Consitution
Table of Contents
| Article I | The Corporation |
| Article II | Synod Meetings |
| Article III | Membership of Synod |
| Article IV | Lay Delegates |
| Article V | Pre-Synod |
| Article VI | Officers of Synod |
| Article VII | Orders in Synod |
| Article VIII | Rules of Order |
| Article IX | Actions and Voting of Synod |
| Article X | Diocesan Auditor |
| Article XI | Office of Bishop |
| Article XII | Provincial and General Synods |
| Article XIII | Executive Council |
| Article XIV | Regional Deaneries |
| Article XV | Parochial Organization |
| Article XVI | Parish Members |
| Article XVII | Amending the Constitution |
Article I
The Corporation
a) It is the right and responsibility of the synod to enact a constitution. and canons, provide for an executive council, and establish parishes.
b) The synod is the corporation and may operate under the name and style of the Diocese of Athabasca. The bishop shall be the president of the corporation and the chief pastor of the diocese. The annual operating year of the corporation shall be from January first to December thirty-first.
June, 1994
Article II
Synod Meetings
a) With the advice of the executive council, the bishop shall issue a proclamation authorizing a synod, giving at least sixty (60) days notice of the date and place of the opening of synod.
b) A quorum of the synod shall consist of at least fifty (50) percent of the licensed clergy of the diocese and at least fifty (50) per cent of the lay delegates.
c) Synod shall meet in regular session not less than once every three years.
October 17, 1997
Article III
Membership of Synod
a) The synod shall consist of the bishop of the diocese as president, the dean of the diocese, the archdeacon, those priests and deacons of the diocese licensed by the bishop, lay ministers in charge of parishes, the chancellor of the diocese, the secretary and treasurer of the diocese, and those lay representatives duly elected or appointed.
b) The peoples' warden of each parish shall be an ex-officio member of synod.
c) All members of synod must be members of the Anglican Church of Canada.
d) Notwithstanding clause 3(c), the canons may provide for additional members, honorary members, and youth delegates.
October 17, 1997
Article IV
Lay Delegates
a) Every parish recognized by the bishop, duly organized by the election or appointment of church wardens and vestry members, and in good standing in the diocese, shall be entitled to send duly elected representatives to synod, determined by the number of registered parish members.
b) For the first fifty(50) registered parish members a parish is entitled to one(1) elected delegate, and one additional delegate for each additional fifty(50) perish members or major portion thereof.
October 17, 1997
Article V
Pre-Synod
a) The executive council shall appoint one(1) clergy and one(1) lay delegate as a credentials committee to examine the credentials of the delegates at the time of registration and to report to synod as to their validity.
June, 1994
Article VI
Officers Of Synod
a) The bishop is the chairperson of synod unless temporarily appointing a vice-president. The dean, archdeacon, and chancellor shall be vice-presidents.
b) Synod shall proceed to appoint a clerical recorder and a lay recorder whose duties shall be to keep the minutes of the synod and prepare the same for publication.
June, 1994
Article VII
Orders in Synod
a) There shall be orders of Synod: clergy and laity. Synod members in episcopal orders shall vote in the clerical order.
June, 1994
Article VIII
Rules of Order
a) Rules of Order shall be those adopted by the synod. Amendments to the rules of order must be made before the commencement or proceedings.
June, 1994
Article IX
Actions and Voting of Synod
a) No act or resolution of the Synod shall be valid unless it receives the assent of the diocesan bishop and a majority of the votes of the members present; such majority to be a majority of the clergy and the lay delegates voting collectively; unless a vote by orders is demanded by not less than four(4) members, when such majority shall be a majority of each order voting separately. A demand to vote by orders must be made before the vote is called.
June, 1994
Article X
Diocesan Auditor
a) The synod, or executive council, may appoint an auditor or accountant licensed to do business in the Province of Alberta for the purpose of preparation of financial statements or conduct of an audit.
June, 1994
Article XI
Office of Bishop
a) The election of a bishop shall be in accordance with the canons of the Synod of the Ecclesiastical Province of Rupert's Land.
b) In the event the bishop leaves the diocese or is temporarily incapacitated for a period in excess of one(1) month, the bishop shall appoint a commissary, who shall continue in office until revoked by the bishop.
c) In the event of the bishop being incapacitated and unable to perform the duties of a bishop, the executive council shall appoint an administrator until the see is filled or the bishop is again able to perform the duties of the bishop.
June, 1994
Article XII
Provincial and General Synods
a) The synod acknowledges the jurisdiction of the General Synod of Canada and the jurisdiction of the Province of Rupert's Land.
b) The synod shall elect delegates and substitutes of General Synod and Provincial Synod as provided for in their respective constitutions and canons.
June, 1994
Article XIII
Executive Council
a) There shall be an executive council that will act on behalf of the synod between sessions to administer the affairs of the corporation, make necessary appointments for the planning and operation of the diocese and enact regulations for the administration consistent with the constitution and canons. It shall report to and be accountable to the synod.
b) The membership of the executive council shall consist of the bishop as chairman, the dean, the archdeacon, the chancellor, the registrar, the secretary, the treasurer, the regional deans, one(1) clergy and three(3) lay synod members from each deanery to be elected by members of the respective deaneries.
c) Vacancies shall be filled by the executive council on the recommendation of the respective deanery chapter.
d) The bishop may appoint three(3) additional members to the executive council. These appointees are to be members of parishes in the diocese.
e) A quorum shall consist of fifty(50) per cent of all members provided that of such quorum one(1) member shall be the bishop or, in his absence, his representative.
f) Meetings of the executive council shall be held at least two(2) times a year, and when called at the direction of the bishop or representative.
g) The bishop shall appoint a chancellor, archdeacon, secretary, treasurer, registrar, and any other officer that is required, with the consent of the executive council. The executive council shall appoint a committee to assist in the appointment of such officers.
h) The executive council shall establish such standing committees as are required or for the administration of the corporation or when directed to do so by the synod.
June, 1994
Article XIV
Regional Deaneries
a) The diocese shall be divided into regional deaneries and the boundaries thereof shall be determined or altered by the bishop with consent of the executive council, after consultation with the deaneries concerned.
June, 1994
Article XV
Parochial Organization
a) A new parish may be formed on the initiative of the diocese or the of the proposed parish, and approved by the executive council. Any adjoining parishes that may be affected must be consulted. When approved the bishop shall issue a charter.
b) A parish may consist of one or more congregations under the pastoral care of an incumbent.
c) The bishop shall have the right of appointment of clergy to the diocese. Appointments to a parish must be in consultation with the parish.
d) In every congregation the incumbent shall appoint a warden to be known as the rector's warden, and the congregation shall elect a warden to be known as the peoples' warden.
e) The incumbent, rector's warden, and peoples' warden shall be the officers of the parish.
f) The parish shall enact bylaws consistent with the constitution, canons, and regulations.
g) Title to all parish real property shall be registered in the name of the Synod of the Diocese of Athabasca who shall hold such property in trust for the parish corporation. Title to parish personal property shall be held by the parish.
h) The vestry shall constitute the executive body of each established parish, except when powers of common interest have been delegated to a parish council.
June, 1994
Article XVI
Parish Members
a) Parish membership shall be determined by the parish as provided for in the canons.
June, 1994
Article XVII
Amending the Constitution
a) The synod may amend the constitution, if first considered by the executive council, and approved by two thirds majority of each order at two regular successive sessions of synod, or approval at one synod with not more than four(4) dissenting votes.
June, 1994