Resolution #22 - Canon 16. Deployment Of Parish Clergy
Substitute resolution adopted

Sec. 1. Whenever the office of Rector of a Parish shall become open it shall be the duty of the Vestry to give immediate notice thereof to the Bishop who shall render the Vestry such assistance as may be in the power of the Bishop in filling the opening.

Sec. 2. (a) It shall be the duty of the Vestry to make arrangements for maintaining the services of the Church during the interim period of the opening. In consultation with and under the guidance of the Bishop, the Vestry shall employ a Priest during that time under one of the following three classifications:
Supply - A Priest who conducts weekday and Sunday worship services.
Extended Supply - A Priest who conducts weekday and Sunday worship services and provides pastoral care in emergencies.
Interim Rector - A Priest with parish experience and interim ministry skills and training, who can give guidance to parishes during an interim period, and who understands and is trained to respond to dynamics and issues that may exist during the interim period. The Vestry and the Interim Rector shall enter into a Letter of Agreement which sets forth the responsibilities, stipend, and allowances of the Interim Rector and which shall be approved and signed by the Bishop. The Letter of Agreement shall be made a part of the Vestry's minutes.
(b) Under special circumstances as determined by the Bishop, the Bishop may offer a parish the appointment of a Priest-in-Charge Under Special Circumstances. The following standards are established for the relationship among the Parish, the Priest-in-Charge Under Special Circumstances and the Bishop:

1. The Bishop shall appoint the Priest-in-Charge Under Special Circumstances with the consent of the Vestry.
2. The Parish, Priest-in-Charge Under Special Circumstances, and the Bishop shall enter into a Letter of Agreement which shall follow diocesan guidelines for such agreements.
3. The length of the relationship shall be for a maximum of three years. The length may be shortened at the discretion of the Bishop.
4. An evaluation of the relationship shall be conducted by the office of the Bishop at six month intervals.
5. The Parish shall engage in a self-study during the relationship, and shall begin or continue a search for a Rector pursuant to diocesan guidelines when authorized by the Bishop. After consultation and with approval of the Bishop, the Priest-in-Charge Under Special Circumstances may be called as Rector.

Sec. 3. In case the Vestry of a Parish fails to make arrangements for maintaining the services of the Church during the period of an opening the Bishop shall have the power to send such Clergy as may be available for that purpose, and, in all such cases, the Clergy so sent shall have access to the Church.

Sec. 4. If the office of Rector of a Parish becomes open, the Vestry shall call a Rector, but such call shall be subject to the provisions of this Canon, viz:
(a). Notice shall be given the Bishop by the Vestry not more than ten days after the opening occurs, and the Vestry shall conduct the interim period and search for a Rector in consultation with the Bishop and with the guidance of the Bishop and of any diocesan guidelines for those activities.
(b). Unless the Bishop permits otherwise, no call shall be issued until thirty days after the identity of the Priest whom the Vestry proposes to call has been made known to the Bishop, and the Vestry shall have met and considered any communication received from the Bishop.
(c). Written notice of the election of a new Rector shall be sent to the Bishop. If the Bishop be satisfied that the person so chosen is a duly qualified Priest and that the Priest has accepted the office, the notice will be sent to the Secretary of the Convention, who shall record it.
(d). The Vestry and the Rector shall enter into a Letter of Agreement which sets forth the responsibilities, stipend, and allowances of the Rector, as well as other matters pertaining to the relationship of Rector and Parish. Further, the Letter of Agreement shall be approved and signed by the Bishop, and it shall be made a part of the Vestry's minutes.

Sec. 5. All other ordained ministers of a Parish shall be under the jurisdiction of the Rector, who shall have the power to appoint or to dismiss them, provided that:
(a). Unless the Bishop permits otherwise, the Rector may not appoint a member of clergy as an Assistant Minister until thirty days after the Bishop has been given notice of the Rector's intent and of the identity of the proposed Assistant Minister.
(b). The stipend and allowances of the Assistant shall be fixed by the Vestry, which must create and may abolish the office to be filled.
(c) An assistant Minister of a Parish is ineligible to become the Rector of the Parish. Assistant Ministers shall serve at the discretion of the Rector and may not serve beyond the period of service of the Rector, provided that pending the call of a new Rector, an Assistant Minister may continue to serve at the request of the Vestry and under conditions as determined by the Vestry and the Bishop, and further provided that Assistant Ministers so serving shall offer their resignations upon the beginning of the service of the new Rector.

Sec. 6. A Priest not canonically resident in the Diocese may be called as a Rector, and a Priest or a Deacon as an Assistant Minister, only with prior permission of the Bishop, said permission to be confirmed in writing.    [Back]