Constitution of the Diocese of the Great Lakes
Preamble
We, the Bishop, Clergy, and People of the Diocese of the Great Lakes in the United States and Canada do hereby ordain and establish a constitution for this jurisdiction of the church to carry forward the ministry of Christ’s One, Holy Catholic, and Apostolic Church in this place, with the intention of upholding and propagating the faith set forth in Holy Scripture, the inerrant revelation of God, and the Articles of Religion, expressed in a common life under the guidance of the Holy Ghost, built upon prayer and the sacraments, and under the apostolic authority of bishops in Apostolic Succession, together with their priests and deacons. The Diocese of the Great Lakes is a member diocese of the United Episcopal Church of North America (UECNA), and therefore voluntarily submits itself to the Constitution and Canons of the UECNA.
ARTICLE I
The name of this Jurisdiction shall be the Diocese of the Great Lakes.
ARTICLE II
This diocese shall be governed by its bishop, who shall be a bishop in Apostolic Succession.
ARTICLE III
A synod of the district shall meet annually to advise the bishop and take any actions that may be necessary. Those delegates present shall constitute a quorum. A majority vote of the delegates present shall be necessary for the transaction of business. The synod shall consist of the bishop and all other clergy in the diocese, all members of the standing committee of the diocese, the treasurer of the diocese, four representatives from each parish (the wardens and two others elected by the parish), plus up to two lay representatives from each mission, and station in the diocese chosen by the clergy serving there. The synod shall not vote by houses, but all debate and actions shall be in full synod.
ARTICLE IV
In the case of the death or resignation of the bishop, the assistant or suffragan bishop if there be any shall be notified. If there be no assistant, the most senior suffragan bishop shall exercise authority until a new bishop ordinary is chosen by synod meeting.
ARTICLE V
The bishop shall have as his council of advice a standing committee of no more than six members nominated by him and confirmed by the synod with a majority vote. The duties of the standing committee may be set forth in the canons. The bishop may fill any vacancies that occur between synods. Such appointments will remain in effect until the next succeeding synod.
ARTICLE VI
Except where otherwise required by the canons, civil law, or by other governing documents of the diocese, the bishop shall govern and transact business for the diocese, appointing such persons to assist him as he shall require, and he shall appoint a Treasurer to have charge of the funds of the diocese and to distribute them according to the bishop’s direction.
ARTICLE VII
Priests and deacons canonically resident in this district shall be tried by a court consisting of the diocesan bishop, and other resident bishops, and a number of priests of the diocese appointed by the bishop to bring the number of the court to three; but only the bishop of the diocese may pronounce sentence of suspension or removal against any clergy.
ARTICLE VIII
The standard of worship in this diocese shall be the 1928 Book of Common Prayer in the United States, but the 1962 Canadian Book of Common Prayer or the 1990 IAC Book of Common Prayer are authorized by this article for use in Canada. The scripture in use at worship shall be the Authorized Version only.
ARTICLE IX
Every parish and every religious institute or order in this diocese shall administer its own internal affairs and property according to its own governing documents, so long as they do not conflict with the Constitution and Canons of the Diocese of the Great Lakes. The diocese bishop or assistant bishop shall visit each parish at least once every three years, annually if possible, to celebrate and preach, and consult with the rector or vicar and the members. Every parish shall report quarterly to the bishop, and shall contribute to the work of diocese whatever sums of money are authorized by the parish vestry.
ARTICLE X
The governing documents of this diocese shall be this Constitution and Canons and, if the diocese is incorporated, the articles of incorporation.
ARTICLE XI
The Constitution shall be in full force and effect upon ratification by the diocese synod. It may be amended by a three-fourths vote of synod at a regular or special meeting of synod. Upon thirty days’ notice of the amendment given to all clergy and parishes in the diocese.
CANONS OF THE DIOCESE OF THE GREAT LAKES
CANON 1
These Canons are in furtherance of the Constitution of the diocese. They are intended to set forth only such specifics as may be necessary for the operation of the diocese, the edification of its clergy and people, and the defense of the faith, as may be deemed suitable by the bishop and synod in and for the Diocese of the Great Lakes.
CANON 2
Of the enactment, amendment and repeal of canons
A new canon may be enacted, or an existing one amended or repealed, by a three-fourths vote of synod at a regular or special meeting upon thirty days’ notice of the proposed new canon, amendment, or repeal given in writing to all clergy, parishes, and missions in the diocese.
CANON 3
Of Synod
Section 1. Of officers. Synod shall elect from members one to act as recording secretary; synod may elect from members other officers as it may deem necessary to carry out synod’s activities.
Section 2. Of lay members. Lay members of synod shall be communicants in good standing, at least 18 years old.
Section 3. Of meetings. The diocese synod shall meet following notice given at least thirty days in advance to each clergyman and congregation. A special meeting may be called on seven days’ notice; the call shall specify the question to be acted upon or the business to be transacted, and no other business shall be transacted at any such meeting.
CANON 4
Of good standing
Section 1. The meaning of good standing. A baptized and confirmed person who is a member in full communion of the church, who shall have been in regular attendance at his parish for the preceding six months and have received the sacrament of Holy Communion at least three times during the preceding year, shall be deemed a member in good standing.
Section 2.The determination of good standing. The determination of the status of any member shall be at the sole discretion of the rector, vicar, or superior in charge of the member’s parish, mission, station, or religious institute.
Section 3. Eligibility. Every vestryman of every parish, mission, or religious institute or order, and every officer or member of a district committee, every lay delegate to synod, and every person presenting himself as a candidate for ordination shall be a confirmed member in good standing.
CANON 5
Vestries
Section 1. Each self-supporting parish of at least ten adult members shall by ballot of the members annually elect vestrymen. The vestry shall consist of not less than five persons. In the event of an omission to elect, the vestry last chosen shall continue until another election is held. Each congregation of fewer than ten adult members shall be designated a mission and in place of a vestry, shall select with the approval of the vicar, a council of not more than five persons.
Section 2. The elected term of office of any vestryman shall not be less than one year, nor more than three years.
Section 3. In the event of a vacancy on the vestry, the remaining vestry members then serving may, at their discretion, fill such vacancy by election. A new member so elected shall complete the term of office of the member replaced.
Section 4. The rector or vicar is an ex-officio member of the vestry with a voice and vote. He shall be chairman of the Annual Meeting.
CANON 6
Officers of the Vestry
Section 1. At the first meeting of the new vestry each year, each vestry shall elect officers for the year.
Section 2. Each vestry shall elect a Senior and a Junior Warden from among the members of the vestry. The rector or vicar shall nominate the Senior Warden.
Section 3. Each vestry shall annually elect a Treasurer from among the members of the parish. The Treasurer need not be a member of the vestry. He shall make financial reports to the vestry as requested and at the annual meeting.
Section 4. Each vestry shall annually elect from among the vestry members a Secretary who shall keep permanent minutes of vestry meetings.
Section 5. Each parish may, if it chooses, elect any of its officers at a congregational meeting.
Section 6. Duties of the churchwardens. The Senior Warden shall preside at meetings and have responsibility for public worship in the absence of a clergyman. The Junior Warden, as representative of the people, shall have responsibility for the upkeep of church property.
CANON 7
Concerning the call of Vestry meetings
Section 1. Vestry meetings shall be held at least once every three months, preferable once a month, and, as nearly as possible and convenient with the members concerned, at a regular time and place.
Section 2. The rector or vicar has the authority to call a vestry meeting at any time provided that due and adequate notice be given the members of the vestry. In any parish temporarily without a pastor, the senior warden has this authority.
Section 3. When in the opinion of a majority of the members of the vestry, a meeting should be called, but the rector refuses to do so, the majority of the members of the vestry may call a meeting, provided that the rector and the bishop of the district be given due and adequate notice.
CANON 8
The power of Parish Vestries
Except as provided by law of the State and of this Church, the vestry shall be the agent and legal representative of the parish in all matters concerning its property and the financial relations of the parish to its clergy.
CANON 9
Of Religious Orders and Deaconesses
Section 1. The bishop may accept religious orders or institutes into the district and set forth requirements in regard to them. He may elect to act as Episcopal visitor or, at his discretion, permit another Episcopal visitor to serve any such religious community.
Section 2. No woman shall be ordained or licensed a deaconess in the Diocese of the Great Lakes.
CANON 10
Concerning the Ordinal
Section 1. In any canon, order, rule or regulation relating to the Ordinal, orders and/or ordinations in the Diocese of the Great Lakes, the words bishop, priest and deacon shall refer to the masculine gender only based upon biological identity.
Section 2. All candidates for deacon, presbyter (priest) or bishop in the Diocese of the Great Lakes shall be examined with reference to the requirements described in 1 Timothy 3:1-13, Titus 1:5-9, 1 Timothy 5:17-20, 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8, Acts 20:17-35 and 1 Peter 5:1-5. The final decision to ordain a deacon or priest shall rest with the bishop after consulting with the Committee on Holy Orders. Candidates for bishop shall be elected at a diocesan synod. The procedures of the Diocese of the Great Lakes Constitution and Canons must be fulfilled for the bishop electee to be consecrated.
Section 3. Clergy whose conduct or teaching is not in accordance with the teaching of Holy Scripture shall be subject to discipline. Teaching shall be in conformity to the 39 Articles of Religion and the Book of Common Prayer. For Deacons or Priests discipline shall be carried out as provided in Article VII of the Diocese of the Great Lakes Constitution. Likewise, for bishops discipline shall be carried out as provided in the Constitution and Canons of the Diocese of the Great Lakes.
The Diocese of the Great Lakes 