The Acts of Convention

House of Deputies

The House of Deputies Committee on Churchwide Leadership presented its Report #16 on Resolution A166 (Amend Canon III.12.4(c) and add Canon III.12.4(d)) and moved adoption with amendment.

Original Text of Resolution:

(A166)

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That Canon III.12.4(c) is hereby amended to read as follows and Canon III.12.4(d) is added to read as follows:

Section 4. Residency; Vacancy in the Episcopate

(c) A Bishop Diocesan, whenever leaving the Diocese for six consecutive months or more, shall authorize in writing, under hand and seal, the Bishop Coadjutor, the Bishop Suffragan if the Constitution and Canons of the Diocese so provide, or, should there be none, the Standing Committee of the Diocese, to act as the Ecclesiastical Authority thereof during the absence. The Bishop Coadjutor, or the Bishop Suffragan if the Constitution and Canons of the Diocese so provide, or, should there be none, the Standing Committee may at any time become serve as the Ecclesiastical Authority upon the written request of the Bishop and continue to act as such until the request is revoked by the Bishop Diocesan in writing.

(d) A vacancy in the episcopate shall be deemed to exist on the occurrence of any of the following: (i) the death, resignation, deposition or removal of the Bishop exercising jurisdiction, or (ii) the declaration by the Presiding Bishop or by resolution of the Standing Committee of the Diocese that the Bishop has been declared of unsound mind by an order of court or certified by at least two licensed medical doctors, psychologists or psychiatrists who have examined the case.

Committee Amendment:

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That Canon III.12.4(c) is hereby amended to read as follows and Canon III.12.4(d) is added to read as follows:

Section 4. Residency; Vacancy in the Episcopate

(c) A Bishop Diocesan, whenever leaving the Diocese for six consecutive months or more, shall authorize in writing, under hand and seal, the Bishop Coadjutor, the Bishop Suffragan if the Constitution and Canons of the Diocese so provide, or, should there be none, the Standing Committee of the Diocese, to act as the Ecclesiastical Authority thereof during the absence. The Bishop Coadjutor, or the Bishop Suffragan if the Constitution and Canons of the Diocese so provide, or, should there be none, the Standing Committee may at any time becomeserve as the Ecclesiastical Authority upon the written request of the Bishop and continue to act as such until the request is revoked by the Bishop Diocesan in writing.

(d) A vacancy in the episcopate shall be deemed to exist on the occurrence of any of the following:

(i) the death, resignation, deposition or removal of the Bishop exercising jurisdiction, or

(ii) the declaration by the Presiding Bishop or by resolution of the Standing Committee of the Diocese that the Bishop has been declared of unsound mind by an order of court or certified by at least two licensed medical doctors, psychologists or psychiatrists who have examined the case.the incapacity (or inability to return from an absence within a time certain) of the Bishop exercising jurisdiction following the issuance of a court order by a court of competent jurisdiction or by determination of at least two licensed medical doctors, psychologists or psychiatrists, who have examined the case, as declared by

(A) the Presiding Bishop; or

(B) resolution of the Standing Committee of the Diocese.

Motion carried

Resolution adopted with amendment

(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #72)