C016 Amend Canon III.12 to Provide for the Transfer of Bishops to Churches in Communion

Final Status: Concurred

Resolved, That the General Convention amend Canon III.12 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 Bishop desiring to become canonically resident within another member church, Province or equivalent jurisdiction of a Church in Full Communion (as identified in Canon I.20) or Church in Communion with this Church (as identified by Canon III.10.2.a.3) shall request a testimonial from the Presiding Bishop, which testimonial, with the advice and consent of a majority of the members of the Advisory Council to the Presiding Bishop, shall be given by the Presiding Bishop to the applicant, and a duplicate thereof may be sent to the Presiding Bishop or Primate of the member church, Province 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 member church, Province, 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 Bishop 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 Presiding Bishop or Primate of the member church, Province or equivalent jurisdiction of the Church in Full Communion or Church in Communion with this Church accepts the testimonial, the canonical residence of the Bishop transferred shall date from such acceptance, and notice of acceptance shall be promptly forwarded by the Presiding Bishop or Primate to the Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church. 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 Bishop in good standing.

(Date) ___________________________

(Signed) _________________________

c. Upon receipt of said acceptance, the Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church shall notify the Church Pension Fund and the Recorder of Ordinations of the Bishop’s departure from The Episcopal Church.

d. This provision shall not be used for Bishops who seek to enter Churches Not in Communion with this Church or for those who seek transfer to another member church or Province of the Anglican Communion while remaining geographically within the boundaries of The Episcopal Church. In such cases the provisions of Canon III.12.8 shall be followed.

 

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

a. A Bishop desiring to become canonically resident within another member church, Province or equivalent jurisdiction of a Church in Full Communion (as identified in Canon I.20) or Church in Communion with this Church (as identified by Canon III.10.2.a.3) shall request a testimonial from the Presiding Bishop, which testimonial, with the advice and consent of a majority of the members of the Advisory Council to the Presiding Bishop, shall be given by the Presiding Bishop to the applicant, and a duplicate thereof may be sent to the Presiding Bishop or Primate of the member church, Province 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 member church, Province, 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 Bishop 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 Presiding Bishop or Primate of the member church, Province or equivalent jurisdiction of the Church in Full Communion or Church in Communion with this Church accepts the testimonial, the canonical residence of the Bishop transferred shall date from such acceptance, and notice of acceptance shall be promptly forwarded by the Presiding Bishop or Primate to the Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church. 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 Bishop in good standing.

(Date) ___________________________

(Signed) _________________________

c. Upon receipt of said acceptance, the Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church shall notify the Church Pension Fund and the Recorder of Ordinations of the Bishop’s departure from The Episcopal Church.

d. This provision shall not be used for Bishops who seek to enter Churches Not in Communion with this Church or for those who seek transfer to another member church or Province of the Anglican Communion while remaining geographically within the boundaries of The Episcopal Church. In such cases the provisions of Canon III.12.8 shall be followed.