applicant is resident.

iv. The use of voice in reading and speaking.

5. The points of Doctrine, Discipline, Polity, and Worship in which the Church from which the applicant has come differ from this Church. This portion of the examinations shall be conducted, in part at least, by written questions and answers, and the replies kept on file with the Office of Pastoral Development for at least three years

viii. have received the following training:

1. prevention of sexual misconduct.

2. civil requirements for reporting and pastoral opportunities for responding to evidence of abuse.

3. the Constitution and Canons of The Episcopal Church, particularly Title IV thereof.

4. training regarding the Church’s teaching on racism.

ix. have served in The Episcopal Church for a period of two years, have received the consent of a majority of the Bishops exercising jurisdiction and a majority of the Standing Committees, and been received into The Episcopal Church as a Bishop. A Bishop of another Province or jurisdiction of the Anglican Communion does not become a Bishop of this Church solely by virtue of being appointed an Assistant Bishop of a Diocese.

Amend Canon III.13.1 to read as follows:

Sec. 1.  A Diocese without a Bishop may, by an act of its Convention, and in consultation with the Presiding Bishop, be placed under the provisional charge and authority of a Bishop of another Diocese, or of a resigned Bishop, or of a Bishop who has been received into this Church under Canon III.10.5, who shall by that act be authorized to exercise all the duties and offices of the Bishop of the Diocese until a Bishop is elected and ordained for that Diocese or until the act of the Convention is revoked.