C016 Amend Canon III.12 to Provide for the Transfer of Bishops to Churches in Communion
Prior to 2012, the Episcopal Church generally provided for Bishops, Priests, and Deacons transferring to other parts of the Anglican Communion the information requested by the receiving dioceses. This situation changed when the General Convention adopted Resolution 2012-A030, which created the new category of “release and removal” for bishops, priests, and deacons (Canons III.7.8, III.9.9, and III.12.7). After adoption, the chancellor for the Presiding Bishop advised dioceses that clergy seeking transfer to other parts of the Anglican Communion were to be released from the jurisdiction of the Episcopal Church without documentation of any kind for the receiving jurisdiction. This was apparently done as a response to those Bishops of The Episcopal Church who were issuing documentation to clergy seeking transfer to other Provinces of the Anglican Communion, such as the Church of Nigeria, that announced that they were no longer in communion with The Episcopal Church and were actively supporting the formation of what would eventually become the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA). The new “release and removal” approach meant, however, that there was no longer any way to provide a testimonial to a receiving diocese that was in a province of the Anglican Communion in communion with and supportive of The Episcopal Church.
The next General Convention adopted Resolution 2015-C033 from the Diocese of Virginia (also endorsed by Province III), which provided for transferring priests to a “Church in Communion with this Church.” It was based upon the procedure expected for transfer to The Episcopal Church (Title III, Canon 10). This 2015 resolution added a new section 5 to Title III, Canon 9. It included a provision that it was not to be used in those cases for which the “release and removal” had been written—for “Churches Not in Communion with this Church or for those seeking transfer to another Province of the Anglican Communion while remaining geographically within the boundaries of the Episcopal Church.” The 2015 provision has worked well but covers only the specific situation for which it was drafted—the transfer of a priest. This current resolution has been drafted to ask General Convention to make parallel provisions in the case of bishops.
Explanation
Prior to 2012, the Episcopal Church generally provided for Bishops, Priests, and Deacons transferring to other parts of the Anglican Communion the information requested by the receiving dioceses. This situation changed when the General Convention adopted Resolution 2012-A030, which created the new category of “release and removal” for bishops, priests, and deacons (Canons III.7.8, III.9.9, and III.12.7). After adoption, the chancellor for the Presiding Bishop advised dioceses that clergy seeking transfer to other parts of the Anglican Communion were to be released from the jurisdiction of the Episcopal Church without documentation of any kind for the receiving jurisdiction. This was apparently done as a response to those Bishops of The Episcopal Church who were issuing documentation to clergy seeking transfer to other Provinces of the Anglican Communion, such as the Church of Nigeria, that announced that they were no longer in communion with The Episcopal Church and were actively supporting the formation of what would eventually become the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA). The new “release and removal” approach meant, however, that there was no longer any way to provide a testimonial to a receiving diocese that was in a province of the Anglican Communion in communion with and supportive of The Episcopal Church.
The next General Convention adopted Resolution 2015-C033 from the Diocese of Virginia (also endorsed by Province III), which provided for transferring priests to a “Church in Communion with this Church.” It was based upon the procedure expected for transfer to The Episcopal Church (Title III, Canon 10). This 2015 resolution added a new section 5 to Title III, Canon 9. It included a provision that it was not to be used in those cases for which the “release and removal” had been written—for “Churches Not in Communion with this Church or for those seeking transfer to another Province of the Anglican Communion while remaining geographically within the boundaries of the Episcopal Church.” The 2015 provision has worked well but covers only the specific situation for which it was drafted—the transfer of a priest. This current resolution has been drafted to ask General Convention to make parallel provisions in the case of bishops.