A053 (Amend Canons IV.2, IV.8.1, and IV.8.5 Regarding the Role of Intake officers )

House of Bishops Message #294

The House of Bishops informs the House of Deputies that on Jun 28, 2024 it considered resolution A053 (Amend Canons IV.2, IV.8.1, and IV.8.5 Regarding the Role of Intake officers ). The house acted to:

Concur


Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring,

That the 81st General Convention amend Canons IV.2 to read as follows:

<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.>

Canon IV.2

Intake Officer means one or more persons designated by the Bishop Diocesan after consultation with the Disciplinary Board, unless otherwise selected pursuant to diocesan canons, to whom information regarding Offenses is reported. The following individuals may not serve as an Intake Officer: (a) any Bishop; (b) any member of the Standing Committee of the Diocese where the matter is pending. Every Diocese must have at least one Intake Officer who has no direct employment or compensation relationship with the Diocese where the matter is pending.

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Canon IV.2

Intake Officer shall mean means one or more persons designated by the Bishop Diocesan after consultation with the Disciplinary Board, unless otherwise selected pursuant to diocesan canons, to whom information regarding Offenses is reported. The following individuals may not serve as an Intake Officer: (a) any Bishop; (b) any member of the Standing Committee of the Diocese where the matter is pending.; or (c) any person that holds an office, is employed by, or maintains a compensation relationship with the Diocese where the matter is pending in which such employment, office, or other compensation relationship includes responsibility for the deployment of Clergy or pastoral care of members of the Clergy. Every Diocese shall have at least one Intake Officer who is not directly employed by or other compensation relationship with the Diocese where the matter is pending. Every Diocese must have at least one Intake Officer who has no direct employment or compensation relationship with the Diocese where the matter is pending.

And be it further.

That the 81st General Convention amend Canon IV.8.1 to read as follows:

<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.>

Canon 8: Of Pastoral Response

Sec. 1. The Bishop Diocesan shall provide for appropriate pastoral response whenever any report is made to the Intake Officer. Such pastoral response shall embody respect, care, and concern for affected persons and Communities. The response shall be designed so as to promote healing, repentance, forgiveness, restitution, justice, amendment of life and reconciliation among all involved or affected. If the report involves an allegation of Sexual Misconduct, the Bishop Diocesan shall provide for a professional pastoral care assessment in order to provide an appropriate pastoral response. The pastoral response will include all affected persons and communities. The pastoral care response will be based on the professional pastoral care assessment.

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<Proposed amended resolution text showing exact changes being made:>

Canon 8: Of Pastoral Response

Sec. 1. The Bishop Diocesan shall provide for appropriate pastoral response whenever any report is made to the Intake Officer. Such pastoral response shall embody respect, care, and concern for affected persons and Communities. The response shall be designed so as to promote healing, repentance, forgiveness, restitution, justice, amendment of life and reconciliation among all involved or affected. If the report involves an allegation of Sexual Misconduct, the Bishop Diocesan shall is encouraged to provide for a professional pastoral care assessment in order to provide an appropriate pastoral response. The pastoral response will include all affected persons and communities. The pastoral care response will be based on the professional pastoral care assessment pastoral response that will include the provision of assistance by a mental health professional with appropriate skills for meaningful response to affected persons.

 

And be it further.

Resolved, that the 81st General Convention amend Canon IV.8.5 to read as follows:

<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.>

Canon IV.8.5

Sec. 5. The Bishop Diocesan may designate one or more persons to be responsible for the implementation of the pastoral response. Such person must not be the Intake Officer. The duties of such person may include coordination of pastoral care and coordination of communications between the Bishop Diocesan and Advisors.

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Canon IV.8.5

Sec. 5. The Bishop Diocesan may designate a person one or more persons to be responsible for the implementation of the pastoral response. Such person may must not be the Intake Officer. The duties of such person may include coordination of pastoral care and coordination of communications between the Bishop Diocesan and Advisors.