Search the Resolves of the Executive Council

Title: Recommended Criteria for Diocesan Autonomy
ID: EXC041979.24
Committee: National and World Mission (report 3)
Citation: Executive Council Minutes, Apr. 19-20, 1979, Greenwich, CT, p. 40.
Text:

Whereas, The development of autonomy of the overseas dioceses of the Episcopal Church has been a matter of policy; and

Whereas, Several dioceses have sought, or are seeking such autonomy; and

Whereas, Autonomy is understood in the Anglical Tradition to refer to the relationships amongst the several Provinces, or other Regional Councils which have metropolitical authority, and as such calls for dioceses to be organized into such Provinces or Regional Councils; and

Whereas, The Anglican Consultative Council, in keeping with this Tradition, has recommended that any diocese seeking autonomy from one Province should be able, at the same time, to unite with another Province or Regional Council, or that it should be able to unite with at least three other viable dioceses to establish a new Province or Regional Council; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Executive Council recommend the following as minimum criteria for autonomy:

  1. Any diocese seeking autonomy should be prepared at the same time to unite with another Province or Regional Council having metropolitical authority of the Anglican Communion; or
  2. Any diocese seeking autonomy and not planning to unite with another Province or Regional Council, should be prepared at the same time to unite with no less than three other viable dioceses 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; and be it further

Resolved, That this Executive Council request the Anglican Consultative Council to review and respond to this resolution.

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