Full Legislative History
Resolution Number: 1976-C018
Title: Amend Canon III.18.9 [Official Acts of a Resigned Bishop]
Legislative Action Taken: Concurred As Amended
Final Text:

Resolved, That Section 9 of Canon III. 18 be amended, so as to read as follows:

Sec. 9 (a). A Bishop whose resignation has been accepted by the House of Bishops may perform any episcopal act, at the request of any Bishop of this Church, within the limits of the said Bishop's jurisdiction. He may also, by vote of the Convention of any Diocese and with the consent of the Bishop of the Diocese, be given an honorary seat in the Convention, with voice but without vote; or such honorary seat in the Cathedral of any Diocese, subject to the authority competent to act in the premises. He shall report all ministerial acts to the Bishop and to the Diocese in which such acts are performed. The foregoing provisions of this paragraph shall also be applicable to a resigned Bishop of another Church in communion with this Church, subject to the approval of competent authority within such other Church, where such approval may be required.

Sec. 9 (b). --to read as it now stands

Sec. 9 (c). A Bishop whose resignation has been accepted may, at the discretion of the Bishop of the Diocese in which he chooses to reside, and upon the presentation of Letters Dimissory from the Ecclesiastical Authority of the Diocese in which he has had Canonical Residence, be enrolled among the clergy of that Diocese, and become subject to its canons and regulations; and may be accorded a seat and vote in the Diocesan Convention, in accordance with its canonical provisions for qualification of Presbyters; but if he shall accept a pastoral charge or other ministerial post within the Diocese, as hereinafter provided, he shall process such Letters Dimissory and be enrolled among the clergy of the Diocese, and be given seat and vote in the Diocesan Convention, subject to the provisions of paragraph (g) of this section.

Sec. 9 (d). Such resigned Bishop may, with the approval of the Bishop of the Diocese in which he chooses to reside, accept a pastoral charge in said Diocese, and, subject to its canonical provisions for the filling of vacancies, may accept election as the Rector of a Parish therein.

Sec. 9 (e). Such resigned Bishop may, with the approval of the Bishop of the Diocese in which he chooses to reside, accept any position created under the authority of the Diocesan Convention, including that of Assistant Bishop. He may, at the same time, occupy a pastoral charge.

Sec. 9 (f). Enrollment among the clergy of, or acceptance of any position within, a Diocese shall not deprive a resigned Bishop of the seat and vote in the House of Bishops to which he may be entitled under Article I., Sec. 2 of the Constitution.

Sec. 9 (g). The provisions of the foregoing paragraphs of this section shall be applicable to a resigned Bishop who continues to reside within the limits of the jurisdiction he previously served as Bishop, except that he shall not have the right to vote in the Diocesan Convention, unless the Canons of the Diocese so specifically provide.

Citation: General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Minneapolis, 1976 (New York: General Convention, 1977), p. C-56.