A071 Amend the Constitution and Canons Relating to Mergers of Dioceses [Of Admission of New Diocese -- Second Reading]

These amendments allow Dioceses more flexibility when planning mergers or formation of new Dioceses from Dioceses or portions of one or more Dioceses by deferring to the Canons for the details of the formation process. As the church gains more experience with this process, future changes to the process can be made at one General Convention to facilitate the formation or combination of the Dioceses rather than requiring two General Conventions to approve a change to the Constitution.

The Article V, Section 4 changes proposed in this Resolution build on the efforts of the Standing Commission in the prior two triennia. The intent of the changes is to build greater flexibility into the opportunities dioceses may identify for merger, unification and such. The structure of the revisions is to move more details into the canons, hence the proposed amendments to Canon I.10.