(xxxvii) Canon on Bishops
https://archives.anglican.ca/link/official8595
- Date
- 1967 August 15-18
- Source
- House of Bishops. Minutes
- Type
- Resolution
- Mover
- Bishop of Ontario
- Seconder
- Archbishop of Fredericton
- Text of motion
- "That the proposed Canon on Bishops, with amendments, passed by the House be printed in the Minutes." The Proposed Canon is printed as Appendix D to these Minutes.
- Notes
- APPENDIX D
- "GUIDELINES FOR THE USE OF BISHOPS"
- Canon on Bishops, as presented by the Special Committee in August, 1967
- I (I 1965) [Text printed in parentheses appears in margin opposite the text below and refers to Sections in earlier editions of Guidelines]
- 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 man 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 he be called, tried, 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.
- II (II 1965) [Text printed in parentheses appears in margin opposite the text below and refers to Sections in earlier editions of Guidelines]
- Before any person is consecrated to the episcopate, the Metropolitan of the Province must satisfy himself 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. He must possess good character, piety, learning, a zeal for souls and prudence. He should be sound in health of body and mind.
- III The constitutive elements in the making of a Bishop in the Anglican Church of Canada are:
- (III 1965) [Text printed in parentheses appears in margin opposite the text below and refers to Sections in earlier editions of Guidelines]
- - (1) In the ordering of a Bishop for a Diocese that has become vacant (that is, in the ordering of a Diocesan Bishop) the consent of the Metropolitan to the arrangements for the electing body must first be obtained; in the ordering of a Bishop to assist the Diocesan, the consent of the Metropolitan and Bishops of the Province to the election must first be obtained.
- - (2) Election by the Synod or Electoral Body of the Diocese in accordance with the operative canon of the Ecclesiastical Province or Diocese concerned. Clerical and Lay Delegates shall vote separately, by ballot. Election shall require at least a majority of the 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 in accordance with the method of ratification prescribed in the Provincial Canons. This ratification constitutes the Bishop-elect, after his Consecration, a member of the Provincial House of Bishops, and of the Upper House of General Synod.
- - (5) Consecration of the Bishop-elect according to "The Form of Ordaining or Consecrating of an Archbishop or Bishop" by the Metropolitan, or by some Bishop appointed to act in his behalf, assisted by at least two other Bishops exercising their offices in two Dioceses of the Province other than that of the Metropolitan is necessary.
- - In no circumstances shall there be less than three Bishops taking part in the Consecration of a Bishop.
- - (6) The registration of the Election and Consecration of the Bishop in the Registers of the Diocese, the Province and of General Synod.
- IV The effects of Ordination, and its obligations, are permanent, in the same way that the effects and obligations of Baptism are permanent.
- (IV 1965) [Text printed in parentheses appears in margin opposite the text below and refers to Sections in earlier editions of Guidelines]
- - (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 obligation 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 pastors of the Church, the Bishop is Chief Pastor, the "Pastor Pastorum". It appertains specially to his office to teach and uphold sound doctrine, and to banish and drive away all erroneous and strange opinions; and, himself an example of righteous and godly living, it is his duty to set forward and maintain quietness, love and peace among all men.
- V Bishops are equal in regard to their consecration and office; they differ in their jurisdiction. Among Bishops we distinguish the following:
- (V 1965) [Text printed in parentheses appears in margin opposite the text below and refers to Sections in earlier editions of Guidelines]
- - (1) Bishops that have pre-eminence and jurisdiction not only within their own Dioceses, but a jurisdiction throughout the Ecclesiastical Province, as defined in the Canons of that Province, are called "Metropolitans" and bear the title of "Archbishop".
- - (2) Bishops that have jurisdiction throughout a Diocese are called "Diocesans" or "Ordinaries".
- - (3) Bishops elected to assist the Diocesan Bishop include the following classifications: Coadjutors, Suffragans with Title, and Suffragans without Title.
- - (4) Bishops who have resigned, or who are superannuated, and who have been given Special Licences, without election, to perform the duties of a Priest within a Parish, or of Assistant to the Diocesan Bishop. Such Bishops normally work on a part-time basis, and should be described as Assistants to the Bishop. If however, the Diocesan and his Executive provide a regular stipend for this Episcopal Assistance, the Bishop is rightly described as an "Assistant Bishop".
- VI A Bishop in relation to his Diocese.
- (VI 1965) [Text printed in parentheses appears in margin opposite the text below and refers to Sections in earlier editions of Guidelines]
- - (1) Every Diocesan Bishop has, within his Diocese, jurisdiction as Ordinary. He is, within his Diocese, the Principal Minister, and to him belongs the right of celebrating the rites of Ordination and Confirmation; of consecrating new Churches, Chapels and Burial Grounds; of instituting clergy to vacant charges; of admitting by licence to all other vacant ecclesiastical offices; of holding visitations that he may have knowledge of the state, sufficiency, and ability of the clergy and other persons whom he is to visit; of summoning all Synods and Diocesan Conferences; and of presiding therein, either in person or by such deputy as he may lawfully appoint.
- - (new) (2) The Bishop shall be the President of the Synod or Governing Body of his Diocese, and Chairman of its Executive Committee, either in person or by lawful delegation of his authority.
- - As President of Synod he sits both as Bishop of the Diocese, and in matters of Faith, Worship, Order and Mission as the representative of the Canadian House of Bishops.
- - Without the sanction of his Executive Committee and of the Metropolitan he may not divest himself of all responsibility for the administration of the Diocese.
- (IX 1965) [Text printed in parentheses appears in margin opposite the text below and refers to Sections in earlier editions of Guidelines]
- - (3) 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, and the Mission of the Church.
- (XI 1965) [Text printed in parentheses appears in margin opposite the text below and refers to Sections in earlier editions of Guidelines]
- - (4) (a) According to the vows taken at his consecration, the primary responsibility of the Diocesan Bishop is the work of the Church of God in the Diocese. Only under the most exceptional circumstances, and on a temporary basis, may he accept any other appointment with remuneration, and that with the consent of his own Executive and the Metropolitan. This consent may be recalled by either party at any time, provided due notice is given.
- -- (b) Because the Diocesan Bishop may not hold two appointments with remuneration it is the duty of his Diocese to provide him with a Stipend and Allowances sufficient to keep him free from ay financial anxiety and embarrassment.
- -- (c) It is the duty of the Metropolitan to make an enquiry periodically, either himself, or with the help of a Committee of the Provincial Synod, to satisfy himself that the provisions of clause (b) are being met in the Dioceses under his jurisdiction.
- (XII 1965) [Text printed in parentheses appears in margin opposite the text below and refers to Sections in earlier editions of Guidelines]
- - (5) (a) The Anglican Church of Canada recognizes no distinction between the status of Bishops who serve in Dioceses receiving Grants-in-aid from General Synod, and those that do not.
- -- (b) The fact that part of the income of the Episcopal Fund of any Diocese is derived from sources outside the Diocese does not impair the authority of the bishop and Synod of that Diocese.
- -- (c) The vows of obedience which a Bishop takes at his Consecration are incompatible with any special agreements or special work that impair the integrity of the Bishop's relationship with his own Synod, the Provincial Synod and the General Synod.
- (XVIII 1965) [Text printed in parentheses appears in margin opposite the text below and refers to Sections in earlier editions of Guidelines]
- - (6) All Bishops, both Diocesan and Assistant, are required to fulfil the law of Residence by spending at least 9 months of each calendar year within the limits of their Diocese. They shall not so arrange their Leaves of Absence in such a way, at the end of one year and the beginning of the next that they are absent from their Diocese for more than three months at a time. If the circumstances are exceptional, and the Executive of the Diocese consents, the Metropolitan may extend the Leave of Absence beyond three months.
- (XIX 1965) [Text printed in parentheses appears in margin opposite the text below and refers to Sections in earlier editions of Guidelines]
- - (7) (a) All Bishops shall be entitled to six months' Leave of Absence from their Diocese with full stipend and allowances on the completion of six years of service, and thereafter six months for every six years completed.
- -- (b) The Leave of Absence shall not be cumulative from one six year period to the next.
- -- (c) Any Bishop taking Leave of Absence, shall report to his Metropolitan 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 by those who have accepted the responsibilities.
- VII A Bishop in Relation to his Clergy.
- (X 1965 much changed) [Text printed in parentheses appears in margin opposite the text below and refers to Sections in earlier editions of Guidelines]
- - (1) Among the Clergy whose names are on his Diocesan Roll, the Bishop is Chief Pastor, and Chief Liturgical Minister.
- - (2) In maintaining the Discipline of Christ among the Clergy, he shall act in the Spirit of a true Father in God.
- - If complaints or accusations are brought to the Bishop about one of his clergy, he must follow a course, as far as possible, that will avoid all notoriety and public scandal.
- - If the charge is such that falls under the General Synod Canon on Discipline, and the Bishop's fatherly advice has failed to correct the matter, the Bishop shall seek the advice of his Chancellor, and other senior and prudent clergy before taking definite action in accordance with Canon 28 of the General Synod.
- - (3) The Bishop shall provide for periodic retreats and conferences of the Clergy for their spiritual and intellectual renewal; for post ordination study and training of clergy in the first five years of their ministry, and of all clergy according to their need of it.
- - (4) The Bishop shall exercise a fatherly concern for the families of the Clergy, and according to the means at his discretion assist them at times of their special need.
- VIII The Election of Assistant Bishops.
- (XIII 1965) [Text printed in parentheses appears in margin opposite the text below and refers to Sections in earlier editions of Guidelines]
- - (1) If a Diocesan Bishop desires Episcopal Assistance and his Synod consents, and makes sufficient financial provision for one, the matter shall be laid before the Metropolitan who, in accordance with Provincial Canons, shall obtain and give the consent of the Provincial Authority to the holding of the election.
- - (2) While the Provincial Authority may give or deny its consent to the election of an Assistant Bishop, it lies with the Diocesan Authority, the Bishop and his Executive, to determine the Title and Work of the Assistant Bishop to be elected. This shall be done and properly recorded in the minutes of the Executive Committee of the Diocese before the election, and announced publicly at the meeting of the Electing Body. When a person is elected Assistant Bishop, he shall be informed of the particular terms of his appointment. If he accepts the Election, it is understood that he also accepts the terms of the appointment.
- - (3) These terms may thereafter be changed only with the consent of the Diocesan with his Executive, and of the Assistant Bishop himself.
- - (4) If an Assistant Bishop is elected, and the Diocese has not laid down beforehand the terms of his appointment, it is understood that his position in the Diocese is that of Suffragan Bishop without Title and without defined jurisdiction.
- - (5) The expression "terms of the appointment" is to be taken to mean:
- -- (a) Status or Title of the Assistant Bishop, whether Coadjutor, or Suffragan;
- -- (b) Whether responsibility for a territorial area is assigned or not, or responsibility for certain kinds or areas of work;
- -- (c) Place of residence;
- -- (d) Stipend and allowances that are to be paid at the start, on the understanding that they will be reviewed by the Executive of the Diocese periodically thereafter.
- (XIV 1965) [Text printed in parentheses appears in margin opposite the text below and refers to Sections in earlier editions of Guidelines]
- - (6) If a Diocese requires Episcopal Assistance, but yet is unable to obtain the necessary majorities of Clergy and Laity for election, or is unable to obtain the consent of the person who is elected, the Diocese
- -- (a) may set up an Electoral College in consultation with the Metropolitan, or
- -- (b) may ask the Metropolitan to appoint a person as its Assistant Bishop.
- IX The Status and Work of Assistant Bishops.
- A. The Coadjutor
- - (1) The Bishop Coadjutor is an Assistant Bishop who has been already designated as the successor to the Diocesan. Any person who has already passed the age of 70 years when the Diocesan retires, is ineligible to act as Diocesan.
- - (2) Since the Coadjutor is elected with right to succession, it is understood that he will be given the opportunity of coming to know the Diocese, its history and traditions, its Parishes and activities. The Coadjutor serves without restriction as to Title, or Jurisdiction in area or type of work.
- - (3) His Title is, "The Coadjutor Bishop of .... (name of Diocese)".
- - (4) In the exercise of the Episcopal Office, he holds Confirmations, dedications and consecrations, and makes visitations, in his own right, but in consultation with the Diocesan. He ordains, makes appointments of Clergy to parishes, receives their resignations, and convenes meetings of the clergy or of the Synod and its Executive only on the express authority of the Diocesan.
- - (5) In the absence of the Bishop, unless Diocesan Canons give other directions, he shall preside at Synods and meetings of the Executive Committee.
- - (6) The Coadjutor ranks next in seniority to the Diocesan Bishop. He takes precedence to the Suffragan with Title at services held within the jurisdiction of that Suffragan, only if he is present as the Deputy of the Diocesan himself.
- - (7) It is permissible for the Diocesan, with the consent of his Synod or Executive to confer one other remunerative appointment on the Coadjutor, provided that the appointment shall not make it impossible for the Coadjutor to exercise his office throughout the Diocese.
- - (8) No Bishop should be named Coadjutor who has the prospect of serving in that capacity for over three years.
- B. The Suffragan, with or without Special Title
- (XVI 1965) [Text printed in parentheses appears in margin opposite the text below and refers to Sections in earlier editions of Guidelines]
- - (1) Among Suffragan Bishops there are to be distinguished --
- -- (a) those that bear a special Title, other than that of the Diocese, and
- -- (b) those that bear the Title of the Diocese, and are known as the "Suffragan Bishop .... (name of the Diocese)".
- - (2) The Special Title indicates a special responsibility for the Parishes and Clergy of a certain part of the Diocese. This Special responsibility does not impair the authority of the Diocesan in respect to that part of this Diocese, nor on the other hand, does it restrict the Suffragan in the exercise of his office to one part of the Diocese only. The Suffragan with a Title is available for duty throughout the Diocese at the direction of the Diocesan, but it will be expected that Confirmations, dedications, consecrations, the holding of retreats for and visitations of the Clergy within his jurisdiction will be left largely in his hands.
- - (3) The absence of a Special Title indicates that the Suffragan Bishops is more directly and closely assigned to the Diocesan for duty anywhere in the Diocese.
- - (4) Suffragan Bishops are not required to resign when the Diocesan retires or deceases.
- - (5) Suffragan Bishops do not succeed the Diocesan by right, but they may be elected to succeed, provided that they have not already reached the age of 70 years.
- - (6) It is permissible for the Diocesan, with the consent of his Synod or Executive to confer one other remunerative appointment on the Suffragan Bishop.
- X Resignations on Account of Age.
- (1) All Bishops shall submit their resignations to the Metropolitan when they attain the age of 70 years.
- (XVII 1965) [Text printed in parentheses appears in margin opposite the text below and refers to Sections in earlier editions of Guidelines]
- - (2) Resignations by Metropolitans of both their Diocesan and Provincial administration shall be submitted to the Provincial House of Bishops, and shall be governed by the same regulations.
- (XX 1965) [Text printed in parentheses appears in margin opposite the text below and refers to Sections in earlier editions of Guidelines]
- - (3) Any Diocesan bishop who has reached the age of 68 years and is within two years of his retirement, may give notice of his retirement to the Metropolitan and to the Synod or Executive of his Diocese, and require that he be provided with Episcopal Assistance. The Bishop elected on the grounds of "impending retirement" shall be a coadjutor with right to succeed, provided that there be no Coadjutor to the Diocesan already.
- - (4) If a Diocese requires Episcopal Assistance on the grounds of the disability or infirmity of the Diocesan, or of the growth of the work beyond his posers, the initiative in seeking Assistance shall lie
- -- (a) with the Diocesan with the consent of his Synod, or in the event of the Bishop's unwillingness or inability to act,
- -- (b) with the Executive Committee of the Diocese in consultation with the Chancellor, or in the failure of both to act,
- -- (c) with the Metropolitan.
- - (5) If a Bishop requires Episcopal Assistance, and his Synod or Executive feels unable to make sufficient financial provision, the Metropolitan shall meet the Executive to review the matter. If he deems it wise, an appeal shall be sent forward to the Primate and General Synod for a Grant sufficient for the need.
- - (6) No Grant shall be made by General Synod to a Diocese for Episcopal Assistance except on the conclusion of an agreement between the General Synod and the Diocese in which is specified the amount of the Grant, the status, title, work, place of residence and jurisdiction of the Bishop to be elected, and the duration of the agreement.
- - (7) Such an agreement shall have force only during the episcopate of the Diocesan Bishop, who is partner to it. The Grant may be continued only if his successor applies for it, and makes a similar agreement with General Synod. The Agreement should provide for periodic review and for change of its terms, with the consent of both parties.
- Subjects
- Episcopacy - Anglican Church of Canada
- Anglican Church of Canada - Bishops - Office
- Guidelines on Bishops
- Guidelines for the Use of Bishops
- Coadjutor Bishops - Anglican Church of Canada
- Suffragan Bishops - Anglican Church of Canada
- Assistant Bishops - Anglican Church of Canada
- Anglican Church of Canada. House of Bishops. Constitution