Constitution and Canons Committee to
Present Reworked & Reorganized Canons

The Constitution and Canons Committee is about to conclude a three-year process of updating the diocesan canons and will present a reorganized and rewritten document for consideration at the February convention.

“This year the committee is asking the convention to address the canons as a whole as they have not only been reworked but have been reorganized. The canons have been changed to what we hope is a more logical format, and they are more consistent with the canons of the national church,” said the Hon. Marie Williams, chair of the committee.

While most of the changes will be organizational and editorial, two canons will have what could be viewed as substantial changes. The proposed change to the canon on Bishop and Council will change the way members are elected. Currently members are nominated and elected all convention delegates. The change would have members nominated and elected by the area for which they will serve. For example, a lay member from the South East area of the diocese would be nominated by someone from that area and would be voted upon by delegates from that area only.

“This action is intended to raise the question of whether Bishop and Council members should be elected by the region of which they reside,” Williams said.

The second substantive change involves the canon on real estate. This suggested change would move the responsibility for how real property is transferred, encumbered or assigned to the Standing Committee instead of the B&C.

“This change is made to bring our canons into compliance with national canons and to insure consistency,” Williams explained.

In addition, an amendment to Article IV of the Constitution, which deals with the membership of the convention, will be proposed. This amendment was necessitated by last year’s change to Canon 1 The Convention, which gave university or college chapels two seats with voice and vote. The amendment will be voted upon at this convention and will require another vote at the succeeding convention.

Hearings on the proposed changes to the Constitution and Canons will be held on Friday, Feb. 7 at 4 p.m. and Saturday morning at 8 a.m.