Report of the Organization Committee
https://archives.anglican.ca/link/official4154
- Date
- 1973 May
- Source
- General Synod. Minutes
- Type
- Act 46
- Mover
- Archdeacon J.G. Morden
- Seconder
- The Rev. T. Wilding
- Prologue
- Moved by: Chancellor H.R.S. Ryan
- Seconded by: Mr. F.D. Gibson
- THAT the proposed Sections 41 to 46 to be added to the Constitution be approved as a draft amendment of the Constitution to be brought up for further consideration at the next Session of this Synod if the adoption of the proposed new Section 10 of the Declaration of Principles is confirmed at that Session, and that the said proposed additions be printed in the Handbook in place of the present Appendix G.
- 41. DEFINITIONS
- In this section:
- - 1. 'Plan of Union' means a definitive plan for union of the Anglican Church of Canada with another Church or Churches prepared for approval after completion of preliminary negotiations and studies and authorized by the National Executive Council for presentation to the General Synod.
- - 2. 'Member' means a baptized Christian of the age of not less than 16 years who is an adherent of the Anglican Church of Canada.
- - 3. 'Appointed day' means the day appointed by the General Synod for voting on a Plan of Union by members of the Church.
- 42. CONSIDERATION OF A PLAN OF UNION
- - 1. When a Plan of Union has been prepared, it shall be published as directed by the National Executive Council for the information of the members of the Church, and after due notice, shall be presented to the General Synod for approval.
- - 2. Approval of a Plan of Union shall require:
- -- a) Commendation by the General Synod to a national referendum and to the diocesan synods;
- -- b) approval by a national referendum;
- -- c) approval by diocesan synods;
- -- d) final approval by General Synod.
- - 3. If a Plan of Union is approved by General Synod, by members of the Church in a national referendum and by the diocesan synods, and is approved by the other Church or Churches joining in the Plan of Union in accordance with the Constitution of each Church, the Anglican Church of Canada shall enter into Union with the other Church or Churches pursuant to the Plan of Union.
- 43. COMMENDATION BY THE GENERAL SYNOD
- - 1. Commendation of a Plan of Union by the General Synod shall require a favourable vote, taken separately by Orders (Constitution, 9:1), of at least three-fourths of the members voting in each Order on the question.
- - 2. A Plan of Union shall then be submitted without alteration for approval to the members of the Church in a national referendum and to the synod of each diocese as hereinafter provided.
- 44. APPROVAL BY A NATIONAL REFERENDUM
- - 1. A vote by ballot of all members of the Church on a Plan of Union shall be conducted as hereinafter provided.
- - 2. Approval of a Plan of Union by the members of the Church shall require:
- -- a) a favourable vote, taken by orders, of at least three-fourths of the bishops, three-fourths of the other clergy, and three-fourths of the lay members voting in each Order on the question throughout the Anglican Church of Canada;
- -- b) a favourable vote, taken by Orders, of a majority of the clergy, including the bishop or bishops, and a majority of the lay members voting in the diocese on the question.
- - 3. Bishops, including retired bishops, shall vote in the House of Bishops, under arrangements made by the Primate. The Secretary of the House of Bishops shall keep a roll of bishops.
- - 4. a) Other clergy, including active clergy, chaplains to the Armed Forces" those on the staff of Church House, those retired or on leave or on the clergy list of the House of Bishops shall vote in the diocese in which they are resident, under arrangements to be made by the diocesan bishop.
- -- b) Clergy who are members of religious brotherhoods or sisterhoods recognized within the Anglican Church of Canada may vote at the house or chapter to which they are attached rather than the diocese in which they reside. The vote will be included in that of the diocese in which the house or chapter is situated.
- -- c) The General Secretary of General Synod shall have responsibility for voting arrangement for clergy and laity who shall be outside of Canada at the time of the national referendum. This may be done by means of advance or absentee polls.
- -- d) It shall be the duty of the General Secretary, the Secretary of the House of Bishops, the senior Anglican Chaplain to the Forces, and diocesan bishops to notify the bishop of a particular diocese that clergy under their jurisdiction are resident in his diocese for the purpose of the national referendum.
- - 5. a) Lay members shall vote in their congregations under arrangements made by the Incumbent and other officers responsible for the affairs of the congregation or in the case of a vacancy by a diocesan bishop. For the purpose of the plebiscite bases of the Armed Forces shall be considered as congregations. However, no person shall be able to vote twice in the referendum.
- -- b) Lay members of religious brotherhoods or sisterhoods recognized within the Anglican Church of Canada may vote at the house or chapter where they are attached and such vote shall be included in the diocese where the house or chapter is located.
- -- c) Arrangement for voting by members of the Armed Forces, government services and other persons stationed outside of Canada shall be made by the General Secretary of General Synod. He may use the good offices of a bishop of the Anglican Communion in the area or those of the nearest Canadian legation or consulate. Members of the Anglican Church of Canada who are temporarily outside of Canada may use either advance or absentee polls arranged by the parish or diocese to which they belong.
- -- d) A roll of lay members of each congregation shall be kept by officers responsible for the affairs of the congregation. A roll of lay members of the Armed Forces and their dependents shall be kept by the chaplain(s) on each base, under the direction of the senior Anglican Chaplain, and in consultation with the bishop of the diocese where they are stationed.
- -- e) The General Secretary of General Synod shall keep a roll of persons stationed outside Canada who are eligible to vote. The names of members of the Armed Forces and their dependents shall be submitted to him by the senior Anglican Chaplain. Other names may be submitted by the bishop of the diocese from which they come, or personal application may be made by the person(s) involved.
- -- f) Every lay member who wishes to vote on the question of approval of a Plan of Union must be entered upon an appropriate roll as a member. In so doing he must sign a declaration to the effect that he is a baptized Christian and adherent of the Anglican Church of Canada and of the congregation in question, or is otherwise qualified if outside Canada, that he is or will be on the appointed day of the full age of 16 years, and that he does not intend to vote as a member of another congregation or station, by virtue of entry on another roll, on the question of approval of any Plan of Union.
- -- g) Any dispute about the right of any person to be entered on a roll shall be determined in a congregation by the officers responsible for the affairs of the congregation, and any evidence of entitlement satisfactory to them may be produced. An appeal from their decision may be taken to a court or courts of appeal appointed by the bishop of the diocese and composed of clerical and lay members of synod. In the Armed Forces an appeal shall go to the Bishop Ordinary of the Forces.
- -- h) A member on any roll may obtain a certificate of membership on transfer from one congregation or station to another. His name shall be deleted from the first mentioned roll and on production of the certificate shall be entered on the roll of the other congregation or station or on the roll to be kept by the General Secretary of General Synod.
- -- i) Rolls shall be kept up to date from time to time by the officers responsible for keeping them.
- - 6. a) Provision shall be made for advance and absentee voting in each Order.
- -- b) The vote shall as nearly as possible be conducted on the appointed day throughout the Church. Ballots cast before the appointed day shall be kept sealed until the appointed day and counted on that day.
- -- c) All ballot boxes in each diocese shall be delivered unopened to the diocesan office or appointed centre where all lay ballots shall be mixed before counting. The Secretary or Secretaries of each diocesan synod shall forthwith communicate the number of votes in each Order for and against the Plan of Union to the General Secretary of General Synod.
- - d) The General Secretary of General Synod shall publish the total numbers of members of each Order voting for and against a Plan of Union, giving the totals of bishops voting in the whole Church, the totals of their clergy and lay members voting in each diocese. These results shall also be reported by him to each diocesan synod.
- -- e) The Inter-Church Relations Committee, or a task force appointed by it, shall prescribe the details of making and revising the rolls and in the manner of voting and reporting of voting, and may make necessary modifications of the foregoing scheme, provided that they are not inconsistent with the provisions of the section of the Constitution.
- 45. APPROVAL BY DIOCESAN SYNODS
- - 1. A Plan of Union shall then be considered by the synod of each diocese, after due notice, at a session specially called for this purpose, as nearly as possible on the same day throughout the Church.
- - 2. The diocesan synod shall vote in two Orders, clergy and laity, the bishop or bishops being included in the order of clergy. A majority shall be required in each Order.
- - 3. The result of the vote in each diocesan synod shall be communicated forthwith to the General Secretary of General Synod by the synod secretaries.
- - 4. If a Plan of Union is rejected by any diocesan synod, it shall be reconsidered by that synod and a second vote taken within one year. If approval is then given this shall satisfy the requirement of approval by that synod.
- - 5. If a Plan of Union is rejected by a particular diocese in the national referendum, that diocese shall also be required to take a second vote within one year of the appointed day.
- 46. FINAL APPROVAL BY THE GENERAL SYNOD
- - 1. If the national referendum and the diocesan synods have given approval to a Plan of Union the General Synod may then give final approval thereto, and provided that the other Church or Churches have likewise approved the Plan of Union, shall join in preparation for the inauguration of the united Church.
- - 2. Approval by General Synod shall require a three-fourth majority of each order of bishops, clergy and laity.
- - 3. If such approval has not been given as required, the General Synod shall then determine the future policy to be followed by the Anglican Church of Canada.
- Text of motion
- THAT the vote on Section 41-46 be put. CARRIED IN BOTH ORDERS
- The motion was then put and CARRIED IN BOTH ORDERS Act 46
- Notes
- The Assessors ruled that the proposed additions to the Constitution designated as Sections 41-46 did not constitute a Canon dealing with doctrine, worship or discipline or any alteration to any such Canon (and Rule 18 of Procedure and Debate would apply), and will not require to be passed at two successive synods.
- Expression of Gratitude
- An expression of gratitude for the work in drafting the Section on Union with Other Churches was made by Mr. F.D. Gibson to Chancellor Ryan and his Committee. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
- Subjects
- Christian union - Anglican Church of Canada
- Christian union - Canada
- Anglican Church of Canada. General Synod. Constitution
- Anglican Church of Canada. General Synod. Declaration of Principles
- Anglican Church of Canada. General Synod - Assessors
- Plan of Union