CANON XXVI Ecclesiastical
Discipline
Sec. 1. There shall be an Ecclesiastical
Court for the trial of any priest or deacon, which shall be comprised
of seven (7) persons, four (4) of whom shall be priests or deacons,
and three of whom shall be lay persons, which Court shall have jurisdiction
to conduct trials in accordance with Title IV, Canon 4 of the Episcopal
Church, or any successive canon which governs ecclesiastical discipline.
Sec. 2(a). The Ecclesiastical Trial
Court shall be elected by Diocesan Convention. At the first election,
two (2) priests or deacons and two (2) lay persons shall be elected
for a term of four (4) years, and two (2) priests or deacons and
one (I) lay person shall be elected for a term of two (2) years.
At each succeeding election, members of the Court shall be elected
for a term of four (4) years. No person so elected shall be eligible
for reelection after having served two (2) consecutive terms until
after the expiration of one (1) year. All members shall serve until
their successors are elected and qualified; provided, however, there
shall be no change in the composition of a Court as to a proceeding
pending before it while that proceeding is unresolved except for
just cause as determined by the Court.
(b). A Church Attorney shall be appointed
annually by the Standing Committee. The Church Attorney shall fulfill
the duties enumerated by Title IV, Canon 15 of the national church.
The Church Attorney may appoint one or more assistant Church Attorneys.
(c). Within two (2) months of each
diocesan convention, the members of the Ecclesiastical. Trial Court,
shall elect a Presiding Judge.
Sec. 3. The Ecclesiastical Trial Court
shall be a court. of record, whose proceedings shall be stenographically
recorded and conducted in conformity with Title IV of the Canons
of the Episcopal Church.
Sec. 4(a). Vacancies on the court occasioned
by death, disability, resignation, or declination to serve shall
be filled by the remaining members of the Court from the same order
as the person who vacates the seat. The person appointed to such
vacancy shall serve until the next diocesan convention, at which
a person shall be elected from the same order to fill the unexpired
term of the vacant seat.
(b). A temporary vacancy due to the
recusal or disqualification for cause of any judge shall be filled
for that particular case by the remaining members of the court from
the same order as the person who vacates the seat.
Sec. 5. It is the intent of this Canon
that all provisions be read in conjunction with and subject to Title
IV of the Canons of the Episcopal Church.
Staff Liaison
The
Ven. Howard Stringfellow,
Archdeacon
Clergy
(10/06) The Rev. M. Peter Harer,
Rector, Episcopal Ministry of Unity
(10/06) The Rev. Joseph N. Leo, Cathedral Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem
(10/07) The Rev. Leslie E. Evans, St. Andrew’s Church, Allentown
(10/07) The Rev. Mary Kisner, St. Paul’s Church, Troy
Lay
(10/06) Mr. William L. Cauller, Cathedral Church of the Nativity,
Bethlehem
(10/06) John E. Feather, Esquire, St. Luke’s Church, Lebanon, PRESIDENT
(10/07) W. Marshall, Dawsey, Esquire, Christ Church, Towanda
Updated 1/16/05
Please direct any
questions or comments to the webmaster@diobeth.org
