The Acts of Convention

House of Bishops

Original Text of Resolution:

(A227)

Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, That Canon III.2, be amended to read as follows:

CANON 2

Of Commissions on Ministry

Sec. 1. In each Diocese there shall be a Commission on Ministry (the "Commission") consisting of Clergy and Lay persons. The number of members, terms of office, and manner of selection to the Commission shall be determined by the Canons of each Diocese.

Sec.2 The Commission shall assist the Bishop with regard to the implementation of Canon III.1:

(a). In determining present and future needs for ministry in the Diocese.

(b). In recruiting and selecting persons as Postulants for Holy Orders and in guiding and examining Postulants, Candidates, and Deacons in training for Priesthood in accordance with the procedures outlined in Sec. 3 below. These procedures shall be interpreted as supplementing but not replacing the procedures prescribed in Canon III.4.2(a),(b).

(c). In providing for the guidance and pastoral care of Postulants and Candidates for Holy Orders.

(c). (d). In providing for the guidance and pastoral care of Clergy and Lay persons who are in stipendiary and non-stipendiary positions accountable to the Bishop.

(d). (e). In promoting the continuing education of the Clergy and Lay Professionals employed by the Church.

(c). (f). In supporting the development, training, utilization, and affirmation of the ministry of the Laity in the world pursuant to Canon III.1.

Sec. 3. The Bishop and Commission shall actively solicit from the clergy and laity of parishes, college and university campus ministry centers, and other communities of faith, nominations of persons whose demonstrated qualities of Christian commitment, leadership and vision, and responsiveness to the needs, concerns and hopes of the world mark them as desirable candidates for positions of leadership in the Church. The Commission shall invite such nominees to engage in a process of discernment appropriate to the cultural background of the nominees by which to ascertain the type of leadership, lay or ordained, to which they may be called. When this discernment process has been completed, the Commission shall commend to the agencies with their procedures as established under (d) and (f) above, those whose vocation is to lay ministry, and shall present to the Bishop those whom it wishes to support as Postulants for ordination to the diaconate or priesthood, and who have indicated their willingness to be nominated.

Sec. 3 4. The Commission may adopt rules for its work, subject to the approval of the Bishop; Provided, they are not inconsistent with the Constitution and Canons of this Church or of the Diocese. These rules may include provisions for committees of the Commission to act on its behalf; however, ultimate responsibility shall remain with the commission as a whole to report to the Bishop concerning an applicant's fitness and readiness for admission as a Postulant; or Candidate, for ordination to the Diaconate and, if requested by the Bishop, to the Priesthood. and be it further

Resolved, That Canon III.5.1(c)(iii) be amended to read as follows:

(iii). A report from the Commission as to the Postulant's readiness to be received as a Candidate progress in preparation for ordination for to Holy Orders.

Proposed Committee Amendment:

Replace [Sec. 3] with:

Sec. 3. The Bishop and Commission shall actively solicit from the clergy and laity of parishes, college and university campus ministry centers, and other communities of faith, nominations of persons whose demonstrated qualities of Christian commitment, leadership and vision, and responsiveness to the needs, concerns and hopes of the world mark them as desirable candidates for positions of leadership in the Church. The commission shall invite such nominees to engage in a process of discernment appropriate to the cultural background of the nominees by which to ascertain the type of leadership, lay or ordained, to which they may be called. When this discernment process has been completed, the commission shall commend to the agencies with their procedures as established under (c) and (e) above, those whose vocation is to lay ministry, and shall present to the Bishop those whom it wishes to support as Postulants for ordination to the diaconate or priesthood, and who have indicated their willingness to be nominated.

Delete all other changes to Canon III.2 proposed in A227.

Motion carried

Resolution adopted with amendment

(Communicated to the House of Deputies in HB Message #310)