RESOLUTION CARRIED

Subject: Canon XXIII—The Bishop Ordinary to the Canadian Forces

Moved By: Chancellor David Jones, Diocese of Edmonton

Seconded By: The Ven. Harry Huskins, Diocese of Algoma        

Be it resolved that this General Synod:

enact Canon XXIII and consequential amendments to the Constitution, Canon III, and the Handbook as follows:

CANON XXIII

THE BISHOP ORDINARY TO THE CANADIAN FORCES

The purpose of this Canon is to make provision for the election of the Bishop Ordinary to the Canadian Forces.

1. The Bishop Ordinary

The Bishop Ordinary has an episcopal relationship with all ordained and lay members of the Anglican Military Ordinariate.

The Bishop Ordinary is a member of the House of Bishops and General Synod.

2. Eligibility for being elected as the Bishop Ordinary

A person is eligible for election as the Bishop Ordinary if that person

(a) is of the full age of thirty years and less than seventy years of age;

(b) is a priest or bishop in Holy Orders of The Anglican Church of Canada, or of a church in full communion therewith;

(c) is faithful in the doctrines and discipline of The Anglican Church of Canada as determined and defined by the official formularies of that church;

(d) is known and recognized as being a person of integrity and moral stature;

(e) has those qualities and abilities of leadership, experience and learning that will enable that person to fulfil the duties of a chief pastor in the Church of God; and

(f) acknowledges that the Bishop Ordinary must achieve and maintain the citizenship, language, security clearance and other requirements of the Canadian Forces which affect the work of the Bishop Ordinary (see the Explanatory Notes below).

3. The Search Committee

When a vacancy occurs (or is about to occur) in the office of Bishop Ordinary, and the Primate is satisfied that there is adequate financial provision for the office to be filled, the Bishop’s Council of the Anglican Military Ordinariate will create a Search Committee (see section 8 below) to:

(a) determine any specific qualities or additional qualifications that might be required or desirable with respect to the person elected to fill the vacancy;

(b) identify potential candidates and determine whether they are willing to stand for election;

(c) prepare for the Electoral College a short list of electoral candidates;

(d) assemble for the Electoral College relevant background material, references, and other information concerning the electoral candidates on the short list; and

(e) generally do all things necessary to organize the election process.

4. The Electoral College

The Electoral College (see section 9 below) will elect a person from the list of electoral candidates submitted by the Search Committee, and will send the name of the Bishop Ordinary-elect to the Primate for concurrence by the Primate and the four Provincial Metropolitans.

5. Concurrence, Consecration and Installation

Following concurrence by the Primate and the four Provincial Metropolitans, the Primate will consecrate the Bishop Ordinary-elect (if not already a bishop) and install the Bishop Ordinary in office.

6. Retirement of the Bishop Ordinary

 The Bishop Ordinary must retire on reaching the age of 70.

7. Vacancy in the Office of the Bishop Ordinary

If the Bishop Ordinary dies, resigns, retires, or for any other reason the office of the Bishop Ordinary is vacant, or the Primate determines that the Bishop Ordinary is unable to act because of absence, illness or any other reason, the Primate in consultation with the four Provincial Metropolitans and the Bishop’s Council may designate a bishop in The Anglican Church of Canada willing to undertake the task as the Acting Bishop Ordinary.

8. The Search Committee

The Anglican Military Ordinariate shall enact an Ordinariate canon with respect to the composition and work of the Search Committee.

The Ordinariate canon about the Search Committee:

(a) must provide for at least two lay members of the Search Committee;

(b) may provide that some or all of the work of the Search Committee may be done by electronic means; and

(c) shall not come into force or be amended without prior written approval by the Primate.

9. The Electoral College

The Anglican Military Ordinariate shall enact an Ordinariate canon with respect to the composition and procedures to be used by the Electoral College.

The Ordinariate canon about the Electoral College:

(a) must provide for the Electoral College to include a house of laity as well as a house of clergy, and that the election of a Bishop Ordinary must be concurred in by a majority of each of these two houses;

(b) may provide that some or all of the proceedings of the Electoral College (including voting) may be done by electronic means; and

(c) shall not come into effect or be amended without prior written approval by the Primate.

EXPLANATORY NOTES/BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Note 1:  Civilian Status

The Bishop Ordinary serves as the representative of The Anglican Church of Canada on the Interfaith Committee on Canadian Military Chaplaincy (the “ICCMC”).  On behalf of the faith groups in Canada, the ICCMC relates to the Minister of National Defence on matters concerning the military chaplaincy, and provides professional oversight of the ministry exercised by all military chaplains.  Because the ICCMC is a civilian oversight body, if the Bishop Ordinary-elect is a serving member of the Regular Force or Primary Reserve, that person must be released from the Canadian Forces prior to being consecrated.

Note 2:  Enhanced Reliability Status

Because the Bishop Ordinary is granted regular access to Department of National Defence facilities and must be eligible for publicly funded travel as a member of the ICCMC, the Bishop Ordinary-elect must be able to achieve and maintain the required  level of government security clearance.

The inability of the Bishop Ordinary-elect to achieve the required level of government security clearance may be taken into account by the Primate and Metropolitans when deciding whether to concur with the election.  The inability of the Bishop Ordinary to maintain the required level of government security clearance may result in the Primate’s determining that the Bishop Ordinary is unable to continue to act in that office.

At the time this canon is enacted, the required level of government security clearance is “Enhanced Reliability Status” which is outlined in Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat Personnel Security Policy found at http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/pol/doc-eng.aspx?id=12330&section=text.

* * * * *

The Handbook Committee is authorized to change the contents of these Explanatory Notes as may be required from time to time in order to keep them current.

CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION, CANON III AND THE HANDBOOK

Sections 33 a) vii) and 33 e) iv) are amended to change the words “Anglican Ordinariate” to “Anglican Military Ordinariate”.

Section 33 f) iii) is amended to change the words “section 33 a) viii)” to “section 33 a) vii)”.

Canon III is amended to change “Chapter” to “Bishop’s Council”.

The definition of “Bishop Ordinary” in the Glossary of Terms Used in the Handbook is amended by deleting the words “appointed by the Primate”.

Source: Governance Working Group

Submitted By: Governance Working Group

Does this motion contain within it any financial implications?      Yes     No  X

If yes, has the General Synod Expenditures Committee considered the implications?   Yes    No

 PROCEDURE REQUIRED FOR ADOPTION (E)

In accordance with section 11 c) ii) of the Declaration of Principles, the enactment of this type of Canon must be approved by a two-thirds majority of the Order of Bishops, and of the Orders of Clergy and Laity voting together at one session of General Synod.