Explanation

This proposed amendment makes three changes to the work of the Court of Review in conducting investigations when an episcopal election is challenged by members of an electing convention. Since its inception, the Court of Review has conducted three episcopal election investigations pursuant to Title III. In each matter, the time frame needed to complete the necessary investigation and finalize the report was difficult to meet. The first change empowers the Court of Review to use an investigator of its own choosing to help it more expeditiously and professionally complete its work. The second change increases to 60 days the time period for completing the required work. The third change authorizes the Court to provide for pastoral response to parties impacted by its investigation. At present, no one within The Episcopal Church is canonically empowered to provide such pastoral care, and, given the nature of these proceedings, it may well be impossible and/or inappropriate for either the electing Diocese or members of the Court itself to provide such pastoral care. This change would enable the Court to make provision for such pastoral care to parties affected by its Title III work.