Canons
THE CANONS
TITLE I - THE DIOCESE
A - DELEGATES TO COUNCIL
CANON 1
Clerical Members of Council
SECTION 1. Within one week prior to the meeting of every Council of this Diocese, the Ecclesiastical Authority shall cause to be prepared a list of all Clerics of the Church canonically resident in this Diocese (see Article VII, Section 2), and such list shall be laid before the Council on the first day of its meeting and be prefixed to the Journal. Such list shall indicate the names of the Clergy entitled to seats and votes in the Council, and shall be presumptive evidence of such rights.
SECTION 2. If the right of any Cleric of the Diocese to a seat in the Council is claimed or disputed, the question shall be resolved by the Council (see Article VII, Section 4).
CANON 2
Lay Delegates
SECTION 1. At every meeting of the Council each Parish in union with the Council may be represented therein by three Lay Delegates (see Article VII, Section 3. a & c). Unless the Parish Charter and By-Laws do otherwise provide, it shall be the duty of the Vestry of each of such Parishes to elect during February preceding the next Annual Council said three Lay Delegates together with three Alternates. If any or all of the elected Delegates shall fail to attend the Council, Alternates shall be entitled to serve in their stead. Any one or more of said Delegates, in default of attendance of a complete delegation, may represent the Parish in the Council.
SECTION 2. At every meeting of the Council each organized Mission in union with the Council may be represented therein by one Lay Delegate, or an Alternate (see Article VII, Section 3. b & c). It shall be the duty of the Mission Committee of each Mission to elect during February preceding the next Annual Council its Delegate and Alternate; or, if there be no Mission Committee, the Delegate and Alternate shall be appointed by the Vicar; or, if there be no Vicar, either, by the Bishop.
SECTION 3. The evidence of election or appointment of Lay Delegates and Alternates shall be a certificate signed, in the case of a Parish, by the Rector, or if the cure be vacant, by one of the Wardens; and in the case of a Mission, by the Vicar, or if the cure be vacant, by the Warden. It shall be the duty of the person who signs the said certificate to send the same to the Secretary of the Diocese to reach him/her not later than the tenth day of March prior to the meeting of the next Annual Council. The said certificate must be laid before Council before the Delegate(s) or Alternate(s) may be admitted to membership in Council.
SECTION 4. It shall be the duty of the Secretary of the Diocese to provide each Parish and Mission with the aforesaid blank certificate, substantially in the following form:
"To the Council of the Diocese of Mississippi:
I hereby certify that the following Lay Delegate(s) and Alternate(s) have been chosen in accordance with the provisions of Canon 2, Sections 1 & 2, to represent Parish or Mission of City , Miss., at the Annual (Special) Council of the Diocese of Mississippi.
DELEGATES: ALTERNATES:
I further certify that the above named Delegate(s) and Alternate(s) are qualified under the provision of Article VII of the Constitution. Witness my hand this day of , 19
(Rector, Vicar, or Warden)"
SECTION 5. a) Each convocational youth delegate will be elected at convocational youth gatherings called by the bishop for the purpose of furthering the work and ministry of the young people of the Diocese. All canonically resident youth 18 to 13 years old in each convocation will be eligible to attend and vote in their geographical convocational gathering.
b) Evidence of the election of a convocational youth delegate and an alternate delegate will be a certificate signed by the Convocational Dean and the diocesan appointed facilitator of each convocational gathering. The Dean of the convocation is responsible to send the certificate of election to the Secretary of the Diocese no later than December 1st preceding Annual Council.
SECTION 6. Should any question be raised as to the right of any person to serve as a Delegate or Alternate, the matter shall be referred to a Committee on Credentials.
SECTION 7. The Lay Delegates duly elected or appointed to serve at any Annual meeting of Council shall be the Delegates to any other meeting of Council in the interim before the Council to which they have been elected. Vacancies occasioned by death, removal, resignation, disqualification, or incapacity to serve, shall be filled in the same manner as the original election or appointment.
SECTION 8. In case any Parish or Mission shall fail to elect or appoint Lay Delegates, or in the case all the Delegates and Alternates from any Parish or Mission shall fail to attend Council, the Rector or Vicar of such Parish or Mission may appoint Lay Communicants, in number and with the same qualifications as prescribed for Lay Delegates, to represent the said Parish or Mission in Council, certifying the same to the Secretary of Council on the certificate provided.
B - OFFICERS
CANON 3
The Secretary
SECTION 1. (a) At each Annual Council a Presbyter, or an adult confirmed Lay Communicant, canonically resident, and actually residing, in the Diocese shall be elected Secretary of the Diocese in accordance with the provisions of Article IX, Section 2. (a). He/She may select an Assistant Secretary, approved by the Ecclesiastical Authority. In case of his/her absence from Council, or inability to act, a pro-tempore Secretary of the Council may be appointed.
(b) In case of a vacancy in the office, the Bishop shall appoint a Secretary, who shall hold office until an election be made by Council.
SECTION 2. The Secretary shall remain in office until his/her successor is elected.
SECTION 3. (a) The duties of the Secretary shall be to take and preserve the minutes of the proceedings of Council, issue its Annual Journal and take charge of all papers of Council.
(b) The Secretary shall comply with the provisions of Article IV, Sections 1. (b) and 3. (a & b).
(c) The Secretary shall, within two weeks of the adjournment of Council, notify in writing each appointed or elected officer, member of committees, and other officials of their election or appointment.
SECTION 4. The Secretary shall distribute to every Parish, organized Mission and Mission Station in the Diocese the blank form prepared and provided by the Executive Council for securing annually an accurate view of the state of the Church in this Diocese. He shall be responsible for forwarding to the Executive Council, no later than March 1st of each year, the duplicate copies of these completed reports (Gen. Canon I.5.1 and Diocesan Canon 27).
SECTION 5. (a) It shall be the duty of the Secretary to forward to the Secretary of the House of Deputies, immediately upon publication, two copies of the Journal of the Council of the Diocese, together with episcopal charges, statements and such other papers as may show the state of the Church in this Diocese, and one copy to the Archives of the Church. (Gen. Canon I.5.3(a))
(b) It shall also be his/her duty annually to forward to the Executive Council, not later than February 1st, on the form provided for this purpose, a report for the year ending December 31st preceding that shall include statistical information concerning the Parishes and Missions of the Diocese, the Clergy and other ministries, and the institutions in any way connected with the Diocese; together with all financial receipts and the distribution of such receipts. (Gen. Canon I.5.2 & I.4.6.e)
(c) He/She shall also transmit to the Secretary of the House of Deputies the certification, in duplicate, of the election of the Diocese's Clerical and Lay Deputies to each General Convention. (Gen. Canon I.1.1c)
CANON 4
The Treasurer
SECTION 1. (a) At each Annual Council an adult confirmed Lay Communicant canonically resident, and actually residing, in the Diocese shall be elected Treasurer of the Diocese in accordance with the provisions of Article IX, Section 2. (a). He/She may select an Assistant Treasurer, approved by the Ecclesiastical Authority. In case of his/her absence from Council, or inability to act, the pro-tempore Treasurer of Council may be appointed.
(b) In case of a vacancy in the office, the Bishop shall appoint a Treasurer who shall hold office until an election be made by Council.
SECTION 2. The Treasurer shall remain in office until his/her successor is elected.
SECTION 3. (a) The duties of the Treasurer shall be to receive and disburse all monies collected under the Authority of the Council, and of which the collection and disbursement shall not otherwise be prescribed. His/Her account shall be rendered annually to Council, and shall be audited by a Certified Public Accountant.
(b) The Treasurer shall give a bond conditioned on the faithful performance of his/her duties. The amount thereof and the terms on which the same shall be given shall be subject to the approval of the Bishop; and the expense of such bond is to be paid by the Diocese.
(c) It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to purchase, at Diocesan expense, a blanket surety bond to cover all treasurers and custodians, other than banking institutions, of Diocesan, Parish, Mission, and other Church funds; except treasurers of funds that do not exceed $500.00 at any one time during the fiscal year.
(d) He/She shall have power to expend all sums of money covered by the budgets approved by Council, subject to such provisions of the Canons as shall be applicable.
(e) The Treasurer shall send, at least quarterly, to all Parishes, Missions, and Mission Stations a report of the amounts received from their voluntary proportionate giving to the Diocese.
CANON 5
The Registrar and the Historiographer
SECTION 1. (a) At each Annual Council a Presbyter or an adult confirmed Lay Communicant, canonically resident and actually residing in the Diocese, shall be elected Registrar of the Diocese, in accordance with the provisions of Article IX, Section 2. (a). He/She may select such assistants as he/she may deem necessary and are approved by the Ecclesiastical Authority. In case of his/her absence from Council, or inability to act, a pro-tempore Registrar may be appointed.
(b) In case of a vacancy in the office, the Bishop shall appoint a Registrar, who shall hold office until an election be made by Council.
SECTION 2. The Registrar shall remain in office until his/her successor is elected.
SECTION 3. (a) The duties of the Registrar shall be to keep, in the office of the Bishop, the archives and official records of the Diocese, viz., the Journals, files, papers, reports and other documents, which under the Canons, or otherwise, shall become the property of Council, including what may come into the hands of the Secretary.
(b) It shall also be his/her duty to preserve, in a proper book, a record of the ordination and the consecration of the successive Bishops of the Diocese, designating the time and place of the same, with the names of the ordaining and consecrating Bishops, and of the other persons present and assisting; to record a list of all the Presbyters and Deacons and the dates of their connection with the Diocese; and to record the dates of the Charters of Parishes in the same, with such additional facts as may be worthy of preservation in the archives of the Diocese.
SECTION 4. (a) The Registrar shall make a report to each Annual Council summarizing the activities of this office during the preceding year.
(b) On or before the first day of March of each year, the Registrar shall certify to the Recorder of the Episcopal Church the information required in General Convention Canon I.1.7.a.
SECTION 5. At each Annual Council the Bishop shall appoint a Presbyter or an adult confirmed Lay Communicant, canonically resident and actually residing in the Diocese, to be Historiographer of the Diocese.
SECTION 6. (a) It shall be the duty of the Historiographer to procure, if possible, all such Journals, files, papers, reports, copies of Charters and Acts of Incorporation of Parishes, copies of deeds, deeds of trust, and other documents as may be of value in the history of the Diocese; to arrange, label, file, index, and otherwise put in order, and provide for the safe-keeping of the same, and to hold the same under such regulations as Council may provide.
(b) It shall be the duty of the Historiographer to perform such other duties as requested by the Bishop.
(c) In case of a vacancy in the office, the Bishop may appoint a qualified person to serve as Historiographer until the next Annual Council.
SECTION 7. The offices of Registrar and Historiographer may be combined if the Bishop elects to do so.
CANON 6
The Chancellor and the Vice Chancellor
SECTION 1. At each Annual Council the Bishop shall appoint a confirmed Lay Communicant of the Diocese learned in the law to be Chancellor, who shall become the advisor of the Diocese in all legal matters affecting the administration of the same. On request of the Bishop, or of any other Cleric, he/she shall give his/her legal opinion in writing.
SECTION 2. At an Annual Council the Bishop may appoint a confirmed Lay Communicant of the Diocese learned in the law to be a Vice Chancellor, who shall assist the Chancellor in the duties of the office of Chancellor.
SECTION 3. All proper expenses of the Chancellor and Vice Chancellor shall be paid by the Treasurer of the Diocese.
CANON 7
Deputies to General Convention and to Provincial Synod
SECTION 1. Deputies to the General Convention, consisting of four Clerics and four confirmed adult Lay Communicants, shall be elected by the Annual Council next preceding a General Convention of the Church, and shall continue in office until their successors are duly elected. The Council shall also elect four Alternate Deputies of each Order, to serve as Deputies contingently.
SECTION 2. At least sixty days preceding any regular meeting of the Synod of the Province of Sewanee, the Bishop shall appoint, subject to the approval of the Executive Committee, such Clerical and Lay Deputies as shall be deemed necessary to represent the Diocese fully at the Provincial Synod.
CANON 8
"Trustees of the Diocese of Mississippi"
SECTION 1. The "Trustees of the Diocese of Mississippi," a corporation created by an Act of the Legislature of the State of Mississippi, approved March 6, 1880, and subsequently amended, is hereby authorized to act as Trustee to receive and hold in trust all monies, securities, and properties in accordance with the nature and purpose of said gifts, bequests, and trusts, placed in its charge; provided, however, that it may refuse funds or property which it considers inappropriate for acceptance. The members shall also act as an investment committee for all funds placed in its charge.
SECTION 2. The Bishop of the Diocese shall, ex officio, be the President of the said Corporation. The members composing said Corporation shall be five in number, all of whom shall be confirmed adult Lay Communicants and four of whom shall serve for a four year term or until their successors are elected and qualified. Four of said Trustees shall be elected by the Diocesan Council and the fifth Trustee shall be appointed by the Bishop for a one year term. Provided, however, none of the four elected Trustees shall serve more than three consecutive four year terms and no appointed Trustee shall be appointed more than four consecutive one year terms.
SECTION 3. The members shall:
(a) elect a Treasurer, who shall be bonded in accordance with Canon 4, Section 3 (c);
(b) select a bank which is insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation as a depository, and may contract with such a bank as custodian of funds and securities in its charge;
(c) report annually to the Council; and
(d) adopt their own rules of procedure.
SECTION 4. The "Trustees of the Diocese of Mississippi" shall have seat and voice in the Council of the Diocese, but shall not vote unless members of that body.
C - THE COUNCIL
CANON 9
Organization of Council
SECTION 1. At each meeting of Council the order of organization shall be as follows:
(1) In accordance with the provisions of Article IX, Section 1, of the Constitution of the Diocese, the President of Council shall call the Council to order.
(2) The President shall declare the Council organized for business after a Constitutional quorum (Article VII, Section 1) has been determined to be present:
(a) either by the Credentials Committee reporting a quorum registered and present;
(b) or by the Secretary calling the roll of the Clergy entitled to seats in the Council, as provided in Canon 1, and calling the roll of the Parishes and Missions entitled to representation, together with the names of their Delegates and Alternates, as provided in Canon 2.
CANON 10
Business of Council
SECTION 1. The Diocesan officers, committees and trustees shall be elected, or appointed, as the case may be, as provided for in Articles VIII, IX, X and XI of the Constitution of the Diocese.
SECTION 2. The Business of Council shall include the administration, financing, development and accomplishment of the mission of the Church in this Diocese.
SECTION 3. The Rules of Order shall be the Rules of Order adopted by the One Hundred Seventy-seventh Annual Council, subject to such amendments as Council may subsequently adopt. And the Order of Business, which shall have been prepared by the Secretary of the Diocese prior to the meeting of Council and approved by the Bishop, shall be the Order of Business for that meeting of Council.
D - COMMITTEES OF THE DIOCESE
CANON 11
The Standing Committee
SECTION 1. (a) As provided for in Article X, Section 1 (a), of the Constitution of the Diocese, each Annual Council shall elect as members of the Standing Committee one Presbyter and one confirmed adult Lay Communicant for a term of four years, and said members shall serve such term until their successors are elected and qualified.
(b) After serving one full term of four years the members of the Standing Committee shall not be eligible for reelection for a period of one Council year.
(c) In the event a vacancy shall occur in the Standing Committee, the Committee shall have the power to fill said vacancy until the next meeting of the Council.
SECTION 2. The Standing Committee shall elect from its own body a President and a Secretary, and report its organization to the Secretary of the Council.
SECTION 3. The Secretary shall keep a record of all proceedings and report the same in summary form to Council.
SECTION 4. (a) The duties of the Standing Committee shall be as defined by the Canons of the General Church.
(b) The Standing Committee shall adopt its own rules of procedure.
SECTION 5. The Standing Committee may be summoned on the requisition of the Bishop.
SECTION 6. All members of the Standing Committee shall have seat and voice in the Council of the Diocese, but shall not vote unless members of that body.
CANON 12
The Executive Committee
SECTION 1. The Executive Committee shall have and shall exercise, in the interim between Councils, all the powers of Council, except as limited by Canon. It shall initiate and develop such new work as it may deem necessary. It may, subject to the provisions of this Canon, enact by-laws for its government.
SECTION 2. (a) As provided for in Article X, Section 2 (a), of the Constitution of the Diocese, each Annual Council shall elect as members of the Executive Committee two clergy and two confirmed adult Lay Communicants, each for a term of three years, and said members shall serve such term until their successors are elected and qualify.
(b) After serving one full term of three years, the elected members of the Executive Committee shall not be eligible for elective membership on the Committee and shall remain so ineligible for a period of one year.
(c) The Executive Committee shall have power to fill any vacancies in such elective membership, each member so elected to serve until the next annual meeting of the Diocesan Council.
(d) The Bishop, the Secretary of the Diocese, the Treasurer of the Diocese, and the Chancellor shall be ex-officio members of the Executive Committee with voice and vote.
(e) The Bishop, with the advice and consent of the Executive Committee, may appoint annually no more than three additional members, each for a term of one year, who shall have voice and vote. After serving for three consecutive one-year terms, such appointed members shall be ineligible for either elective or appointive membership for a period of one year.
SECTION 3. (a) The Bishop shall be President of the Executive Committee. The Committee shall elect annually from its members a Vice President.
(b) The Secretary of the Diocese shall ex-officio be Secretary of the Executive Committee. It shall be the duty of the Secretary to give timely notice of all meetings of the Executive Committee, to record its proceedings, to preserve its journals and records, to attest with the seal of the Diocese, as occasion may require, its public records and proceedings, and faithfully to deliver into the hands of his/her successor all books and papers in his/her possession relative to the concerns of the Executive Committee.
SECTION 4. (a) The Executive Committee shall meet three times a year and at such other times as it may appoint, or as it may be convened by the President. Its first, the organizational, meeting shall be within thirty (30) days after each Annual Council, at which time it shall immediately enter upon the duties imposed upon it by Canon or by the Council.
(b) A majority of the members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of the Committee.
SECTION 5. (a) It shall be the duty of the Executive Committee to make a careful study of the opportunities for missionary, educational and social work within the Diocese, and to devise ways and means for the proper performance of such work.
(b) At each Annual Council the Executive Committee shall submit a report of the work and activities done under its direction during the preceding year.
(c) The Executive Committee shall submit to the Council for its consideration and action a proposed program, including the general work of the Church at home and abroad, for the following year, together with a supporting budget and a plan for funding the same.
(d) The Executive Committee shall have power to ask for such reports and statements from every Parish, Mission, School, Home and Institution, which is deemed under the control of the Diocese, as it may deem necessary, and such reports and statements shall be furnished when asked for by the Committee.
(e) All members of the Executive Committee shall have seats and voice in the Council of the Diocese, but shall not vote unless members of that body.
SECTION 6. The Bishop, with the approval of the Executive Committee, may appoint an administrative assistant, who shall perform such duties as shall be required of him/her by the Bishop and/or the Committee. The Executive Committee shall fix his/her salary, and may provide him/her with a suitable office and necessary equipment for the furtherance of his/her work.
SECTION 7. (a) The Executive Committee shall appoint a committee of not less than three persons from the Clerical Order and not less than three persons from the Lay Order to be known as the "Diocesan Compensation Review Committee." The Diocesan Compensation Review Committee shall be composed of members with rotating terms, each for a term of three years.
(b) It shall be the duty of the Diocesan Compensation Review Committee to cooperate with and advise like parochial committees when called upon, and to provide them annually with relevant statistics and information concerning fair and equitable clergy and lay employee compensation.
(c) It shall also be the duty of the Diocesan Compensation Review Committee to review annually the compensation to be paid to the Bishop, the Bishop Coadjutor and the Suffragan Bishop, if there be such, and all clerical and lay employees of the Diocese, and to make recommendations pertinent thereto to the Executive Committee and to the Annual Council.
CANON 13
Committees of Council
In addition to the committees and commissions required by the Constitution and Canons of the Diocese, the Bishop shall appoint annually from the members of Council and others given seats and voice in Council those committees of Council as may be deemed necessary to carry on the work of Council.
CANON 14
Commission on Ministry
SECTION 1. (a) The Commission on Ministry shall consist of not less than six Clergy and six adult confirmed Lay Communicants, who shall be nominated annually by the Bishop and approved by Council.
(b) Should vacancies occur on the Commission when the Council is not in session, the Bishop shall similarly nominate to the Standing Committee, upon whose confirmation the person or persons so designated shall be added to the Commission and shall serve until the next meeting of the Council.
SECTION 2. The duties of the Commission on Ministry shall be those described in the Canons of The Episcopal Church (Title III, Canon 1), and such other duties relating to the ministry in this Diocese as shall be assigned by the Bishop.
CANON 15
Duncan M. Gray Camp And Conference Center
Section 1. (a.) The Duncan M. Gray Camp and Conference Center shall be under the management and direction of the Board of Managers of the Duncan M. Gray Camp and Conference Center.
(b.) The Board of Managers shall make regular reports and be accountable to the Bishops and Executive Committee, and report annually to the Diocesan Council. Capital improvements and the annual budget shall be reviewed and approved by the Diocesan Finance Committee and the Executive Committee.
(c.) This Center operates a ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi. The Duncan M. Gray Camp and Conference Center shall operate in conformity with the Constitutions and Canons of the Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi and the Episcopal Church of the United States of America.
Section 2. (a.) The chair of the Board of Managers, to be appointed by the Bishop. This person will come from those persons appointed under Section 2.b.
(b.) Five (5) persons, clergy and laity, will be appointed annually by the Bishop, for a total membership of 15 persons. The Bishop may fill vacancies for unexpired terms.
(c.) The Executive Director of the Camp and Conference Center, ex-officio.
(d.) The Administrative Officer for Budget and Finance of the Diocese, ex-officio. This person will function as Treasurer of the Camp and Conference Center.
(e.) The Diocesan Canon for Youth and College Ministry, ex-officio.
(f.) Any member from Section 2.b. may be reappointed to no more than one additional three-year term. After a second term, members must rotate off the Board of Managers for at least one year. Members named to an unexpired term and who serve less than one-half of a full term are eligible for appointment to a "first" term.
Section 3. (a.) The chairperson of the Board, the Treasurer, the Chair of the Finance Committee, other Board members as the Chairperson of the Board may appoint, and the Executive Director shall constitute the Executive Committee of the Board of Managers.
(b.) The Executive Committee of the Board of Managers shall have the power and authority to act for the Board of Managers between meetings of the Board; provided, all actions taken between scheduled meetings shall be reported immediately and in writing to all members of the Board; and, all interim actions shall be considered for affirmation at the next regularly scheduled Board meeting.
Section 4. The Board of Managers shall adopt rules and regulations for its governace and operation, which rules and regulations shall be approved by the Executive Committee of the Diocese.
E - THE CATHEDRAL
CANON 16
The Cathedral
SECTION 1. The Council of this Diocese adopts the concept of a Cathedral Church for the Diocese of Mississippi to serve as a central or focal point for the administration and strengthening of the Diocese, and empowers the Bishop to designate a Parish of this Diocese to be constituted a Cathedral Parish, in accordance with the provisions and requirements as set forth in this Canon. Upon such designation, said Parish Church shall become the Cathedral Church of the Diocese in accordance herewith.
SECTION 2. A Parish Church designated by the Bishop and constituted the Cathedral Church shall be known as the "Cathedral of".
SECTION 3. The Parish designated as the Cathedral Parish wherein shall be located the Cathedral Church shall not be deprived of any of the rights and privileges afforded a Parish under the Constitution and Canons of the Diocese and of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, nor be relieved of any of its obligations and responsibilities as a Parish unless specifically set forth in this Canon.
SECTION 4. There shall be a Cathedral Chapter composed of the members of the Executive Committee and the Vestry of the Cathedral Parish. [Ratified and accepted by the Vestry of the Cathedral Parish of Saint Andrew, Jackson, Mississippi, at a meeting duly convened on March 11, 1968.]
SECTION 5. The Cathedral Chapter shall have authority over and be responsible for Cathedral functions and the coordination of the interests and activities of the Diocese and the Cathedral Parish for the mutual benefit and welfare of both.
The Cathedral Chapter shall meet annually in the Cathedral Church after the adjournment of the Annual Council and at such other places and/or times as may be determined by the Bishop and the Dean with due notice thereof given.
The Diocese shall be responsible for all expenses in connection with Cathedral functions, those portions of the Cathedral properties regularly occupied as Cathedral or Diocesan offices, and any other extra expenses incurred by the Cathedral Parish by reason of its serving as the Cathedral Church of the Diocese which are beyond the normal expenses of a Parish without Cathedral status.
SECTION 6. The Cathedral Parish, as a Parish of the Diocese and as a corporate body, shall retain title to all Parish property with full authority over and responsibility therefor; and as a Cathedral Parish, shall have the same rights, representation, participation, obligations and responsibilities both in the Parish and in the Diocese as a Parish without Cathedral status.
The Dean shall be appointed by the Bishop, after conferring with the Vestry of the Cathedral Parish as to his/her acceptability, for election as Rector of said Parish. The Vestry shall have the right to decline to elect, in which case the Bishop shall in like manner confer with said Vestry as to another priest or priests for the office until same be filled.
SECTION 7. The Vestry of the Cathedral Parish shall be elected and function as a Parish Vestry in accordance with the Constitution and Canons of the Diocese of Mississippi and the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, with the exception that the Dean of the Cathedral shall be the Rector of the Cathedral Parish and the proper title of the Cathedral Parish shall be " Cathedral Parish" or "The Dean, Wardens and Members of the Vestry of the Cathedral Parish of ."
SECTION 8. The Bishop shall have full access to and use of the altars of the Cathedral and the Cathedral properties; and those services and functions where he/she officiates and/or participates shall be scheduled and conducted as he/she shall direct. Order, manner and form of services shall be established by the Dean with the agreement of the Bishop.
SECTION 9. The Bishop may designate and/or appoint both residentiary and/or honorary Canon or Canons, if he/she so elect, whose participation in the services and functions of the Cathedral shall be at the direction of the Bishop with the agreement of the Dean.
SECTION 10. Upon the designation by the Bishop of a Parish as a Cathedral Parish of the Diocese, the following declaration shall be executed and placed on record in the Journal of the Council of the Diocese. This declaration shall be executed by the Bishop as the head of the Diocese and on its behalf by the Rector and Wardens of the designated Parish on behalf of said Parish.
"Whereas, the Right Reverend , D.D., Bishop of Mississippi, has designated Parish as the Cathedral Parish of the Diocese of Mississippi in accordance with the provisions of Canon of the Diocese of Mississippi; and
"Whereas, , Parish has consented to and accepted the designation as Cathedral Parish of the Diocese of Mississippi,
"NOW, THEREFORE, this declaration made this day between the Diocese of Mississippi and the Parish of , in the city of , designating, declaring and establishing the Cathedral of in the Cathedral Parish of , at , in accordance with and under the Canons and Constitution of the Diocese of Mississippi and the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America.
"Witnesseth, this the day of , in the Year of our Lord ."
DIOCESE OF MISSISSIPPI
By____________________ , BISHOP
Parish of _______________________
By____________________ , RECTOR
By___________ , SENIOR WARDEN
By____________ , JUNIOR WARDEN
SECTION 11. The designation of a Cathedral Parish and the consent and acceptance by a Parish of such designation are intended and expected to continue so long as both the Diocese and the Parish exist. Nevertheless, either the Diocese or the Parish shall have the right to terminate this designation and to return said Cathedral Parish to Parish status through formal action of either the Council of the Diocese or the congregation of the Cathedral Parish by giving one year's written notice thereof through formal action of either of said bodies.
SECTION 12. This Canon may be amended just as other Canons of the Diocese are amended except as to any matter affecting the authority, rights, representation, participation, obligations and/or responsibilities of the Cathedral Parish in the Diocese and in the General Church, which amendments must be ratified and accepted by the Cathedral Parish acting through its duly authorized body before same shall become effective.
F - DIOCESAN SCHOOLS
CANON 17
SECTION 1. Diocesan Schools may be established in this Diocese by vote of the Council, acting upon the recommendation of the Bishop and Executive Committee. Said schools may, in the discretion of the Executive Committee, be owned and operated by the Diocese or by a separate corporation created for this purpose.
SECTION 2. The Board of Trustees of each such Diocesan School shall be constituted and elected as determined by the Executive Committee. Provided, however, a majority of said Trustees or the members of the said owning corporation, if such applies, shall be confirmed adult Lay Communicants of the Episcopal Church.
SECTION 3. Each Diocesan School shall set forth its aims and purposes in a clearly defined policy statement, which shall include a declaration that no applicant, otherwise qualified, shall be denied admission because of race, creed, or color.
SECTION 4. The Trustees of such Diocesan Schools shall make annual reports to the Diocesan Council.
SECTION 5. All schools within the Diocese now existing which are directly or indirectly operated, supervised, financially supported in whole or in part, or sponsored by the Diocese shall be deemed to be Diocesan Schools within the meaning of this Canon.
G - OF LICENSED MINISTRIES
CANON 18
SECTION 1. The Bishop of this Diocese shall determine which of those categories of licensed lay persons authorized by Title III, Canon 4, of the National Canons of the Episcopal Church are to be licensed in this diocese. Individuals shall not be licensed until they have completed that education and training required by Title III, Canon 4, and by such additional training as the Bishop may require.
SECTION 2. In addition to those categories of licensed lay persons provided for in Title III, Canon 4, the Bishop may license special Congregational Lay Readers each of whom shall be a confirmed communicant of a congregation in which a special need exists, as in the absence of a member of the clergy in charge, such license to be valid only in the specific congregation in which it is granted, and such license to expire when the need no longer exists; however, licenses issued under this provision in previous canons shall remain valid unless revoked by the Bishop.
TITLE II - PARISHES AND MISSIONS
A - MISSIONS
CANON 19
Mission Stations and Parochial Missions
SECTION 1. (a) When three or more adult confirmed Lay Communicants of this Church, residing in this Diocese, desire to band together to maintain services at least four times a year according to the doctrine, discipline and worship of The Episcopal Church, and agree to abide by the Constitution and Canons of this Diocese, they may make and sign a petition to the Bishop to be constituted as a Mission Station. If the Bishop, with the advice and consent of the Executive Committee, approves the petition, he/she shall certify to the petitioners the terms and conditions of his/her approval, and shall forward a copy of the same to the Secretary of the Diocese.
(b) The Bishop shall appoint annually a Warden for each Mission Station, who shall have the same duties as provided for the Warden of an organized Mission.
(c) All services and official acts performed in such a place, together with the names of the members resident therein, not otherwise entered upon any Parish or Mission Register, shall be recorded in and reported from the Diocesan Register.
(d) At each meeting of the Council of the Diocese, each Mission Station may have one representative, elected by the congregation, who shall have voice in said Council.
(e) No real property shall be acquired or a building erected or purchased for the use of a Mission Station without the prior consent of the Bishop and the Standing Committee, and the title of any such property shall be vested in the Trustees of the Diocese, to be held in trust by them.
(f) A Mission Station may become a Parochial Mission, under Section 2 of this Canon, by mutual agreement between the members thereof and the Vestry of a nearby Parish or the Mission Committee of a nearby Mission that is willing to accept such responsibility, and with the consent and approval of the Bishop and the Executive Committee.
SECTION 2. (a) Any Parish or organized Mission may, with the consent and approval of the Bishop and the Executive Committee, establish a Parochial Mission.
(b) A Parochial Mission shall not constitute a separate cure, but shall be administered and controlled by the Rector and Vestry of the establishing Parish or the Vicar and Mission Committee of the establishing Mission.
(c) Although a separate Parish Register and Service Register, together with books of accounts, may be kept for the Parochial Mission, the information therein shall be included in the annual Parochial Report of the Parish or Mission.
(d) A Parochial Mission shall not have representation in Council separate from its Parish or Mission.
(e) The title of any property purchased or acquired for the use of a Parochial Mission shall be vested in the Vestry of the Parish or, if the establishing congregation is a Mission, in the Trustees of the Diocese. All furnishings, fixtures and equipment shall be the property of the title holder.
(f) A Parochial Mission may be declared extinct (1) by mutual agreement between the Vestry or Mission Committee of the establishing congregation and the Parochial Mission, with the consent and approval of the Bishop and the Executive Committee; or (2) by the Executive Committee with the consent and approval of the Bishop.
CANON 20
Organized Missions
SECTION 1. (a) When any number of adult persons, not less than twenty-five, confirmed Lay Communicants of this Church and residing in this Diocese, shall desire to organize a Mission, they shall make application to the Bishop in the following manner:
APPLICATION TO THE BISHOP FOR PERMISSION TO ORGANIZE A MISSION
UNDER CANON 20, SECTION 1
To the Right Reverend Bishop of Mississippi:
We, the undersigned residents of , Diocese of Mississippi, respectfully ask to be organized as a Mission of the Protestant Episcopal Church of the Diocese, to be known by the name of Mission. We hereby promise conformity to the Doctrine, Discipline, and Worship of said Church and our submission to the Ecclesiastical Authority of the Diocese of Mississippi and the Constitution and Canons thereof. There being twenty-five of us so associated, confirmed lay Communicants in good standing of this Diocese, we therefore pray that you will authorize this Mission to organize as above stated.
Dated at , Mississippi, this day of , 20 .
Approved , 20 .
Bishop of Mississippi
The above application must be signed in duplicate, in ink, by twenty-five adult Communicants.
(b) If the Bishop approves the organization of the Mission, he/she shall be Rector thereof and he/she shall proceed to appoint a Vicar to be in charge, a Committee of the Mission, a Treasurer and a Clerk.
(c) An organized Mission shall come into union with the Council, and be entitled to representation therein as a Mission of this Diocese as provided in these Canons, with the acceptance by the Council of the aforesaid Application as approved by the Bishop.
SECTION 2. (a) The Committee of the Mission shall consist of the Vicar, one or two Wardens, and not more than nine (9) additional members. The Wardens and lay members of the Mission Committee shall be confirmed Lay Communicants, at least 21 years of age, canonically resident and actually residing in the Mission, and shall be appointed annually by the Bishop, upon nomination by the congregation. The Mission Committee shall have the powers and perform the duties assigned by the Canons to Parish Vestries, except the election and calling of the Vicar. The Mission Committee shall nominate for the Bishop's appointment a Clerk and a Treasurer for the Mission, who may or may not be members of the Mission Committee. A majority of the members of the Mission Committee shall constitute a quorum. It should be noted that the pricipal of rotation shall be followed in all instances and in no cases shall a Warden or member of the Mission Committee serve more than six consecutive years as a Warden or member of the Mission Committee; provided the Bishop may waive this rule if the Mission is so small as not to have sufficient members to rotate.
(b) If more than one Warden is nominated by the congregation and approved by the Bishop, they shall be distinguished as Senior and Junior, although all duties of the office belong to each. It shall be their duty, under the direction of the Vicar, to see that the Mission provides for the well-ordered worship of Almighty God. They shall see that the church is kept in condition for its proper uses, and that all buildings and grounds of the Mission receive proper care. At the Request of the Vicar, the Wardens shall have custody of the Mission Register, but shall not make entries therein unless specifically requested to do so by the Vicar.
(c) It shall be the duty of the Clerk to keep a record of all meetings of the Mission congregation and the Mission Committee. It shall also be his/her duty to keep a full, accurate and faithful statement of the number of meetings held by the Mission Committee during the year, and the number of such meetings attended by each Warden and lay members of the Mission Committee, and said statement shall be presented and read at the annual meeting of the Mission congregation before a new Mission Committee is nominated for the Bishop's appointment.
(d) It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to receive all moneys acquired by the Mission, for or to the Mission, and to disburse the same in accordance with the order of the Mission Committee and the Canons of the Diocese. The Treasurer shall keep books of account in accordance with the forms and standards approved by General Convention, and shall make regular reports to the Mission Committee and an annual report to the Mission congregation at the time of the annual meeting thereof. If he/she is not a member of the Mission Committee, he/she shall attend its meetings when requested and be ready to answer all questions as to the state of the treasury; and his/her books and papers shall always be subject to the inspection of the Bishop, the Vicar or of the Wardens.
SECTION 3. (a) A meeting of the Mission congregation shall be held annually on the first day of January, or as soon thereafter as practicable, unless By-Laws otherwise provide. Notice of the time and place of this meeting shall be given at a public service of the congregation at least two weeks prior to the date of such meeting. At this meeting the Vicar shall preside, or if the cure be vacant, the Senior Warden, the Junior Warden, or the Clerk, in the order named. In the absence of these officers, the meeting shall elect its chairman. At the meeting the reports of the Vicar and the Treasurer on the state of the Mission shall be presented, and the proper number of persons shall be nominated to the Bishop for appointment as Wardens and Members of the Mission Committee.
(b) At all meetings of the Mission, those qualified to vote shall be persons present who are sixteen years of age or over and who are canonically enrolled confirmed Lay Communicants in good standing of the Mission.
SECTION 4. Not later than February 1 of each year, the Vicar, or if there be none, the Clerk of the Mission, shall make the Canonical Report to the Ecclesiastical Authority as required in Canon 26.
SECTION 5. (a) The title of any property owned or acquired by the Mission for Church purposes shall be vested in the Trustees of the Diocese, to be held in trust by them; and proper evidence of this (for any such property held by the Mission at that time) and of adequate insurance coverage thereon, must be given in the application for organization.
(b) When such a Mission shall become a self-supporting Parish, on application to the Council the property so held may be released or transferred to the Parish.
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