CANONS - Parishes & Missions

It shall be competent for not less than 15 persons, of at least eighteen years of age, who are communicants of the Episcopal Church, and desirous of sustaining its services in any village, town, city or district, to be organized as a Mission.

The following shall be the procedure:

Application to the Bishop

RIGHT REVEREND FATHER IN GOD. We, the undersigned, residents of _______________________ ____________, County of ______________________, Diocese of Springfield, being desirous of obtaining the services of the Protestant Episcopal Church, otherwise known as the Episcopal Church, and ready, according to our several abilities to sustain these services do hereby request you to inquire into our estate and provide for us as you may deem proper and expedient.

We do hereby declare ourselves, individually and collectively, ready to do what in us lies to establish and sustain the regular worship of this Church and promote its influence in our neighborhood; and we promise conformity to its Doctrine, Discipline and Worship. We put ourselves under your charge, and will reverently obey your authority. We promise conformity to the Constitution and Canons of the General Convention, and of the Diocese of Springfield, and the rules and regulations of its Synod in accordance with these regulations and rules. We now ask the privilege of being organized as a Mission under the name of____________________________________ or such name as you may designate.

Furthermore, we hereby specially stipulate and agree to pay every year such amount as may be assigned to us from year to year as our minimum toward the stated stipend of the Vicar or Priest in Charge who may be sent to us, and also to the Treasurer of the Diocese such sums as may be assessed upon us by authority toward the support of the Diocese.

Remaining obediently yours in the Church of God ....

This application shall be signed in ink by all the adults who propose to be members of the mission, and not less than fifteen required by this Canon.

Section 2.

Of the Vicar or Priest in Charge.

The Vicar or Priest in Charge shall be appointed by the Bishop with the advice of the Department of Missions and of the Bishop’s Committee.

Section 3.

Of the Bishop’s Committee.

If the Bishop consents to the organization of a Mission, he shall appoint, on the nomination of the members of the Mission, a Bishop’s Committee for the first year, consisting of at least three and not more than twelve members, who shall be communicants in good standing of at least eighteen years of age. Thereafter the members of the Mission shall nominate members for the Bishop’s Committee at each annual meeting and the names of the nominees shall be submitted to the Bishop for his approval and appointment. The Vicar, or Priest in Charge, is an ex officio member of the Bishop’s Committee and is its presiding officer. The Bishop’s Committee shall be responsible for the management of the temporal affairs of the Mission, and shall meet at least four times annually.

Section 4.

Of the Wardens.

a. There shall be two Wardens in each organized Mission, to be known respectively as the Bishop’s Warden and the Mission Warden who shall always be communicants in good standing.

b. The Bishop’s Warden shall be nominated annually by the Vicar or Priest in Charge from among the members of the Bishop’s Committee for the Bishop’s appointment. His duties shall be to look after the personal interest of the Vicar, to see that his stipend is promptly and fully paid, that provision is made for supplying his place in case of his necessary absence, and generally to do all things that may be necessary to promote his efficiency in the discharge of his duties.

c. The Mission Warden shall be nominated annually by the Bishop’s Committee from among their number for the Bishop’s appointment. He shall represent the parishioners in the temporal affairs of the Mission, report to the Bishop’s Committee needed repairs of the Church property, and in the absence or disability of the Bishop’s Warden perform his duties.

d. It shall be the duty of the Wardens to procure a place to be used for public worship, to see that the same be kept clean and in good repair, and that it be provided with all things necessary for conducting the services of the Church decently and in good order: and, in case of a vacancy or the absence of the Minister, to take charge of the Sacred Vessels and other property of the Mission; to be custodian of the Registers and Records and to make entries therein, to fill out the Parochial Reports to the Bishop, and also to endeavor to arrange for the keeping up of required services subject to the approval of the Bishop. And, further, the Wardens and the Bishop’s Committee shall at all times be responsible to the Bishop for the safe keeping of all the temporalities of the Mission.

e. In case there be no Vicar or Priest in Charge, or in his absence or inability to act, the Bishop’s Warden, or in the absence of the Bishop’s Warden, the Mission Warden, shall preside at all meetings of the Bishop’s Committee, and of the Congregation. Special meetings may be called by the Vicar or Priest in Charge, or in case of a vacancy, or the inability of the Vicar to act, by one of the Wardens, at any time; and whenever three members of the Bishop’s Committee request in writing, a special meeting shall be called by the Vicar, or if none, or if he shall fail to act within a reasonable time, by a Warden; provided that the Vicar shall be notified of such meeting and shall be entitled to be present and to preside. No meeting of a Bishop’s Committee shall be held to be valid in which there shall not be present either the Vicar or one Warden.

Section 5.

Of the Clerk and Treasurer.

a. A Clerk and Treasurer, who may or may not be members of the Bishop’s Committee shall be annually nominated for the Bishop’s appointment by the Bishop’s Committee. No Vicar, Priest in Charge, Warden, or Clerk shall also serve as Treasurer.

b. It shall be the duty of the Clerk, under the direction of the Vicar, to keep a record of events of importance to the Mission, and a list of its families and members, to keep the minutes of all meetings and generally to handle the correspondence of the Mission.

c. It shall be the duty of the Treasurer of the Mission to collect or receive all monies contributed by the Mission, the collection and disbursement of which are not otherwise provided for; and to remit and disburse them in accordance with the Constitution and Canons and the rules governing the Department of Missions.

Section 6.

Of Other Mission Personnel.

The Vicar, or Priest in Charge, on consultation with the Bishop’s Committee, shall appoint the Sexton, Organist, Choir Director, Church School Superintendent, and any other helper he may find necessary; but in case there be no Minister, the right of such appointment shall rest with the Bishop’s Committee.

Section 7.

Of the Annual Meeting.

a. A meeting of the Mission shall be held annually, at such time and place as the Vicar, or Priest in Charge, or in a vacant Mission, the Wardens, may appoint. At this meeting the Vicar, or Priest in Charge, or in his absence, the Bishop’s Warden, or in his absence the Mission Warden, shall preside. Elections to nominate officers to the Bishop shall be held, and reports shall be read from the Vicar and other officers of matters in their charge for the calendar year past, viz: the spiritual condition of the Mission, the communion alms and other offerings and collections, and activities of Mission organizations. Any other business which shall properly come before the Meeting may be transacted to promote the welfare of the Church. Such meetings shall be opened and closed with prayers from the Book of Common Prayer, or prayers approved by the Bishop.

b. In lieu of nominating the entire Bishop’s Committee annually, any Mission at its annual meeting, by a majority of votes present, may decide, by such plan as they see fit, to divide the members of the Bishop’s Committee into classes in respect to their term of office, but no term of office shall be created for a longer period than three years; and in such case of division into classes, no member who has served a full term shall be eligible for reelection until the expiration of one year thereafter. In such case of a Bishop’s Committee divided into classes, if there shall be a vacancy in the body, the Bishop’s Committee shall fill the vacancy only until the next annual meeting, at which time a member shall be nominated to serve any remainder of the unexpired term.

c. Qualifications for voting at the Annual Meeting of a Mission shall be the same as those established for Parishes in Canon 25, Section 3. Nominees to the Bishop’s Committee shall possess the same qualifications required of Vestry members under Canon 25, Section 1(b).

Section 8.

Of Financial Relations to the Bishop and Diocese.

a. Each Mission shall pledge a portion of its income for the work of the Diocese and National Church, in accordance with the rules and requirements of the Diocese.

b. The Vicar, or Priest in Charge, or, if none, the Bishop’s Warden, shall prepare annually a report for the Mission for the year ending December thirty-first preceding, upon the blank form adopted by the General Convention, which report shall be sent not later than February first to the Bishop, or the Ecclesiastical Authority. This annual report shall be made in conformity with the General Canons.

c. The failure of the members of a Mission to fulfill their stipulations may warrant the Bishop, after consultation with the Standing Committee and Department of Missions, in withdrawing his Vicar, or Priest in Charge, and dissolving the organization.

Canon 21

Of the Parish and its Organization

An organized mission of the Diocese, desiring status as a parish in union with the Synod of this Diocese, shall proceed by laying before the Synod, through its Secretary, not less than sixty days previous to the Regular meeting of the Synod, the following:

a. A certificate from the Ecclesiastical Authority approving its change in status from mission to Parish.

b. A Constitution subscribed by the Wardens, expressly acceding to the Constitution Canons, Doctrine, Discipline and Worship of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, and to the Constitution and Canons of the Church in the Diocese of Springfield.

c. Proof of legal incorporation and of record, and of any other acts required by the statute.

d. Minutes, duly certified by the minister under whose direction the new parish was organized, and by the Wardens of the same, of the annual meeting next previous showing the election of not less than five, nor more than twelve, Vestrymen, and that the Parish embraces at least one hundred communicants, and fifty pledging units, and showing further the adoption of a resolution approving application to the Synod for parish status.

e. Certification by an Inspection Commission, appointed by the Ecclesiastical Authority and composed of the Dean of the Deanery including the petitioning Mission, a member of the Division of Administration and Finance and a member of the Division of Mission and Worship, that the Mission has for its use a suitable place for public worship, and that it has either suitable living accommodations for the Rector or the means of providing the same.

f. Certification that in the two years next preceding the petition for Parish status, endowment income together with the proceeds of the lower 80 percent of pledges as arranged in ascending order of amount has been sufficient to meet 60 percent of the normal annual budgets including at least the following as compulsory items:

1. Stipend for the clergy at least the current level for mission clergy;

2. Payment of clergy health insurance premiums as required by the Diocese;

3. Payments to the clergy pension fund;

4. Housing or housing allowance for the clergy;

5. Operating expenses for building and programs;

6. Retirement of indebtedness incurred as permitted by statute;

7. A Diocesan Pledge of not less than 15 percent of the Mission’s net disposable income, as defined in Canon 52.

g. In the event that the Ecclesiastical Authority, the Committee on Admission of Parishes and Missions, or the Inspection Commission believes that one or more of the requirements of paragraph (d), (e), or (f) above are inappropriate to the consideration of an individual petition for admission, they may recommend to the Synod considering such petition that the requirement be waived, and present their justification for such recommendation; however, the waiver of one or more requirements in individual cases shall not be considered a revocation or amendment of the requirements.

Canon 22

Of the Wardens

Section 1.

There shall be two Wardens in each organized Parish, to be known respectively as the Rector’s Warden and the Parish Warden, who shall always be communicants in good standing.

Section 2.

The Rector’s Warden shall be chosen by the Rector from the Vestry within reasonable time after the annual election, and his duties shall be to look after the personal interests of the Rector, to see that his stipend is promptly and fully paid, that provision is made for supplying his place in case of his necessary absence, and generally to do all things that may be necessary to promote his efficiency in the discharge of his duties.

Section 3.

The Parish Warden shall be elected by the Vestry from among their number. He shall represent the parishioners in the temporal affairs of the Parish, report to the Vestry needed repairs of the Church property, and in the absence or disability of the Rector’s Warden perform his duties.

Section 4.

It shall be the duty of the Wardens to see that suitable books for the conduct of public service be provided; to see that suitable record books be provided by the Vestry for use as Parish Register, Service Record Book and suitable Memorial Book, and whenever there is a vacancy in the Rectorship, or suspension of the duties of the Rector or Minister by absence, the Rector’s Warden, or in case of his failure to act, the Parish Warden shall make the necessary entries in the “Parish Register” and “Service Record Book,” required by Canon 13, of these Canons, and shall be the custodian of these books.

Section 5.

The Wardens shall have a care that the Church Building and premises be kept in good repair, clean and free from all secular or other uses not authorized by the Constitution and Canons.

Section 6.

In case there be no Rector, or in his absence or inability to act, the Rector’s Warden, or in absence of the Rector’s Warden, the Parish Warden shall preside at all meetings of the Vestry, and of the Congregation. No meeting of a Vestry shall be held to be valid in which there shall not be present either the Rector or one Warden.

Section 7.

In case there shall be any Clergyman of the Church, residing within the Parish, who shall conduct himself in such a way as is contrary to the rules of the Church, and unbecoming his office, the Wardens shall, in writing, give notice thereof to the Ecclesiastical Authority.

Canon 23

Of the Corporation and Vestry

Section 1.

The Vestrymen, under the title of the “Vestry”, shall transact all the temporal business of the Parish including:

a. all things needful for the public services;

b. collect and disburse all money due for Church purposes;

c. provide that under-officers shall be suitably appointed and faithfully discharge their duties;

d. pay promptly, at the interval agreed, the stipulated stipends of the Rector and others;

e. inform themselves of the order and time of all offerings required by the Canons of the Diocese, and of assessments which may be imposed by the Synod, and take measures for the prompt payment of these obligations; and

f. before the close of each calendar year, if the treasury is deficient, collect, as far as practicable, a sum sufficient to pay all the current expenses of the Parish.

Section 2.

The Vestry shall, on or before the Annual Parish meeting, cause to be written and placed in the hands of the Rector or Minister, or, if there be none, then of the Wardens, an annual report of the previous calendar year, such report to be a full, accurate, and faithful statement of the temporal condition of the Parish as a body corporate. At the annual Parish Meeting, the Rector, or Minister, or one of the Wardens, shall, before the balloting for Wardens and Vestrymen, present and read said annual report to the parishioners there assembled, and afterwards deliver it to the new Vestry, to be by them examined and duly recorded; and the original shall be placed on file among the Parish documents. The said annual report shall declare what money, land or other property has been received during their time of office, and from what source; what money has been expended, and for what objects; what property has been purchased, exchanged, mortgaged, or sold, or otherwise alienated or encumbered, and for what purposes.

Section 3.

The Vestry shall meet monthly, where practicable, but, in any event, not less that once in each calendar quarter. A special meeting may be called at any time by the Rector, or in the case of a vacancy, or the inability of the Rector to act, by one of the Wardens. Further, the Rector shall call a special meeting upon the request of any three members of the Vestry in writing. During a vacancy, or upon the failure of the Rector to act within a reasonable time, the requested meeting shall be called by a Warden. In the latter circumstance, the Rector shall be notified of the meeting and shall be entitled to be present and to preside. Reasonable notice must be given of every Vestry meeting to every Member of the Vestry and to the Rector. Every meeting of the Vestry shall be opened with suitable collects; the minutes of the last meeting shall be read, corrected if necessary, and approved.

Section 4.

It shall not be lawful for the Vestry of any Parish to borrow for the purpose of meeting ordinary current expenses any amount in excess of 20% of the average annual net disposable income of the Parish, as defined in Canon 52, for the three years preceding the date of the proposed borrowing.

Canon 24

Of the Officers of the Vestry

Section 1.

A Clerk and a Parish Treasurer, who may or may not be members of the Vestry, shall be elected annually by the Vestry, and shall serve until their successors in office are chosen. No Rector, Warden or Clerk shall also act as Treasurer.

Section 2.

It shall be the duty of the Clerk to attend all meetings of the Vestry; to take, preserve and attest minutes of its proceedings; to preserve its reports, journals and other records; to attest the official acts of the Vestry; and perform such other duties as may be assigned by the Vestry or by Canon of the Diocese or General Convention. The Clerk shall deliver into the hands of his or her successor all books and papers relative to the concerns of the Church which may be in the Clerk’s possession.

Section 3.

It shall be the duty of the Parish Treasurer to receive all moneys accruing to or offered to the Parish, and to disburse all moneys authorized by the Vestry, the receipt and disbursement of which is not otherwise provided for.

Section 4.

No money shall be paid out by the Treasurer, except pursuant to prior budgetary authorization or upon approval by the Vestry, recorded in the minutes. The Treasurer shall present to the Vestry, at each regular meeting, a full and accurate statement of all moneys received and paid out since the last statement. The Treasurer shall also present to the Vestry, before the annual meeting of the Parish, complete financial statements showing all receipts and disbursements for the preceding year and the assets, liabilities and fund balances of all Funds as of the end of the preceding year.

Section 5.

The Treasurer shall attend all meetings of the Vestry, be guided by its advice in all matters pertaining to the duties of the office, and be ready to answer all questions as to the state of the treasury. The Treasurer’s books and papers shall always be subject to inspection by the Rector, Wardens, or Vestry.

Canon 25

Of Meeting of Parishioners and Annual Election

Section 1.

a. After the meeting for primary organization, each Parish shall meet annually in January, at such time and place as the Rector may appoint, of which due notice shall be publicly given no later than three weeks prior to the date of the Annual Meeting.

b. At the Annual Meeting, in addition to the other business which may be there transacted, the parishioners who are qualified and entitled to vote for officers as defined in Section 3 of this Canon, shall elect by ballot, by a majority of votes present, a Vestry of not less than three nor more than twelve lay persons of at least eighteen years of age who are communicants in good standing as defined in Canon 43, Section 3, and who have been confirmed by a Bishop of this Church or received into this Church as having been properly confirmed. The Vestry elected shall continue to discharge the functions of its office during the year, and until its successors are elected, and may fill vacancies in its own body.

c. In lieu of electing the entire Vestry annually, any Parish at any Annual Meeting, by a majority of votes present, may decide, by such plan as they see fit, to divide the members of the Vestry into classes in respect to their term of office. In such circumstance, the term of office for members of the Vestry shall not exceed three years, and no member of the Vestry who has served a full term shall be eligible for re-election until the expiration of one year thereafter. When a vacancy occurs in a Vestry that has been divided into classes, the Vestry may fill the vacancy until the next Annual Meeting, at which time a member shall be elected to serve for any portion of the term that remains unexpired.

Section 2.

In case any Parish shall fail for the period of two years to elect a Vestry, as hereinbefore directed, the Ecclesiastical Authority may call a Parish meeting, upon ten days’ public notice given in such Parish, for the purpose of electing a Vestry to serve until the next annual Parish meeting or until its successors are elected.

Section 3.

All communicants in good standing as defined in Canon 43, Section 3, who are at least sixteen years of age and who have been duly recorded and are recognized as such, shall be qualified to vote for a Vestry and at the Annual Meeting.

Section 4.

The presiding officer at the Annual Meeting is the Rector or Priest in Charge, or, in the case of his or her absence, or of a vacancy, one of the Wardens. If no Warden is present, a parishioner chosen by the meeting shall preside. The presiding officer shall decide on the qualifications of those who offer to vote, subject to an appeal to the decision of the qualified voters present. The meeting shall elect a Secretary. Two to six tellers shall be appointed by the presiding officer, and the result of the ballots for election shall be declared by the presiding officer, and recorded by the Secretary before the adjournment of the meeting; the poll shall be open and not closed until all qualified persons present have had the opportunity of casting their votes. Each member chosen to serve on the Vestry shall be notified by the Secretary of his or her election, and the new Vestry shall be convened for organization and business as soon as practicable after election. In the event any qualified parishioner present at the Annual Meeting challenges the validity of any Parish election, whether due to irregularity of procedure, exclusion of qualified voters or inclusion of unqualified voters, the Annual Meeting shall resolve the challenge by either affirming the challenged election or declaring the election void, in which circumstance a new election shall be held. At no time shall voting by proxy be permitted.

Canon 26

Of the Holding of Church Property, Custody Thereof, and the Reversion Thereof

Section 1.

Every Parish of this Diocese shall become incorporated under the general law of the State of Illinois providing for the incorporation of religious societies, and thereafter all real estate and personal property given to, or purchased by, any such Parish shall vest in and be the sole property of such Parish, subject to the provisions of these Canons.

PROVIDED, that all real estate hereafter purchased or acquired by any Mission in the Diocese or by any Parish prior to its legal incorporation, shall be conveyed to the Bishop of Springfield, his successor or successors in office, as trustee for the use and benefit of the Parish or Mission so purchasing or acquiring such property.

Section 2.

The Church building, or house of worship, belonging to any Parish or Mission, may be opened for all Services, Rites, Ceremonies, or other purposes, authorized or approved of, either by the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, or the Church of this Diocese, represented by the Ecclesiastical Authority thereof, and for none other purposes whatsoever, at such time as the Rector or Minister, or when there is no Rector or Minister, the Churchwardens, may deem proper; and no Minister in charge of a Parish or Mission, or in case of vacancy or absence, no Churchwardens or Vestry, shall permit any person to officiate therein, without sufficient evidence of his being duly licensed or ordained to Minister in this Church, and no Minister of this Church under inhibition or judicial sentence shall be permitted to officiate.

Section 3.

It shall not be lawful for any Vestry, Trustees or other body authorized by the law of this State to hold property for a Parish or Mission, to encumber or alienate any dedicated and consecrated Church or Chapel, or any Church or Chapel which has been used solely for Divine Service, belonging to the Parish or Congregation which they represent, without the previous consent of the Bishop, acting with the advice and consent of the Standing Committee.

Further, no Vestry, Trustee, Trustees or other body, authorized by the law of this State to hold, manage or administer real property for a Parish, Mission or Congregation, shall encumber or alienate the same or any part thereof without the written consent of the Bishop acting with the advice and consent of the Standing Committee. Provided, however, that real property other than a dedicated and consecrated Church or Chapel, may be encumbered in an amount no greater than the Congregation’s average annual net disposable income, as defined in Canon 52, for the three years next preceding, without the consent otherwise required by this Section.

Section 4.

No Church or Chapel shall be removed, taken down, or otherwise disposed of, for any unhallowed, worldly or common uses, nor shall any Parish or Mission change the location of its Church or Chapel, nor erect or establish another within the same village, city, or county, without the previous consent of the Bishop, acting with the advice and consent of the Standing Committee. When a church building shall cease to be used and is to be disposed of for purposes other than worship prescribed by this Church, a service of deconsecration shall be used.

Section 5.

In case of any disfranchisement as provided in the Constitution and Canons of this Diocese, or upon dissolution of a Parish or Mission, the property belonging to the same shall vest in the Bishop of the Diocese, and his successors in office, in trust, to be held and conveyed, subject to the disposition and direction of the Bishop and by and with the consent of the Standing Committee, and not unless that body shall direct and authorize the disposition of the said property. The proceeds of sale or disposition of any such property may be used by the Ecclesiastical Authority with the advice and consent of the Standing Committee for any religious, charitable or educational purpose in the Diocese of Springfield. Whenever the property of any Parish or Mission shall revert to the Bishop, pursuant to this Canon, the Churchwardens, Vestry, Trustees, Bishop’s Committees, or other persons having possession of any title papers or archives of such Parish or Mission, shall promptly, upon notification by the Ecclesiastical Authority, deliver peaceable possession of such property to the Ecclesiastical Authority.

Section 6.

Abstracts of title to Parish property, deeds, articles of incorporation and other legal documents may be deposited, and such title papers of Missions shall be deposited, with the Ecclesiastical Authority for safe keeping. The Ecclesiastical Authority shall provide a suitable safe depository for the title papers of all Parishes and Missions of the Diocese.

Canon 27

Of Parochial Boundaries

The boundaries of a Parish or Mission shall be the limits of any village, town, city, or county as fixed by law, or section of a county which may be recognized by the Bishop in the organization of the same. If there be but one Parish or Mission within such village, town, county, or section of county, it shall be deemed the parochial Cure of the Minister having charge thereof. If there be two or more Parishes or Missions therein, it shall be deemed the Cure of the Ministers thereof; and in the organization of a new Parish or Mission, the Bishop shall define and limit the bounds of said Parish or Mission, which boundaries shall be held to be legally fixed for all purposes of these Canons until changed or modified by the same authority.

Canon 28

Of Dormant Parishes

Section 1.

Whenever any Parish shall for three years either fail to elect a Vestry, or to make report as required by the Canons, unless the reasons for these failures are satisfactory to the Bishop, he may report the fact to the Synod, and the Synod shall deal with the matter as it deems fit.

Should a Parish be found to have less than three adult communicants it shall cease to be a Parish in union with the Synod.

Section 2.

It shall be the duty of the Bishop to take the necessary steps to preserve the property of such Parishes for the benefit of the Church.

Section 3.

A Parish failing as above, and becoming dormant, may be treated by the Bishop, with the concurrence of the Department of Missions, as an organized Mission, PROVIDED, it complies with all the conditions of organized Missions, required by these Canons, until such time as it may have recovered strength for the adequate Parochial order and administration. This resumption of Parochial organization must be with the preliminary consent of the Bishop, and restoration to union by the vote of the Synod.

Canon 29

Of Dependent Parishes

Section 1.

In order to assist any Parish facing financial or other difficulties that might impair its ability to continue to sustain its work, the Ecclesiastical Authority may designate the Parish a Dependent Parish, if requested to do so by the Vestry of that Parish or, on advice of the Standing Committee, under any of the following conditions:

a. That in the preceding year the Rector’s stipend was less that the current level for mission clergy, unless it can be shown that a part-time Rector is sufficient for the needs of a given Parish;

b. That for the two years next preceding, the pledge payment by that Parish to the Diocese was less than eleven percent of its net disposable income, as defined in Canon 52, excluding special grants or loans, for 1996, twelve percent in 1997, thirteen percent in 1998, fourteen percent in 1999, and fifteen percent in 2000 and thereafter.

Section 2.

The Parish designated as a Dependent Parish may request aid from the Diocese for an amount and purposes to be negotiated with the Council, the negotiated aid to be provided for a term of not more than three years. Extensions not to exceed three additional years may be negotiated.

Section 3.

During its term as a Dependent Parish, any such Parish shall retain its Parish status as regards holding and custody of church property and the retention of a Rector. Should the office of Rector be vacated during the term of a Dependent Parish, the Bishop shall appoint a Minister in charge until the end of the appointed term or such time as the conditions requiring Diocesan aid have been relieved.

Section 4.

If, at the end of the appointed term or negotiated extension, the conditions requiring designation as a Dependent Parish have not been relieved, said Parish shall be designated a Mission, subject to the Constitutional Articles and Canons pertaining thereto and the Vestry shall deed over to the Diocese all property at such time and in such manner as may be required by the Ecclesiastical Authority with the advice of the Chancellor.

Canon 30

Of Episcopal Visitations

Section 1.

Visitation by the Bishop is of inherent and transmitted authority, and indispensable for the exercise of the Episcopal functions within his jurisdiction. In this are included examining the state of his Church, inspecting the behavior of his Clergy, administering the Apostolic rite of Confirmation, ministering the Word and Sacraments to the people committed to his charge. On occasions of Canonical Visitation, the Bishop controls the services, to take to himself or assign to others such portions of them as he may think proper.

Section 2.

Offerings of the people not otherwise designated at such visitations are at the exclusive disposal of the Bishop for such purposes within the Diocese as he may determine.

Section 3.

He may require the Rector, Church Wardens or Vestry to give him information of the state of the congregation, and may formally propound questions relative thereto. The Bishop may exercise oversight of Church buildings, rectories, and other corporate property, and prevent their misuse, neglect, or alienation. He has advisory discretion in all matters of parochial difference and doubtful ritual or ecclesiastical order.

Section 4.

It shall be the duty of the Clergy, Lay Officers, and Parishioners to recognize the authority of Episcopal Visitation and to cooperate with the above Provisions therefor.