Committee to Offer Proposed Changes
to Diocesan Constitution & Canons

by Alice Clayton
Canon to the Ordinary
The Constitution and Canons Committee continues to work on rewriting the diocesan canons and will present several updated canons for consideration at the convention in February.

Over the past two years, the convention has approved changes to the diocesan constitution and to canons dealing with parish and diocesan reports and the deployment of parish clergy.

At its Oct. 31 meeting, the Constitution and Canons Committee discussed possible changes to the canons on parishes and missions. The final versions of those canons will be approved by the committee in November or December and distributed to delegates before the convention. The committee made minor changes to Canon 6, Bishop and Council; Canon 7, Diocesan Program; and Canon 22, Episcopal Endowment Corporation. The proposed canons are printed below. For an updated version of the diocesan canons, visit the diocesan website at www.etdiocese.net and click on the Constitution and Canons link.

Proposed new Canon 6. The Bishop and Council (would be added to the end of Canon 6 and eliminate Canon 7 on Diocesan Program)

Sec. 18. The Bishop and Council shall provide for the organization of the program and the work of the Diocese through the creation of such commissions, departments, task forces, and committees that it deems necessary for the administration of the program and work of the Diocese and shall designate the title, define the structure, duties and responsibilities, and provide for the expenses of each commission, department, task force, and committee.

Sec. 19. The administration of the program and work of the Diocese shall be the responsibility of the Bishop, and the work of all commissions, departments, task forces, and committees shall be subject to the Bishop's executive and administrative authority. The Bishop and Council shall make provision for such administrative assistants, canons, deputies, and archdeacons, including their compensation and expenses, as shall be required to enable the Bishop to carry on the administration of the Diocese.

Sec. 20. Each commission, department, task force, and committee shall include both Clergy and Lay Members, and the members thereof shall be appointed by the Bishop, who shall designate a Chairman. All Lay Members shall be Communicants in Good Standing. Each commission, department, task force, and committee shall keep minutes of its meetings, file copies of the same with the Secretary of the Bishop and Council, make such reports to Bishop and Council as it may from time to time require, and upon request by the Bishop, file an annual report of its activities with the Secretary for inclusion in the Journal.

Sec. 21. Nothing herein shall restrict the right of the Bishop to appoint such ad hoc committees as the Bishop may deem advisable. The Bishop shall make a report of the formation of any such ad hoc committee at the next meeting of the Bishop and Council following its creation.

Canon 22 - The Episcopal Endowment Corporation

Sec. 1. The Episcopal Endowment Corporation, a duly chartered and organized Corporation governed by the laws of the State of Tennessee, shall have custody and control of, and be charged with the investment of trust funds heretofore placed with the Corporation by the Diocese. The Diocese shall have the authority, with the approval of The Bishop and Council, to place any or all donations, bequests, devises or legacies with the Episcopal Endowment Corporation, which shall hold and administer the same in accordance with the direction of the donor, conveyor or testator. In all cases in which the conveyor, donor or testator has not directed the use of the funds, then the same shall be held, managed, administered and dealt with, together with the income arising, therefrom, under the recommendation of the Bishop and Council.

Sec. 2. The Convention shall elect those directors of the Episcopal Endowment Corporation to which this Diocese is entitled. Each director shall be elected to a three-year term. Vacancies occasioned by death or otherwise shall be filled by The Bishop and Council for the remainder of the unexpired term. Terms of office of director(s) shall commence in the month of February of the year of election and the Secretary of the Convention shall certify the name(s) of those elected to the President of the Episcopal Endowment Corporation.

Sec. 3. A trust shall be construed with the Episcopal Endowment Corporation, to be authorized by this Canon, as being, for the use and benefit of this Convention, if the Diocese, the Convention, any institution, Mission or Parish in union therewith has any present, future or contingent interest in the corpus or income of such trust,

Sec. 4. The Episcopal Endowment Corporation shall submit an annual audit performed by an independent Certified Public Accountant showing the status of the investments in the fund. This report shall be submitted to the Convention and those institutions within the Diocese that have funds entrusted to the Episcopal Endowment Corporation for investment.

2002 Convention Will Focus on Ministry & Mission