A108 Proposal of Changes to Title I, Canon 17
The goal of the Task Force is to simplify the canon regarding membership in The Episcopal Church.
The Task Force proposes a new level of membership called Associate Member. This is built upon models in The Presbyterian Church (USA) and is currently used in some Episcopal parishes. Associate Member acknowledges there are people that would consider themselves members that don’t fit “Member” or “Communicant in Good Standing.” This proposed change would allow dioceses to have additional membership categories as needed.
The Task Force proposes amending our understanding of a Communicant in Good Standing to remove the reference to receiving Communion three times in the preceding year. We maintain in Sec 3 that being active in public worship, unless unable for reason, fulfills the intent, which is to ensure a Member is a part of the life of the parish. We recognize that some parishes struggle to find adequate clergy coverage to provide Communion on even a semi-regular basis. There are active and faithful members of those parishes for whom the “three communions a year” canon would be a hinderance.
The Task Force proposes cleaning up the language of “Certificate of Membership” to the more common “Letter of Transfer.”
The Task Force offers clarified language that the sacramental rite of Confirmation is not a requirement for membership, but may be a requirement for certain leadership positions in parishes, dioceses, and The Episcopal Church. This change also recognizes the maturity of the rite of Confirmation, and would allow for Members under the age of 16, who have made the adult commitment of Confirmation, to be considered Adult Members.
Implications for changing definitions of membership
These proposed changes uphold all but one of the current membership categories while recognizing the diversity of diocesan requirements for leadership and the importance of local context. The Task Force also recognizes and affirms that Confirmation as a requirement for membership remains at the discretion of each diocese. Regardless of what happens with these proposed changes, we encourage dioceses and parishes to work towards ensuring their canons and bylaws align with Canon I.17.
As the Rev. Carlos de la Torre wrote in a report for the State of the Church Committee after the 80th General Convention:
While it can be argued that the canons offer some wiggle-room for some of these situations, these situations are no longer a rare exception to the norm. Changes in church and culture, especially in a post-pandemic world, requires us to think creatively on what it means to be a present and future, active and engaged, member of The Episcopal Church. The Church should not simply change our present definitions and understandings of membership because the world around us is changing, but because the Church should be constantly evolving.
Explanation
The goal of the Task Force is to simplify the canon regarding membership in The Episcopal Church.
The Task Force proposes a new level of membership called Associate Member. This is built upon models in The Presbyterian Church (USA) and is currently used in some Episcopal parishes. Associate Member acknowledges there are people that would consider themselves members that don’t fit “Member” or “Communicant in Good Standing.” This proposed change would allow dioceses to have additional membership categories as needed.
The Task Force proposes amending our understanding of a Communicant in Good Standing to remove the reference to receiving Communion three times in the preceding year. We maintain in Sec 3 that being active in public worship, unless unable for reason, fulfills the intent, which is to ensure a Member is a part of the life of the parish. We recognize that some parishes struggle to find adequate clergy coverage to provide Communion on even a semi-regular basis. There are active and faithful members of those parishes for whom the “three communions a year” canon would be a hinderance.
The Task Force proposes cleaning up the language of “Certificate of Membership” to the more common “Letter of Transfer.”
The Task Force offers clarified language that the sacramental rite of Confirmation is not a requirement for membership, but may be a requirement for certain leadership positions in parishes, dioceses, and The Episcopal Church. This change also recognizes the maturity of the rite of Confirmation, and would allow for Members under the age of 16, who have made the adult commitment of Confirmation, to be considered Adult Members.
Implications for changing definitions of membership
These proposed changes uphold all but one of the current membership categories while recognizing the diversity of diocesan requirements for leadership and the importance of local context. The Task Force also recognizes and affirms that Confirmation as a requirement for membership remains at the discretion of each diocese. Regardless of what happens with these proposed changes, we encourage dioceses and parishes to work towards ensuring their canons and bylaws align with Canon I.17.
As the Rev. Carlos de la Torre wrote in a report for the State of the Church Committee after the 80th General Convention:
While it can be argued that the canons offer some wiggle-room for some of these situations, these situations are no longer a rare exception to the norm. Changes in church and culture, especially in a post-pandemic world, requires us to think creatively on what it means to be a present and future, active and engaged, member of The Episcopal Church. The Church should not simply change our present definitions and understandings of membership because the world around us is changing, but because the Church should be constantly evolving.