The Diocese of Springfield

   Article

Original Constitution adopted in Convention in Springfield, May, 1882, as amended in subsequent Synods, including the Amendments approved by the Annual Synod of 1995 and finally adopted by the Annual Synod of 1996.

Article I

Title and Bounds of Diocese

This Diocese shall be known and distinguished as the DIOCESE OF SPRINGFIELD; said Diocese shall contain that portion of the State of Illinois lying south of the counties of Woodford, Livingston, Ford and Iroquois, and east of the Illinois River.

Article II

Accession to the General Convention

The Church in the Diocese of Springfield accedes to the Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America, which is the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church in this land; and recognizes the Constitutional authority of the General Convention of the same.

Article III

Ecclesiastical Authority

The Ecclesiastical Authority of the Diocese shall be the Bishop, or if there be no Bishop, then the Bishop Coadjutor; or if there be no Bishop Coadjutor, then the Suffragan Bishop, senior in Consecration; or if there be no Suffragan Bishop, then the Standing Committee.

Article IV

Regular and Special Synods

Section 1.

There shall be one Regular Synod of the Church in the Diocese each year, to be held during the Month of October, the exact day and place being fixed by the Ecclesiastical Authority.

Section 2.

The Ecclesiastical Authority may call Special Synods and fix the time, place, and date they shall convene.

Section 3.

Notice of the time, place and date when every Synod, Regular or Special, is to convene shall be given by a letter addressed to every Clergyman, and to the Wardens of every Parish and Organized Mission in the Diocese at least thirty days before the time appointed.  The notice in case of a Special Synod shall also specify the purpose for which the Special Synod is called, and no business shall be transacted at such meeting other than as stated in the notice.

Section 4.

The Synod shall have power to provide for all matters not governed by the Constitution and the Canons of the General Church or by this Constitution.

Article V

Members of the Synod

Section 1.

The Synod shall be composed of Clergy and Laity.

Section 2.

The Bishop, the Bishop Coadjutor, and the Suffragan Bishop, if there be such, and every Clergyman canonically resident in this Diocese, who shall be regularly admitted and settled in some Parish, Mission, or Missions in union with the Synod, shall be entitled to a seat and vote in the Synod.  Furthermore, any Clergyman canonically resident in the Diocese otherwise engaged as a teacher, chaplain, or officer of a school of learning, Chaplain of the Armed Forces of the United States, or retired, may have a seat and vote in the Synod if the Ecclesiastical Authority of the Diocese has no objection, except as otherwise provided by this Constitution.

Section 3.

Every Parish in union with the Synod of the Diocese, and every canonically organized Mission of this Diocese, having fifty or fewer communicants in good standing, as defined in the Canons of this Diocese, shall be entitled to one Lay Delegate. Each Parish or Mission having a larger number of communicants, shall be entitled to an additional Lay Delegate for each fifty communicants in good standing, as defined in the Canons of this Diocese, above the first fifty; provided that no Parish or Mission shall have more than five Lay Delegates; and provided also, that no Lay Delegates shall be seated until there has been presented to the Secretary of the Synod satisfactory evidence that the Delegate’s Parish or Mission has paid in full to the Treasurer of the Diocese all Pledges, Assessments, or other sums as fixed by the Synod and following appeal when necessary, for the years up to and including the fiscal year next preceding the Synod.  Each regular Lay Delegate, elected and present at the Synod shall have one vote.  All Lay Delegates must be at least eighteen years of age and communicants in good standing, as defined in the Canons of this Diocese, who have been confirmed by a Bishop of this Church, or who have been received into this Church as having been properly confirmed.  Lay Delegates shall be elected at the Annual Meeting of each Parish and Mission.  An equal number of Alternate Delegates shall be elected at that same meeting.  Vacancies in Alternate Delegates may be filled by the Vestry or Bishop’ Committee.  The Diocesan Office shall be notified immediately of the names and addresses of all Delegates and Alternates.

Section 4.

It is the duty of every Clergyman entitled to a seat to attend the meetings of the Synod, and of every Parish and Mission in union to send one or more Delegates.

Article VI

The Synod Eucharist

During every Synod there shall be a celebration of the Holy Eucharist; and if there be a sermon, the Preacher shall be appointed by the Bishop, unless the Bishop himself shall preach or deliver a charge.

Article VII

President of the Synod

The Bishop presides as President of the Synod, and is entitled to every privilege of membership in the body.  In the absence of the Bishop, the Bishop Coadjutor, if there be one, or in his absence the Suffragan Bishop, if there be one, shall preside with like powers.  If no Bishop, Bishop Coadjutor or Suffragan Bishop shall be present, the President of the Standing Committee, or in his absence any Presbyter of the Standing Committee, shall call the Synod or order and proceed to the election by the Synod of a President pro tempore from among the Presbyters of the Synod.

Article VIII

Secretary of  the Diocese

At each Regular Synod, a Secretary of the Diocese shall be elected from among the Clerical members thereof, who shall continue in office until a successor be elected.  His duties shall be to act as the Secretary of the Synod, to take minutes of the proceedings, and, when approved, to enter them in the Journal; to preserve the Journals and records; to attest the public acts of the body; and faithfully to deliver to his successor all books and records which may be in his possession.  He shall also give the prescribed notice of the meeting of each Synod.  An Assistant Secretary may also be appointed by the Secretary from among the Clerical members of the Synod, with the approval of the Synod.  Whenever there shall be a vacancy in the office of the Secretary of the Synod, his duties shall be performed by the Assistant Secretary and if none by the Secretary of the Standing Committee.

Article IX

Treasurer of the Diocese

Section 1.

At each Regular Synod, there shall be elected a Treasurer of the Diocese, subject to the approval of the Ecclesiastical Authority, who shall take office on January 1st of the following calendar year and who shall serve until a successor is elected and qualified.  The Treasurer shall receive, disburse, and annually account to the Synod for all money collected under the authority of the Synod.  All accounts held by the Treasurer shall be audited annually by an independent Certified Public Accountant or otherwise as the Canons of the General Convention may direct.  The Treasurer shall be entitled ex officio to all the rights and privileges of membership in the Synod except that of voting.  The Treasurer shall be adequately bonded as required by the Canons of the General Convention, the cost of procuring such bond to be provided by the Synod.

Section 2.

In case the Treasurer die, remove from the Diocese, or be incapable of acting, the Ecclesiastical Authority shall have power to appoint a Treasurer to act until the next Synod.

Article X

Transaction of Business

Section 1.

Fifteen of the Clergy entitled to seats in the Synod, and Lay Delegates from ten of the Parishes and Missions entitled to representation, at any time duly assembled, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, except that a smaller number may adjourn from time to time.

Section 2.

In all matters that shall come before the Synod, the Clergy and Laity shall deliberate as one body, and the Clerical and Lay Delegates shall vote as individuals, unless a vote by separate orders is called for by any five members of the Synod.

Section 3.

When the Synod deliberates as one body, if a quorum be present, a majority of all members present shall be necessary to a decision.  But when a vote by separate orders is taken, the concurrence of a majority of the members present in each order shall be necessary to a decision.

Article XI

The Standing Committee

Section 1.

The Standing Committee of the Diocese shall consist of four Presbyters and four Laymen.  At each Regular Synod there shall be elected by the concurrent vote of both orders one Presbyter and one Layman, each to serve for a term of four years.  Upon the expiration of the full term of office of a member of the Standing Committee, he shall not be eligible for election to the Standing Committee until one year shall have elapsed after the expiration of his term of office.

Section 2.

The Presbyters must be of those entitled to seats and votes in the Synod and the Laymen must be communicants in good standing of the Church in this Diocese and chosen Lay Delegates to the Synod electing them.

Section 3.

The Committee, at its first meeting, shall choose a President and a Secretary from among the Clerical members.  The Secretary shall record its proceedings in a book provided for that purpose; which book and all papers in its possession relative to the Church shall be subject to the examination of the Bishop and the Synod.  A full report of its acts shall be made at each Regular Synod.  Any five of the members, the whole having been summoned, shall be a quorum.  It may make rules of procedure not inconsistent herewith and alter and repeal them from time to time.  Vacancies in said Committee, occurring by death or otherwise, shall be filled by the concurrent vote of the remaining Clerical and Lay members of the Committee.  Such ad interim members shall serve until the next Regular Synod which shall elect members to the Standing Committee to fill the unexpired term.

Section 4.

The Standing Committee shall be a Council of Advice to the Bishop and may be summoned by the Bishop whenever he shall require its advice.

Section 5.

In case of a vacancy in the Episcopate, the powers and duties to be performed by the Bishop in matters of discipline shall be performed by the Standing Committee; provided, that no sentence shall be pronounced upon a Clergyman or Layman, except by a Bishop; and when there is such occasion, some neighboring Bishop shall be invited to perform this office.

Article XII

Deputies to the General Convention

At the Regular Synod in the year next preceding the General Convention, four Clerical and four Lay Deputies, or such number as the General Convention may prescribe, shall be elected to represent this Diocese in the General Convention of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America.  The Synod shall also elect four Clerical and four Lay Deputies as Alternate Deputies, from which number to supply any deficiency which may occur in the representation of the Diocese.  In case the Regular Synod shall neglect to elect Deputies and Alternate Deputies, those acting as Deputies and Alternate Deputies for the preceding General Convention shall continue to represent the Diocese until their Successors shall be elected.

Article XIII

Admission of New Parishes and Missions

New Parishes and Organized Missions may be admitted into union with the Synod, on motion, by a majority of votes, provided they shall have laid before the Synod, through its Secretary, previous to the Regular meeting of the Synod:

      1.   A certificate from the Ecclesiastical Authority approving of the organization of such Parish or Mission;

      2.   In case of a Parish, a Constitution subscribed by the Wardens, in which the Parish expressly accedes to the Constitution of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America, and to the Constitution of the Church in the Diocese of Springfield.

      3.   In the case of a Parish, evidence that it is legally incorporated and organized in accordance with the Canons of this Diocese.

Article XIV

Forfeiture of Privileges

Section 1.

Any Parish or Mission may be suspended from the right of representation in the Synod, or its connection with the Diocese wholly dissolved, by a vote of two-thirds of those present in each Order, whenever the same shall be deemed necessary.  Should the Bishop signify to the Synod that in his judgment action is necessary, the Synod shall proceed at once without regard to the regular order of business to the consideration of such action as the case may in its judgment require.

Section 2.

If a Parish or Mission in union with the Synod shall neglect or decline to appoint delegates, or if those appointed neglect or are prevented from attending, or if a Parish or Mission shall incur any suspension or forfeiture of privileges, owing to the neglect of the canonical assessments or otherwise, the Parish or Mission shall nevertheless be bound by all the acts of the Synod the same as if fully represented.

Article XV

Election of a Bishop

Section 1.

The election of a Bishop for this Diocese shall be made only in a Regular Synod, or in a Special Synod called for that purpose.

Section 2.

The election shall be made in the following manner:

      1.   The Order of the Clergy and the Order of the Laity shall vote separately by ballot, for some fit and qualified Clergyman for that office, and a concurrence of both Orders shall be necessary to a choice.

      2.   If two-thirds of all the Clergy entitled to vote be present, and two-thirds of all the Parishes and Missions entitled to vote be represented by Lay Delegate or Delegates, then a majority of each Order shall determine a choice.

      3.   Should there not be present two-thirds of the Clergy and a representation of two-thirds of the Parishes and Missions, then two-thirds of the votes of each Order shall be necessary to determine a choice.

Section 3.

In all cases of the election of a Bishop, no Clergyman shall be entitled to vote unless he shall have been for at least six months immediately preceding the election personally and canonically resident in this Diocese, and during that time entitled to a seat in the Synod.

Article XVI

Election of Officers

The election of officers provided for in this Constitution shall be by ballot, unless the same be dispensed with by the Synod; and in the event of a failure or neglect to elect at any synod, the person or persons already in office shall hold over until successors are regularly elected and qualified.

Article XVII

Assessments

The Synod shall have power to raise money, by tax or assessment, on the Parishes and Missions in union with it, by Canon or by special vote, for the work of the Church, Diocesan and General.  All appropriations and proposed expenditures included in the budget adopted by the Synod shall be considered assessments under this Article.  Any assessment against any Parish or Mission shall be reviewed at the request of the Parish or Mission involved as provided by Canon.

Article XVIII

Amendments

No amendment shall be made to this Constitution except in the manner following:

A proposed amendment shall be introduced in writing at a Regular Synod, and, if approved by the vote of a concurrent majority of all the Clergy and Lay Delegates entitled to seats, voting by orders, shall lie over to the next Regular Synod; and if again approved in the same manner in said Regular Synod, such amendment shall be valid and obligatory; provided that no amendment to the Constitution, or of Canons enacted under it, shall be valid without the concurrence of the Ecclesiastical Authority.

Article XIX

Construction