C. 4.00 PARISHES AND MISSIONS

C. 4.01 St. Alban's Cathedral

Parochial Organization:

The parochial organization shall be under the control of the Rector, the Churchwardens, and the Corporation. The Rector shall be Senior Canon of the Cathedral. At the Bishop's pleasure, the Rector may be appointed the Dean of Saskatchewan.

In the light of this discussion, names of possible candidates for the position may be submitted by the Bishop, and by any member of the Selection Committee for consideration by the Committee. When one or more names have been selected, the Bishop, with the permission of the Bishop whose licence the clergy hold, shall obtain from them permission to nominate them. The name and qualifications of the Priest who comes first in order or preference shall be presented to the Cathedral Corporation. If the Corporation raises no objection to the nomination, then the Bishop shall formally offer the position of Rector of the Cathedral, and the Senior Canonry to the designated cleric.

The Rector shall preside at the annual meeting of the congregation, and at the annual meeting for the election of delegates. In all non-diocesan services the rector shall have precedence in the Cathedral next to the Bishop. If the Bishop should appoint the Rector to be Dean of Saskatchewan, this rector shall have the status of senior Priest, and take precedence of all other Diocesan clergy at Diocesan services in whatever place they may be held.

Wardens:
There shall be two Wardens, one of whom shall be chosen annually by the Rector to be known as the Rector's Warden; and the other known as the Peoples' Warden shall be elected at the annual meeting of the congregation.

The Wardens shall be the Bishop's Wardens on any visit of the Bishop to the Cathedral. They shall be ex officio members of the Corporation.

The Corporation:

At each annual meeting of the congregation, twelve members shall be elected who shall be communicants of the Church and not less than 18 years of age.

The Corporation shall be responsible for all things pertaining to the welfare and maintenance of the Cathedral. One quarter of the membership of the Corporation shall constitute a quorum.

Selection Committee:

The Selection Committee shall consist of three members of the congregation to be elected annually by ballot by the Corporation at its first meeting after the annual meeting.

Recorder and Treasurer:

A Recorder and Treasurer shall be elected annually by the Corporation at its first meeting after the annual meeting.

By-laws:

By-laws in connection with the administration of Parish affairs may be passed at any annual meeting of the congregation subject to this Canon.

In all other matters the Cathedral shall be subject to the Constitution and Canons of the Diocese.

C. 4.02 Voting Membership

A voting member is a baptized person who is at least 16 years of age who is willing to abide by the Solemn Declaration of 1893 and the Canons and Constitution of the Diocese of Saskatchewan; receives Holy Communion in a congregation of that parish at least three times a year; shall have been in attendance for at least three months and regularly contributes to the parish; be able to make the Declaration as found in Appendix F. A voting member shall make the Declaration in Appendix F if asked to do so. Notwithstanding the other provisions of this section, clergy licensed to the parish may also vote.

C. 4.03 Church Meetings

All Church meetings shall be opened and closed with prayer.

(1) At least two Sundays notice of General Meetings shall be given to every congregation concerned, both orally at time of service and in writing on the Notice Board or Church door.

(2) A General Meeting is a gathering of all the congregations under the charge of the Minister at one principle or central place, and may be called at any time by the Bishop or Minister, or on the written request of any two Vestries affected.

(3) In multi-congregational parishes, there shall be a Parish Council, consisting of the Churchwardens, the Lay delegates to Synod, and the Treasurer of the congregations within the Parish. The Council shall be responsible for all matters of general concern to the whole Parish; including the maintenance, housing and travel expenses of the Rector. The Council shall meet at least once a year; and at other times at the call of the Rector or of the officials of any two of the congregations concerned.

(4) Each congregation shall hold a meeting of its parishioners as early as possible in January as laid down in Canon IV Sec. C. 4.04 under title Annual Meeting.

(a) A General Meeting of the congregation may however be called at any other time by the Bishop or Minister, or on request of a majority of its Vestry, provided that at least two Sundays notice is given to the congregation orally at time of service and in writing upon the Notice Board or Church door. (Canon IV. Sec. C. 4.03 S.S.1.)

(b) Notice of every meeting of parishioners signed by the Convenor must be affixed to the Church Notice Board or Church door, at least two Sundays before the meeting is to be held. The Notice must state the time, place and purpose for which the meeting is called and should be framed following the form to be found in Appendix C.

(5) A meeting of the Vestries (see Canon IV Sec. C.07) should take place upon a fixed date, at least every quarter, in the interest of the congregation; but meetings may be called at any time by the Minister upon three days notice being given to its members. The presence of one third of the members including the Minister or one Churchwarden shall be necessary to constitute a meeting of the Vestry, but in no case shall a quorum be less than three persons.

(6) Convenor - The Chairperson may be the Incumbant or layperson.

(7) At any meeting of the parishioners duly convened, the votes of those only who are entitled to sign the Declaration of Parishioners shall be recorded, and their decision shall bind those who are absent.

(8) The Chairperson shall have the usual powers appertaining to the Chairperson of any public meeting. The Chairperson shall have the same right of voting as if not in the Chair, but shall have no casting vote, and an equality of votes shall be considered as defeating the proposition.

(9) Minutes of proceedings and resolutions of every General Parishioner's or Vestry meeting shall be correctly entered in a book, and unless the Minutes are read and approved at the close of the preceding meeting, the first business of every meeting after the opening prayers shall be the reading, passing and signing by the Chairperson of such Minutes of the preceding meeting.

C. 4.04 Annual Meeting

The Annual Meeting of each congregation shall be held as early as possible in January for the purpose of hearing the annual statement of the Minister, the reports of the Churchwardens, to appoint Churchwardens and Vestry for the ensuing year, and for the election of Lay delegates to Synod; and for the transaction of any other business affecting the welfare of the congregation. A suggested order of proceedings is found in Appendix D.

C. 4.05 Declarations

There shall be a register containing signatures of Wardens and Vestry after they have made their Declaration orally at the Annual Meeting or in the Church. See Appendix E.

C. 4.06 Churchwardens

(1) Two Churchwardens shall be chosen annually at the Annual Meeting of each congregation from amongst the communicants of the full age of 18 years, one to be appointed by the Minister in charge, and one to be elected by the Parishioners. They shall be ex-officio members of the Vestry, and of the Parish Council, and shall continue to hold office until their successors are appointed.

(2) A Parishioner may not be a Churchwarden for more than three consecutive years without the explicit permission of the Bishop.

(3) Churchwardens shall, before acting as such, make and sign the Declaration of Office appointed in Canon IV Sec. C._4.05.

(4) The Churchwardens shall be responsible for the care of all Parish property, and for the conduct of Parish business and all financial matters, in an efficient manner.

(5) If the office of Churchwarden appointed by the Minister shall at any time become vacant by death, resignation, absence for three months without leave from the Minister, or otherwise, the Minister shall forthwith appoint some other fit person to the vacant office, and as soon as may be after appointment, the Minister shall make a return in writing to the Vestry Clerk of the name of the person chosen by him to fill the vacant office, and shall cause a written notice of the said appointment to be forthwith attached to the Notice Board of the Church, and shall announce the appointment at regular service of the congregation, and the Minister shall immediately notify the Secretary of the Synod of any such appointment.

(6) If the office of the Churchwarden chosen by the Parishioners shall become vacant by death, resignation, or otherwise, or absence from the discharge of duties for three months without written leave from the Minister, a meeting of the congregation shall be called as soon as may be convenient to elect some other fit person to the vacant office; and such appointment shall be communicated immediately to the Secretary of Synod.

In case either the cleric or the congregation neglect or decline to appoint or elect a churchwarden within three months after the date of the Annual meeting, or after a vacancy occurs, it shall be the duty of the party who has appointed or elected a warden, whether the cleric or the congregation, to notify the Bishop of the neglect or unwillingness of the other party. Thereupon the Bishop may give authority to the cleric or the congregation, as the case may be, to appoint or elect the other churchwarden. The Minister shall immediately notify the Secretary of Synod of any such appointment or election.

(7) Immediately after the close of the Annual meeting and the signing of the Declaration of Office, the Churchwardens elected shall accept transfer of all Parish properties from their predecessors in office; and where appropriate shall deliver to their predecessors a receipt for the same.

(8) It shall be the duty of the Churchwardens, and they are hereby empowered

(a) to see that Divine Service is decently and regularly conducted in their congregation, if possible, at least once every Sunday, and if there be no Minister-in-charge, catechist, student or Lay Reader, to be responsible for the conduct of the service by some fit person approved by the Bishop; to have jointly with the Minister, custody of all monies belonging to the Parish; to procure all things requisite for Divine Service, and for the supply and safe custody of all Parochial records; to have, with the Minister, the joint disposal of all offerings, and in the case of any disagreement between the Churchwardens and the Minister respecting the disposal of the offering, there shall be an appeal to the Bishop as Ordinary, whose decision shall be final.

(b) To see that all books needed for registers and records of the congregation are provided, and that the entries are regularly and duly made as required by Canon.

(c) To secure the financing of the Parish and to collect the offerings and all contributions for general or special purposes, and have them entered in the book kept for the purpose; to pay all salaries and accounts; to keep parochial accounts; to pay all sums received for specified purposes , especially the Apportionment and other financial obligations to the Synod of the Diocese, and to submit in due time to the auditor for the purpose of making the audit, the parochial accounts for the year, with the vouchers, and lay the same before the Annual Meeting. The Rector's stipend shall be paid monthly, or as agreed with the Churchwardens.

(d) To respond promptly to any request from the Bishop or the Archdeacon; and to report to the Bishop or the Archdeacon any cause preventing the full exercise of the Minister's duties in the Parish.

(e) To keep the fabric of the church and its appurtenances in repair and insured.

(f) To maintain good order and quiet in and about the church or place of worship during Divine Service.

(g) To take care as far as possible that all persons attending church are accommodated and provided with books.

(h) To give attention to the Rectory and grounds at all times.

(i) To keep an Inventory of all land and property etc. belonging to the Parish.

(j) To observe strictly the regulations set forth in Canon IV Sec. C. 4.12 and Sec. C. 4.13 and to see that no alteration or change of moment in the buildings or land of the Parish take place, until the endorsement of the Executive Committee has been received in writing.

(k) By example and influence to encourage regular attendance and hearty response on the part of the congregation at Divine Worship, and generally to assist the Minister by zeal and moral support in all matters affecting the welfare and advancement of the congregation.

C. 4.07 The Vestry

(1) There shall be a vestry comprised of the following:

The Churchwardens

The Lay Delegates of Synod

The Treasurer

together with not more than ten and not less than four persons together at the Annual meeting of the congregation as qualified under Canon IV Sec. C. 4.02 and that if possible one of those elected be a representative of the Anglican Church Women's organization of the congregation.

(2) Every person so elected shall, before acting on a Vestry make and sign the Declaration of Office appointed in Canon IV Sec. C. 4.05 (See Appendix E).

(3) Members of the Vestry shall hold office until their successors are elected.

(4) If a vacancy occurs on the Vestry by reason of death or resignation, a meeting of the Vestry shall be called to elect some other fit person to fill the vacant office, and such person as elected shall hold office until the next ensuing election of Vestry.

(5) It shall be the duty of members of the Vestry and they are hereby empowered:

In every meeting to deal with all matters connected with the congregation, and to declare by resolution what shall be done in the premises, but when any large outlay of money is proposed all parishioners are to be called together to decide upon the proposal.

C. 4.08 Secretary and Treasurer of the Vestry

At the first meeting of the Vestry after the Annual meeting they shall appoint one of their own number to record the Minutes of their meetings and to act as Secretary of the Vestry and of Annual meetings; and shall elect a Treasurer who need not be an elected member of the Vestry.

C. 4.09 Organists and Choirmasters

All Organists and Choirmasters shall be appointed to their offices by the Minister in concurrence with the Churchwardens and Vestry, and shall be selected only from amongst such persons as are likely to perform these offerings in reverence. Such officers shall be responsible to and under the direction of the Minister in the performance of their duties. The ordering of service, including the musical portion thereof, and the use of the organ shall be under the control of the Minister only.

C. 4.10 Auditors

The congregation shall appoint one or more auditors whose duty it shall be to audit and certify if correct, all the books and accounts to be presented at the Annual meeting of the congregation.

C. 4.11 Parish Records

(1) Minister's Registers

The following general Parish Registers shall be kept by the Minister of every Parish, and upon the Ministers resignation shall be disposed of as the Bishop and Archdeacon may direct:

(a) A General Register, containing the names of persons belonging to each congregation in the Parish distinguishing those who have been baptized, those who have been confirmed, and those who are communicants.

(b) An annual list of all Churchwardens, Vestry, and other officials in the different congregations of the Parish.

(c) A Register of Baptisms, Confirmations, Marriages and Burials.

(d) A Register of various Societies and Organizations belonging to the Parish, together with the names of their officers.

(e) The Registrar of the Diocese shall upon the request of any persons give a certificate under the Registrar's hand and the Seal of the Diocese of any record in any of the registers mentioned in Section 3 which is in the Registrar's custody for which certificates the applicant shall pay a fee.

(f) When complete all books of records and registers mentioned above should be returned to the Synod Office for safe keeping and historical records.

(2) Churchwarden's Books

The following books shall be provided by the Churchwardens in every congregation throughout the Diocese, and shall be handed to their successors in office:

(a) A Minute Book, in which shall be entered the proceedings and resolutions of all Vestry and Congregational meetings.

(b) An Accounts Book properly ruled, in which shall be entered the accounts, showing the receipts and expenditures as well as the Assets and Liabilities of the congregation in accordance with a system outlined by the Treasurer of the Diocese.

(c) A Service Register to be kept in the Church in which shall be entered and initialed at the time, all services which take place in that congregation, with the name of the person officiating, signed by the Officiant if possible, the number of persons present, the number of communicants, and the amount of the offerings under their various headings.

(d) A list of all Envelope subscribers and regular contributors towards the Parochial and Synod Apportionment funds, with the amount promised or pledged. Receipts for Income Tax purposes shall be supplied to all who request them.

(e) Statistics and other information required by the Synod shall be supplied on the forms provided for the purpose, immediately after the Annual meeting of the congregation. Evidence of adequate insurance shall be provided annually.

(f) When completed all books of record and registers mentioned above should be returned to the Synod Office for safe keeping and historical records.

C. 4.12 Church Buildings, Repairs, etc.

No new Church buildings, enlargements, repairs, or renovations of any moment, or change in the fabric or furnishings of the church, parish hall, or residence, shall take place in any organized Parish until the plans, proposals, and other information in connection therewith have been submitted by the Vestry concerned for the consideration and approval of the Bishop and Executive Committee, failing which no action shall be taken.

The Executive Committee shall appoint a Diocesan Building Inspector and shall, with the Inspector prepare standards for church buildings and furnishings, parish hall and rectories, for the purpose of helping the local congregation provide an adequate structure. The advice of the Building Inspector shall be sought in connection with any Diocesan or Parochial building.

C. 4.13 Sites and Property (Land)

No real property shall be purchased or contracted for or sold and no debt of any kind for this purpose shall be incurred in any organized Parish until all information, plans and proposals have been submitted by the Vestry to the Bishop and Executive Committee for their approval, failing which no action shall be taken.