Posted on 04/15/2005 11:08:21 AM PDT by sionnsar
Stand Firm members in the Diocese of Louisiana send along these proposed changes to the canons introduced at the diocese's annual convention, which is underway now. They also report their amazement that the changes were openly referred to as a way to deal with "dissenting parishes," and that it was crucial these changes be adopted before General Convention 2006.
UNION WITH THE CONVENTION
Section 1. Every Ecclesiastical Unit, in order to be entitled to representation in The Convention, must be in union therewith, by which is meant that The Convention recognizes such unit as a Parish, Mission, or University Chapel.
Section 2.
a) Any Parish which for two (2) consecutive calendar years receives annually from The Diocese any part of its operating expenses, or the number of whose Communicants in good standing, as furnished in its annual report, shall for two (2) consecutive years fall below the number prescribed for Parish status, shall be entitled to only such lay representation in The Convention as is accorded to a Mission. Any congregation subject to the foregoing provisions shall regain its Parish representation in Convention in the year following the first calendar year in which it conforms to the requirements of Parish status. Any congregation not conforming to the requirements for Parish status for a period of three (3) consecutive years shall have its status reviewed by the Standing Committee, which shall make appropriate recommendations to The bishop and to the congregation.
b) Whenever, in the judgment of the Bishop, any Parish or Mission actually ceases to function as such for any reason, he shall report such fact in writing to the next meeting of The Convention, specifying in such report the particulars wherein such congregation has ceased to function. Written notice of his intention to make such report shall be given by The Bishop to the Wardens of the congregation at least one day sixty (60) days prior to the meeting of The Convention, such notice to be accompanied by a copy of the proposed report. If there be no Wardens of the congregation concerned, the required notice may be given to any two (2) Communicants thereof.
Any congregation so reported by The Bishop shall have the right to controvert the statements therein made, and introduce evidence in denial; and, in like manner, the allegations of the report, if denied by the congregation, must be supported by proof. Upon presentation of such report, together with evidence that at least one day’s notice has been given as above provided, The Convention, after due consideration, may change such Parish to the status of a Mission, may change such Mission to the status of a Mission Station, or may suspend such congregation from union with The Convention.
c) Upon its request, and after approval by The Bishop, any congregation may have its status changed by The Convention.
Section 3. Any Ecclesiastical Unit whose status has been changed in accordance with this Canon, may, with the approval of The Bishop, be restored to its former status by The Convention.
Section 4. Any change in the status of an Ecclesiastical Unit which may affect its representation in The Convention, shall become effective at the close of the meeting of The Convention at which such change was made, except as provided in Section 2(a), above.
CANON 7
THE EXECUTIVE BOARD
Section 1. The Executive Board, as hereinafter constituted, shall have charge of the development and prosecution of the work of the Church, subject, however, to the provisions of the Constitution and Canons of The Diocese, and to the direction of The Convention. It shall have the power and authority to implement and carry out the programs and policies adopted by The Convention, and to act for The Convention between meetings thereof. The Bishop shall be the executive head of all such work, and the Board shall assist The Bishop in the administration thereof.
CANON 18
Section 8. No Parish may amend, revise or restate its Articles of Incorporation without having first obtained the approval of The Bishop as to their form and content. When any Parish already incorporated in accordance with this Canon amends its Articles of Incorporation, a copy of the amended articles shall be transmitted to the Ecclesiastical Authority no later than the date of the Annual Report for the year in which the articles were amended.
Section 9. No Parish, Mission, Congregation or Ecclesiastical Unit shall create any affiliate or separate corporation, trust, foundation, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, or other juridical entity without the approval of The Bishop. The requirements of Canon 18(4) shall apply any entity so created.
Outrageous!!! Makes me more glad than ever that we moved to Nashville, TN a few years ago. I thank God every day for Bishop Herlong and for this year's Diocesan Convention taking back our diocese by electing orthodox delegates to select our next bishop. This may actually prove to be a blessing in disguise for La. orthodox, since Bishop Jenkins may soon find himself saddled with many empty church buildings and no one to pay the bills. A few years of Anglican congregations worshiping in rented or donated halls and they should be able to buy their old buildings back for a song!# Posted by: Milton at April 15, 2005 12:41 PM
Hmmm. It seems that the powers-that-be are quite aware of what is hurtling towards us in June 06 -- and the ramifications of the actions that will be taken at the convention.
This is, of course, contrary to the powers-that-be public statements saying "all is well", "glad we're all reconciled now", "only two or three people disagree", "nothing has really happened negative in the international scene", and "the dialogue in the AC is going well -- nothing happened bad at Newry . . . other than the Devil."
I would suspect that the institutionalists in the Diocese of Louisiana hope that the word doesn't get out to the laypeople about these changes. But I've noticed that post-Diocesan Conventions in a variety of dioceses, laypeople really wake up in the publicity that follows -- with ill effect on money.
. . . Greg! How could you do something so divisive as to post this!!!!!# Posted by: Sarah at April 15, 2005 12:59 PM
Traditional Anglican ping, continued in memory of its founder Arlin Adams.
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