Guidelines on Bishops
https://archives.anglican.ca/link/official6860
- Date
- 1981 May 4-8
- Source
- House of Bishops. Minutes
- Type
- Resolution
- Mover
- Bishop Goodman
- Seconder
- Bishop Peers
- Prologue
- Bishop Goodman introduced the Report of the ad hoc Committee on "Guidelines on Bishops." Bishop Peers and Bishop K. Clarke assisted with the presentation. The members of the House made a number of useful comments for the consideration of the ad hoc Committee.
- Text of motion
- That the Report on "Guidelines and Bishops" be received. CARRIED
- Notes
- During discussion it was agreed that more uniform national policy is needed in the election of Bishops and in the Ordering of a Bishop to assist the Diocesan.
- Concern was expressed regarding the retention of the title of Archbishop after retirement.
- Moved by Archbishop Garnsworthy, seconded by Bishop Ragg,
- That Section V(7) on "Assistant to the Bishop" be removed. CARRIED
- Moved by Bishop Nock, seconded by Bishop Goodings,
- That in Section V(6) "Assistant Bishop" the word "regular" be omitted. CARRIED
- Report of the Ad Hoc Committee on "Guidelines on Bishops"
- (See House of Bishops' Minutes, October 1980, p.16; November 1969, p.14 and Appendix B. pp.29/35)
- Other Related Material
- 1. Hilchey letter to Goodman - April 16/80
- 2. Goodman Report of House of Bishops - June/80 which lists all relevant passages in House of Bishops' Minutes
- 3. "Report on a Constitution for the House of Bishops" (Goodman) December, 1972 (recommending that there be neither constitution nor canon in this connection). This was a complete review of developments up to that time, including certain other recommendations as well as the one noted above. It included as well a 1971 report on the subject, and correspondence with Chancellor Ryan, Bishop Howe, Rev. Fr. Coleman (recommended by Bishop Howe as having expertise on the subject), and Dr. Conrad Swan, York Herald of Arms.
- Further Comments
- In order to assist any subsequent research in this area it is important to keep an up-to-date list of earlier studies and reports - somehow or other the comprehensive report of 1972 seemed to have been overlooked by myself (who made it!) and other last Spring when we started back at "square one". In that report two objectives were set out as follows:
- A. To maintain the independence and integrity of the House of Bishops so that it may fulfill its responsibility to Christ and His Church.
- B. To enable the House of Bishops to relate effectively with the General Synod when it is in session and with the National Executive Council and other National Committees. (Section IV - A of the report)
- Section IV - B has certain other recommendations which might still be of some interest.
- This report of 1972 taken with the subsequent listing of all references in the House of Bishops' Minutes of June 1980 might be regarded as a definitive document on the subject to date.
- The Meeting of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Guidelines
- Monday, March 23, 1981 (Calgary) - Bishops Clarke, Peers and Goodman
- Notes
- 1. There are a great many other guidelines having to do with agreed policies in pastoral and administrative action (eg. mixed marriages, Christian Initiation, (agreed?!) etc., etc.). This present committee was not concerned with these but with the status and responsibility of the Episcopate and in particular with the document (on that subject Appendix B pp.29-35, House of Bishops' Minutes, November, 1969 - "Guidelines on Bishops".)
- 2. There is a developed conviction that it would be inadvisable to have either a Constitution for the House of Bishops or a Canon on the House of Bishops. This is perhaps the one clear conviction which has come out of successive studies and debates.
- 3. Originally (1961) the material numbered twenty (XX) sections, by 1969 the number of sections has been reduced to ten (X) but our study revealed that most if not all of the earlier material was still present in the revised text, having been collated, edited and rearranged.
- 4. In the time at our disposal we were able to deal with the first seven (VII) sections of the 1969 report. If the House wishes us to continue we must report on the last three sections at some later date.
- 5. Our work resulted in some considerable re-wording, renumbering, and the addition as well as the deletion of some material.
- 6. Certain Provincial and General Synod Canons must be reckoned with in regard to the Guidelines, to the best of our ability we attempted to do this.
- Suggested Revision of Material in Appendix B - House of Bishops Minutes, November 1969, pp.29-35 - Guidelines on Bishops
- Appendix B
- Guidelines on Bishops
- Note: The doctrine of episcopacy is contained in the Ordinal. What follows concerns episcope in practice.
- 1. The Anglican Church of Canada holds and teaches that from the Apostles' time there have been these Orders of Ministers in Christ's Church: Bishops, Priests (Presbyters) and Deacons; and no person shall be accounted or taken to be a lawful Bishop, Priest or Deacon in the Anglican Church of Canada, or permitted to execute any of the offices attached to the same, except such person be called, examined and admitted thereunto according to the Ordinal or has had episcopal consecration or ordination in some Church whose orders are recognized and accepted by the Anglican Church of Canada.
- 2. Before any person is consecrated to the episcopate, the Metropolitan of the Province must be satisfied that the person possesses the qualifications for the office. The Bishop-elect must be a Priest of not less than five years' standing, and thirty years of age; of good character, piety, learning; with a zeal for souls, prudence; sound in health of body and mind.
- 3. The Constitutive elements in the making of a Bishop in the Anglican Church of Canada are:
- (1) in the ordering of a Diocesan, the prior consent of the Metropolitan to the arrangements for the election of said Bishop.
- In the ordering of a Bishop to assist the Diocesan, the prior consent of the Metropolitan and the other Bishops of the Province to the arrangements for the election of said Bishop.
- (2) election of the Synod or Electoral Body of the Diocese in accordance with the operative canon of the Ecclesiastical Province and Diocese concerned. Clerical and Lay Delegates vote separately, by ballot. Election shall require at least a majority of votes cast by the Clergy, and by the Laity.
- (3) free acceptance by the person elected within a space of 14 days after his receiving notification of his election.
- (4) ratification of the election by the Metropolitan and Bishops of the Province as prescribed in the Provincial Canons. (This ratification constitutes the Bishop-elect, after his Consecration, a member of the Provincial House of Bishops, the National House and the Order of Bishops within the General Synod.)
- (5) consecration according to the form approved by General Synod, with the Metropolitan or some other Bishop delegated by him as the Chief Consecrator, assisted by at least two other Bishops exercising their offices in two Dioceses of the Province other than that of the Chief Consecrator. (In no circumstances shall there be less than three Bishops taking part in the Consecration of a Bishop.)
- (6) registration of the Election and Consecration of the Bishop in the Registers of the Diocese, the Province and of General Synod.
- 4. (Note: since this section is a theological commentary we were concerned as to whether it belongs in the "Guidelines". We have left it in with some emendation of the ultimate paragraph. If it is decided to remove it, the following sections must be renumbered.)
- The effects of Ordination, and its obligations, are permanent, in the same way that the effects and obligations of Baptism are permanent.
- (1) The Bishop was made Deacon, and after his Consecration he still remains a servant. His Diaconate is extended and made more onerous, for he now becomes a servant of the servants of God.
- (2) He was ordained Priest. He never ceases to be a Priest. Among his clergy, he is an equal in all respects as to his Priesthood. His obligations to preach the Gospel and to minister the Sacraments of Christ never cease.
- (3) The unity of the ordained ministry lies in this common priesthood of the Gospel and Sacraments, and in the apostolate and mission of the whole Church to the world. Among the clergy and people of the Church, the Bishop is Chief Pastor.
- 5. Bishops are equal in regard to their consecration and office; they may differ in their jurisdiction. These differences in jurisdictions are described below.
- (1) The Primate - a Bishop who is elected by General Synod and installed as Chief Pastor to the National Church, President of the House of Bishops, of the General Synod and of the Executive Council, with preeminence throughout the Church, but without territorial jurisdiction. The Primate bears the title of Archbishop.
- (2) Metropolitan - a Bishop who has jurisdiction not only within his own Diocese but also a jurisdiction and preeminence throughout the ecclesiastical province as defined in the Canons of that Province. He bears the title of Archbishop.
- (3) Diocesan - a Bishop who has jurisdiction and preeminence within a Diocese and may also be referred to as the Ordinary of that Diocese.
- (4) Coadjutor - a Bishop elected to assist a Diocesan Bishop with right of succession on the death or resignation of that Diocesan.
- (5) Suffragan - a person elected and consecrated to assist the Diocesan.
- (6) Assistant Bishop - a Bishop already consecrated, appointed by the Diocesan and the Executive Council of a Diocese, and in receipt of regular Diocesan remuneration. Such appointment may be held together with the care of a parish or other ministry within the Diocese.
- (7) Assistant to the Bishop - a Bishop already consecrated who is appointed by the Diocesan to assist him in his episcopal ministry, subject to any limitations inherent in Diocesan, Provincial or General Synod Canons.
- NOTE: The following is a new section.
- 6. The Bishop's responsibilities within the Council of the Church.
- (1) In the categories listed in Section V (above), the Primate, the Metropolitans, the Diocesans, the Coadjutors, Suffragans and assistant Bishops are members of the National and Provincial Houses of Bishops, and of the Order of Bishops within General Synod, with voice and vote implicit to each membership. The expenses incurred by attendance at meetings of these bodies are the responsibility of General or Provincial Synod as the case may be.
- (2) Assistants to the Bishop, Bishops who have resigned and/or retired and who are in good standing are members of the National and Provincial Houses of Bishops with voice and vote. They are also members of the Order of Bishops within General Synod, but without vote. The expenses incurred by attendance at meetings of these bodies are the responsibility of the individual Bishop.
- NOTE: Former VI becomes VII and is completely rewritten with close attention to its content but with a new form.
- 7. A Diocesan in relation to his Diocese.
- (1) Inherent in his Diocesan jurisdiction the Diocesan Bishop has the following authority and responsibilities:
- - to function as the chief liturgical officer.
- - to preside at the Eucharist.
- - to preside at the ordination of Deacons and Priests.
- - the laying on of hands in confirmation.
- - the licensing and institution of clergy.
- - the consecration of churches, chapels and burial grounds.
- - to visit any and every parish or institution within the Diocese and to review its life and work.
- - to review the life and work of those clergy and laity who hold his licence or commission.
- - to summon all Synods, Diocesan Conferences and Executive Committees.
- - to preside at same, and to delegate said presidency subject to the Canons of his Diocese.
- - to attend to the discipline of the Church as provided in Diocesan, Provincial and General Synod Canons.
- - to share fully in the sound administration of the Diocese.
- (2) The authority and jurisdiction that the Bishop possesses within the Diocese are constitutional:
- (a) in being exercised under the Canons of the Diocese, of the Ecclesiastical Province, and of General Synod, and
- (b) in being shared with clergy and laity elected to Synod and its Boards and Committees, and
- (c) in his obligation to consult with the Metropolitan and fellow Bishops in the Province, and with the Primate and the Canadian House of Bishops, on important matters of Faith, Worship, Order, discipline, and the Mission of the Church.
- (3)(a) Only under the most exceptional circumstances, and on a temporary basis, may a Bishop accept any other appointment with remuneration, and then only with the consent of the Diocesan Executive and the Metropolitan. This consent may be recalled by either party at any time, provided due notice is given.
- (b) It is the duty of the Diocese to provide its Bishop (or Bishops) with an adequate stipend and allowances.
- (4) All Bishops are required to be resident within their Diocese for at least nine months in each calendar year. In the assessment of this obligation consideration should be given to the time spent representing the Diocese, the Province or the National Church in international, national and provincial meetings.
- (5)(a) All Bishops shall be entitled to three months' Leave of Absence from their Diocese with full stipend and allowances on the completion of five years service, and thereafter three months for every five years completed.
- (b) The Leave of Absence shall not be cumulative from one five-year period to the next.
- (c) Any Bishop taking Leave of Absence, shall report to the Diocesan Executive and the Metropolitans on the measures he is taking for his ministry and Administration during his absence. The Metropolitan shall satisfy himself that the measures are sufficient, and shall take any necessary steps to ensure that the measures agreed to are being duly maintained.
- 8. A Diocesan Bishop in Relation to the Clergy.
- (1) Among the clergy who hold his license, the Bishop is the Chief Pastor, and Chief Liturgical Officer.
- (2) The Bishop shall arrange for periodic retreats and conferences of the Clergy for their spiritual and intellectual renewal, and arrange for their post ordination study and training.
- (3) The Bishop shall exercise a pastoral concern for the families of the Clergy, and according to the means at his discretion assist them at times of their special need.
- (4) In considering recourse to the Diocesan and General Synod Canons on discipline the Bishop shall not proceed to definitive action without consulting his Chancellor, and appropriate senior Clergy of the Diocese.
- Subjects
- Guidelines on Bishops
- Episcopacy - Anglican Church of Canada
- Anglican Church of Canada. House of Bishops. Ad Hoc Committee on Guidelines on Bishops
- Anglican Church of Canada - Bishops
- Anglican Church of Canada - Bishops - Office
- Anglican Church of Canada. House of Bishops
- Anglican Church of Canada. House of Bishops. Constitution