TITLE I
Administration of the Diocese
CANON I: Officers
The Bishop shall be the chief administrator of the Diocese. The Bishop shall be assisted by a secretary, treasurer, chancellor, and registrar, each of whom may appoint assistants, with the approval of Annual Convention, to act in the event of unavailability of the officer.
CANON II: Administrative Officers
Administrative Officers may be appointed by the Bishop with the advice and consent of the Council of Trustees. The Administrative Officers shall be administrative assistants to the Bishop and shall perform such other duties as the Bishop may from time to time prescribe and shall hold office at the pleasure of the Bishop.
CANON III: Council of Trustees for the Mission of the Diocese
SECTION 1. Power and duties of the Council of Trustees for the Mission of the Diocese.
(a) The Council of Trustees for the Mission of the Diocese ("Council of Trustees") shall hold title to all real estate and other assets owned by the Diocese and shall have full power to deal with said real estate and assets after consultation with the Bishop. In addition, the Council of Trustees shall possess all other powers and duties granted by law to a Pennsylvania nonprofit corporation.
(b) The Council of Trustees of the Diocese shall be that body of individuals answerable to the Annual Convention which shall be the governing body of the corporate and fiscal affairs of the Diocese. The Council shall carry out the corporate and work of the Annual Convention when said Convention is not in session and shall perform such other responsibilities as normally assumed by a board of directors of a nonprofit corporation in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and consistent with the Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Church and of this Diocese.
(c) The Council of Trustees shall have power to make such by-laws, rules, policies, and procedures, provided that they are not repugnant to the constitution and laws of the United States or the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or to the Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Church or this Diocese, as may, from time to time, be deemed necessary or expedient for the governance of said corporation.
SECTION 2. Membership of the Council of Trustees
The Council of Trustees shall be composed of the following members, all of whom shall be entitled to vote: the Bishop, the Bishop Coadjutor and Suffragan Bishop, if there be such, the Administrative Officers, the Chancellor, the Secretary, the Treasurer, the Registrar, the President of the Standing Committee, the presiding officer of the Episcopal Churchwomen, a representative of the Youth Advisory Board, and the seven Convocation Convenors in office at the time, and six members elected by the Annual Convention. Those elected by Annual Convention shall be elected as follows: three shall be presbyters or deacons canonically resident in this Diocese and three shall be lay persons, one from each Order to be elected annually for three-year terms. In the year 2000, one from each Order shall be elected for a three-year term, one from each Order shall be elected for a two-year term, and one from each Order shall be elected for a one-year term.
SECTION 3. Governance and operations of the Council of Trustees
(a) The Bishop, or the Bishop's appointee, shall preside at all meetings of the Council of Trustees.
(b) The Council shall meet not less than three times annually upon dates fixed by itself.
(c) A quorum for the conducting of business shall be seven elected Trustees including the Convocation Convenors.
SECTION 4. Establishment of Committees
The Council of Trustees shall establish a Finance Committee, a Program Committee, and such other committees as it deems necessary for the proper administration of the corporate and fiscal affairs of the Diocese and the program and work of the Annual Convention. Such committee members shall serve at the pleasure of the Council of Trustees.
SECTION 5. Membership of the Finance Committee
(a) The Finance Committee shall consist of the Canon to the Ordinary, the Chancellor or an Assistant Chancellor, the Treasurer, two members appointed by the Bishop, and six members appointed by the Council of Trustees, of which, two shall be clergy.
(b) Members appointed shall be persons who add a dimension or an expertise in fiscal affairs to the Finance Committee not otherwise represented on it.
(c) No member of the Finance Committee shall be eligible to serve concurrently on the Standing Committee or the Ecclesiastical Trial Court.
SECTION 6. Powers and Duties of the Finance Committee
(a) It shall be the duty of the Finance Committee to maintain general supervision of the financial affairs of the Diocese; to secure simplicity and accuracy in the collection and disbursement of all funds; and to foster cooperation between the various officers, trusts, and boards of the Diocese. To carry out its purpose, the Finance Committee shall establish its own rules, keep a record of its meetings, and make a report at each meeting of the Council of Trustees. It may also make such recommendations as it may deem proper to the Council of Trustees.
(b) The Finance Committee shall act as advisor to the Bishop and Treasurer in financial matters, and, upon request, as advisor to the individual congregations in this Diocese.
(c) The Finance Committee shall present to the Council of Trustees a budget of anticipated receipts and expenditures for the ensuing year which, when approved by the Council of Trustees, shall be presented by the Finance Committee to the Annual Convention. Upon approval by the Annual Convention, said budget shall constitute appropriations for the purposes named, which appropriations shall be disbursed by the Treasurer. After approval of said budget, the Finance Committee shall determine the Fair Share portion of the budget to be paid by each congregation in accordance with the method approved by the Annual Convention for allocating such budget. The Council of Trustees shall have the authority to make necessary revisions in the budget after adoption by the Annual Convention.
(d) Current funds for special purposes may be created from time to time, in which event that purpose shall be honored. Such funds may be created by will, gift, canon, or resolution.
(e) The Finance Committee shall have the authority to authorize and empower the Treasurer of the Diocese to borrow, from time to time, such funds as may be required to meet the financial obligations of the Diocese. Such borrowing may be made upon a note made in the name of the Diocese, and the Treasurer may pledge, as security therefor, the securities in the custody of the Treasurer.
(f) The Finance Committee shall have authority to administer the endowment funds of the Diocese in accordance with the Canons of the Episcopal Church and of this Diocese. Funds belonging to congregations or institutions of the Diocese may be added, from time to time, to the endowment funds of the Diocese for purpose of administration, in accordance with rules promulgated by the Finance Committee. Such funds may be withdrawn at the written request of the owner, in accordance with said rules. The income shall be paid to the owner and shall not be subject to the control of any Convention.
(g) Endowment funds for special purposes may be created from time to time, in which event that purpose shall be honored. Such funds may be created by will, gift, canon, or resolution.
SECTION 7. Membership of the Program Committee
(a) The Program Committee shall consist of the Archdeacon of the Diocese, three members appointed by the Bishop, and five members appointed by the Council of Trustees.
(b) Members appointed shall be persons who add a dimension or an expertise in carrying out the program and mission of the Church in the Diocese.
(c) The Chairs of all departments and committees of the Diocese shall be entitled to seat and voice, but not vote, at meetings of the Program Committee, unless they are otherwise members thereof.
SECTION 8. Powers and Duties of the Program Committee
(a) It shall be the duty of the Program Committee to carry out the program and work of the Annual Convention.
(b) Subject to approval of the Council of Trustees, the Program Committee may inaugurate, revise, and enact policies which are consistent with the Canons of the Episcopal Church and of this Diocese and action authorized by the Annual Convention.
(c) The Program Committee may propose to the Council of Trustees programs and actions to advance the work of the Church in the Diocese and, upon approval by the Council of Trustees, may present such programs and actions to the Annual Convention.
SECTION 9. Continuation in Office
Persons presently elected to or appointed to fill vacancies in the Incorporated Trustees, Diocesan Council, and Finance Committee shall continue as members of the Council of Trustees, and the present Diocesan Council shall continue as members of the in the Program Committee.
CANON IV: Convocations
SECTION 1. To provide for effective coordination of the work of the Church, the Diocese shall be divided into the following Convocations: Altoona, Harrisburg, Lancaster, Southern, Susquehanna, Northern Tier, and West Branch.
SECTION 2. The Council of Trustees shall designate the Parishes comprising each Convocation.
SECTION 3. Assemblies.
(a) Each Convocation shall participate in an Assembly, which shall meet at least two times per calendar year: Fall and Spring. The Assembly shall consist of all clergy canonically resident or serving Parishes in the Convocation and three lay delegates from each parish, of whom at least one shall have served at the last diocesan convention or will serve at the next convention, with the other parish delegates and alternates to convention invited to the Assembly preceding the next Diocesan convention as participants without vote in convocation affairs. In the event that Parish elections of delegates and alternates to the next Diocesan Convention have not taken place by the time an Assembly occurs, the lay representatives at the Assembly shall be the lay delegates and alternates who represented the Parish at the previous Diocesan Convention.
(b) The purpose of the Assemblies shall be to plan and work together on local/convocational mission efforts, share information and resources within the Convocation, and participate in determining and carrying out the diocesan convention mission priorities.
(i) The Fall agenda may consist of at least the following items:
(a) Worship and Bible Study.
(b) Consideration of items acted upon at Diocesan Convention which the Convocation needs to address;
(c) Consideration of how the Convocation is living out the current diocesan ministry theme;
(d) Status of joint mission efforts in the Convocation;
(e) Sharing of information, events, and resources within the Convocation; and
(ii) The Spring meeting may consist of at least the following items:
(a) Worship and Bible Study; and
(b) Diocesan Convention preparation.
SECTION 4. Officers.
(a) At the Fall Assembly, a Convenor of the Convocation shall be elected from the members of the Assembly, to serve a two-year term. If a lay member is elected, that lay member need not serve as a delegate to Diocesan Convention or alternate during the term. An Assistant Convenor shall also be elected for a two-year term, and shall be of the opposite Order as the Convenor. A Treasurer and a Secretary of the Convocation shall be appointed by the Convenor and Assistant Convenor to serve two-year terms. Elected and appointed officers shall not be eligible for reelection or reappointment, after having served two consecutive terms, until after the expiration of one year after the end of their second term.
(b) The Convenor shall preside at meetings of the Convocation, serve as an elected member of the Council of Trustees and perform such other duties as may be assigned by the Bishop. In the absence of the Convenor, the Co-Convenor shall preside. The Convenor, Assistant Convenor, Treasurer, and Secretary shall function as an Executive Committee to plan agendas, schedule meetings, and give notice of meetings to all members, and as a Nominating Committee to nominate candidates for Convenor, Assistant Convenor, and representative to Council of Trustees in succeeding years.
SECTION 5. Convocation funds.
All funds in the treasury of a Convocation shall be subject to an annual audit review, and a report of such audit shall be submitted to the Office of the Bishop.
SECTION 6. Clericus.
Each Convocation shall hold an annual Clericus, or gathering of all clergy resident in the Convocation, for the purpose of professional learning, spiritual growth, and personal/social support. Each Clericus shall annually choose its leadership and schedule. If a Clericus has not chosen a leader by the time of Diocesan Convention, one shall be appointed by the Bishop.
SECTION 7. By-laws.
Each Convocation shall devise and enact such By-laws for its governance as it deems suitable, consistent with the Constitution and Canons of this Diocese and of the Church and the guidelines provided by the Bishop and Council of Trustees.
CANON V
The Cathedral
SECTION 1. St. Stephen's Church, Harrisburg, is hereby established as the Cathedral Church of this Diocese, without prejudice to the corporate rights of the Rector, Church Wardens, and Vestry of said Church.
SECTION 2. The Rector of said Parish, chosen by the Vestry thereof, shall be the Dean of the Cathedral Church.
SECTION 3. There shall be a Cathedral Chapter consisting of the Bishop, the Dean, the Wardens and Vestry of said Church, the Chancellor of the Diocese, and all ex officio and Honorary Canons, who shall be appointed by and hold office at the pleasure of the Bishop.
SECTION 4. So far as consistent with the vested legal rights of the said corporation of St. Stephen's Church, Harrisburg, the Cathedral Church shall have all the powers, privileges, and responsibilities of like Cathedral Churches established by canon law.
CANON VI
Deputies to Regional Organizations
Deputies to the Provincial Synod or any successor regional organization shall be chosen by the Bishop, unless the Annual Convention adopts another rule.
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