Question on Declaration of Principles
https://archives.anglican.ca/link/official4167
- Date
- 1973 May
- Source
- General Synod. Minutes
- Type
- Opinion of Assessors
- Text of motion
- Archbishop Jackson asked, "Does Section 9 of the Declaration of Principles require that major changes in doctrine and practice decided upon by General Synod require approval of the Provincial Synods before being effected ?"
- In response the Assessors offered the following opinion:
- "Archbishop Jackson raised the question of the effect of Section 9 of the Declaration of Principles. This section refers to Sections 6 and 7 of the Declaration. Section 6, subject to Section 7, defines the legislative jurisdictions of General Synod. Section 7 defines the legislative jurisdictions of Provincial Synods. Section 9 reads, `... Except insofar as the provisions of Sections 6 and 7 are the same as the legislation now in force, the said Sections shall not come into force in such ecclesiastical Province until approved by the Provincial Synod thereof.'
- "The Assessors are informed that Section 9 was introduced into the Declaration when delegates from the ecclesiastical Provinces then in existence in Canada met in 1893 to join in the Declaration of Principles and authorize the creation of General Synod. The distribution of jurisdictions set out in Sections 6 and 7 between General Synod and Provincial Synods involved the surrender by the Provinces to General Synod of the powers set out in Section 6. This surrender required confirmation by the Provincial Synods then in existence -- those of Rupert's Land and Canada. Section 9 deals with that confirmation. The word `now' in Section 9 referred to the original date of the Declaration of Principles, in 1893.
- "The Assessors are informed that the required confirmation was given by the two Provincial Synods in 1893. That being so, no further confirmation is necessary. Archbishop Jackson's question was directed to the problem whether legislation of each session of General Synod under the authority of Section 6 of the Declaration requires confirmation by each Provincial Synod before it can come into effect in each Province, respectively. On the understanding that such confirmation was given immediately following the adoption of the Declaration by the two then existing Provincial Synods, the Assessors agree that the legislative jurisdiction of General Synod was thereby permanently established and no Provincial confirmation of current legislation of General Synod enacted under the authority of Section 6 of the Declaration is now necessary.
- "It is noted that the Ecclesiastical Provinces of Ontario and British Columbia are the creations of General Synod, and this problem did not relate to their Synods.
- "It would appear that the provisions of Section 9 of the Declaration are spent and might well be dropped.
- "This opinion is concurred in by all the Assessors."
- Subjects
- Anglican Church of Canada. General Synod. Constitution
- Anglican Church of Canada. Declaration of Principles
- Anglican Church of Canada. General Synod
- Anglican Church of Canada. Ecclesiastical Province of B.C.
- Anglican Church of Canada. Ecclesiastical Province of Canada
- Anglican Church of Canada - Ecclesiastical provinces
- Anglican Church of Canada - Doctrines
- Anglican Church of Canada. General Synod - Rules and practice