Virginia Diocesan Council Update: Canon 3 revision pulled from debate by chancellor

There's a break right now so the delegates can haul their luggage out of their rooms for check-out before the end of Council. Unlike in last years, the resolutions section went by quickly and uneventfully R-5 was adopted (was Same Sex Blessings) as a substitute, but I don't have the language yet (but it was substantially changed).

There was far more activity over the new canons and revised canons: C1 failed, C-2 was referred to committee; C-3 was also surprisingly referred, and C-4 and C-5 passed. C-3, which would have required that incorporating churches include the language that they are Episcopal Churches was challenged - but not by the orthodox, but by the progressives. The reasoning was that the canon change implies that the diocesan legal team (since the chancellor was the proposer) needed the clarification because the current status of incorporation is unclear. A delegate from a progressive church asserted that he believes it is clear and by changing the canon would strengthen the orthodox position that the incorporation was unclear. He challenged the chancellor of the diocese to confirm that the incorporation is clear now or why are they changing the canons? The chancellor conferred with his advisors and then suddenly recommended that the proposed canon be referred back to committee. In other words, the chancellor indeed sees that there is no assumption in the church incorporation that a church is Episcopal and so the canon was introduced to make that clear. Challenged by the progressives that this could backfire in litigation, the chancellor pulled his canon from consideration.

Okay, I know this is very episco-wonkism, but I have to say it was a rather illuminating moment. It is also clear who are the sharp strategists in the Diocese of Virginia. The chancellor stood down rather than defend his canon at the last minute.

Here is the canon that was "referred" before a vote could be taken by the chancellor:

C-3 Amend Canon 12

Amend Canon 12 to add an additional Section 11 as follows:

Section 11. Any Church of this Diocese that incorporates under the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia must include in its Articles of Incorporation a provision that the corporation accedes to the Constitution and Canons of The Episcopal Church and of the Diocese of Virginia as an acknowledgment of the jurisdiction of the Bishop or the Ecclesiastical Authority of the Diocese of Virginia required by Diocesan Canon 10.1 for a group of people to be called a Church.

Rationale: The Constitution and Canons of the General Convention and of the Diocese of Virginia prescribe requirements for a group of people to be called a Church (Canon 10.1) and remain a Church. While there may be appropriate reasons for an Episcopal Church to be incorporated, incorporation should not change the requirements for a group of people to be called a Church or their responsibilities as an Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Virginia. This proposed amendment provides the explicit requirement for an incorporated Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Virginia to include an accession statement in its organizational documents confirming its acknowledgment of the jurisdiction of the Bishop or Ecclesiastical Authority.

Submitted by:
Russell V. Palmore, Jr.
Chancellor
J.P. Causey Jr., Lay Delegate, St. JohnÂ’s, West Point

Usually what is saved for last is what is most controversial. That has usually been resolutions. But this year it's the Report on the Standing Committee, the Election of the Ecclesiasticall Court, and the Budget. Stay tuned.

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