C017 HB Committee #02 Report #07

House of Bishops Committee 02 - Constitution & Canons presents its Report #07 on Resolution C017 (Amend Canon III.7 to Provide for the Transfer of Deacons to Churches in Communion) and moves:

Adopt

Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring,

That the General Convention amend Canon III.7 to add a new section 7 as follows, renumbering subsequent sections:

<Amended text as it would appear if adopted and concurred. Scroll below the line of asterisks (******) to see the version showing all deleted and added text.>

Sec. 7. Transfer to Churches in Full Communion with this Church

a. A Deacon desiring to become canonically resident within a Diocese or equivalent jurisdiction of a Church in Full Communion (as identified in Canon I.20) or a Church in Communion with this Church (as identified by Canon III.10.2..a.3)) shall request a testimonial from the Ecclesiastical Authority of the Diocese of current canonical residence, which testimonial shall be given by the Ecclesiastical Authority to the applicant, and a duplicate thereof may be sent to the Ecclesiastical Authority of the Diocese or equivalent jurisdiction to which transfer is proposed. The testimonial may include a portfolio of training, continuing education, and exercise of ministries. The testimonial shall be in the following form or in the form specified by the receiving Diocese or equivalent jurisdiction:

I hereby certify that A.B., who has signified to me the desire to be transferred to the Ecclesiastical Authority of _________________, is a Deacon of the Diocese of _________________ of the Episcopal Church in good standing, and has not, so far as I know or believe, been justly liable to evil report, for error in religion or for viciousness of life, for the last three years.

(Date) ___________________________

(Signed) _________________________

b. If the Ecclesiastical Authority of the Diocese or equivalent jurisdiction of the Church in Full Communion or Church in Communion with this Church accepts the testimonial, the canonical residence of the Deacon transferred shall date from such acceptance, and notice of acceptance shall be promptly forwarded by the Deacon to the Ecclesiastical Authority in the sending Diocese. Such notification from the receiving Ecclesiastical Authority may be in the following form:

I hereby certify that A.B. has been canonically transferred to my jurisdiction and is a Deacon in good standing.

(Date) ___________________________

(Signed) _________________________

c. Upon receipt of said acceptance, the Ecclesiastical Authority of the sending Diocese shall notify the Church Pension Fund and the Recorder of Ordinations of the Deacon’s departure from the Episcopal Church.

d. This provision shall not be used for Deacons who seek to enter Churches Not in Communion with this Church or for those who seek transfer to another Province of the Anglican Communion while remaining geographically within the boundaries of the Episcopal Church. In such cases the provisions of Canon III.7.8 shall be followed.

 

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Canon III.7

Sec. 7. Transfer to Churches in Full Communion with this Church

a. A Deacon desiring to become canonically resident within a Diocese or equivalent jurisdiction of a Church in Full Communion (as identified in Canon I.20) or a Church in Communion with this Church (as identified by Canon III.10.2..a.3)) shall request a testimonial from the Ecclesiastical Authority of the Diocese of current canonical residence, which testimonial shall be given by the Ecclesiastical Authority to the applicant, and a duplicate thereof may be sent to the Ecclesiastical Authority of the Diocese or equivalent jurisdiction to which transfer is proposed. The testimonial may include a portfolio of training, continuing education, and exercise of ministries. The testimonial shall be in the following form or in the form specified by the receiving Diocese or equivalent jurisdiction:

I hereby certify that A.B., who has signified to me the desire to be transferred to the Ecclesiastical Authority of _________________, is a Deacon of the Diocese of _________________ of the Episcopal Church in good standing, and has not, so far as I know or believe, been justly liable to evil report, for error in religion or for viciousness of life, for the last three years.

(Date) ___________________________

(Signed) _________________________

b. If the Ecclesiastical Authority of the Diocese or equivalent jurisdiction of the Church in Full Communion or Church in Communion with this Church accepts the testimonial, the canonical residence of the Deacon transferred shall date from such acceptance, and notice of acceptance shall be promptly forwarded by the Deacon to the Ecclesiastical Authority in the sending Diocese. Such notification from the receiving Ecclesiastical Authority may be in the following form:

I hereby certify that A.B. has been canonically transferred to my jurisdiction and is a Deacon in good standing.

(Date) ___________________________

(Signed) _________________________

c. Upon receipt of said acceptance, the Ecclesiastical Authority of the sending Diocese shall notify the Church Pension Fund and the Recorder of Ordinations of the Deacon’s departure from the Episcopal Church.

d. This provision shall not be used for Deacons who seek to enter Churches Not in Communion with this Church or for those who seek transfer to another Province of the Anglican Communion while remaining geographically within the boundaries of the Episcopal Church. In such cases the provisions of Canon III.7.8 shall be followed.