Amending Canons and Bylaws to fill in some gaps

Synod delegates passed eight motions making changes to the diocesan Canons, Bylaws and Regulations.

Episcopal Elections

Chancellor Henry Schultz explained that the motions relating to episcopal elections did not make any substantive changes to the process of electing bishops, but “filled in some gaps.” The changes:

• clarify deadlines to kickstart the electoral process
• create a new supplementary committee that will make an effort to encourage diversity in the number of candidates participating in an episcopal election. (This replaces a provision that gave the House of Bishops the authority to automatically nominate candidates.)
• create a new transition advisory committee, a group of officers who can advise the bishop-elect, enabling that person to get ready to take office and giving the bishop-elect an introductory role in the governance of the diocese. (This also acknowledges the existence of the office of bishop-elect, which was not in the canons previously).
• provide each candidate in the election with their own chaplain instead of just one for all the candidates

Episcopal remuneration

Schultz said that an interesting gap in the canons was that “We are one of the few dioceses that have canons that make absolutely no mention about remuneration of the bishop, so we are going to cure that gap.”

He noted that not only would the canons now confirm the authority to pay the bishop, but the changes in the bylaws make “the process of paying the bishop as transparent as the process for paying all clergy.” The process will be very similar to that for salaried clergy in the diocese, he added. “Basically, we’re saying that bishops will be paid a salary under a structure approved by Synod with rates for component elements of the salary structure determined annually by Diocesan Council, and that the Synod and Council may enact bylaws for pension and benefits.”

The changes also added the authority to provide at least some remuneration for a bishop-elect, which Schultz noted would be important if a bishop who came from outside the diocese were elected.  

Associate Incumbents

The changes also recognized the position of Associate Incumbents and defined the position as “a cleric who is appointed to a parish and who, in agreement with the Incumbent of the parish, shares collegially with the Incumbent in fulfilling the canonical and pastoral duties required of an Incumbent.”