Part V

5.00 SYNOD SESSIONS

5.01 The Synod shall meet triennially unless otherwise ordered by the Bishop and/or the Executive Committee of the Synod.

5.02 A quorum of the Synod shall consist of at least one fourth of the clergy of the Diocese, and one fourth of the lay delegates of the Diocese registered under Sec. 2.03.

font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular" size="2">5.03 No resolutions of the Synod shall pass into law without the concurrence of the Bishop and a majority of the clergy and laity present; the votes of the clergy and laity to be taken collectively, unless a vote by orders is demanded by any three members of the Synod before the question is put from the chair, when a majority of each order will be necessary to affirm the resolution. Voting on all resolutions affecting Faith and Order shall be by Orders.

5.04 The Synod may meet in conference for not more than on full day of any complete meeting of Synod.

5.05 In the absence of the Bishop of the Diocese, or of any Commissary he may appoint, the chair at any meeting of the Synod shall be taken by the chancellor of the Diocese.

5.06 In the event of a vacancy occurring in the See or the incapacity of the Bishop from any cause for more than six months, the Chancellor, after consultation with the Metropolitan, shall call the Synod together, giving at least three weeks notice thereof, to take such action as the case may require.

5.07 No alterations in the Constitution or Canons shall take place unless the proposition has been approved at the meeting of the Synod by two thirds of each Order present, voting separately, and afterwards by a like majority of each Order at the following meeting of the Synod. Provided, however, that any proposed alteration in the Constitution may become immediately operative if it has been considered and approved by the Executive Committee, and is afterwards confirmed at a Synod by a unanimous favourable vote of each Order present, voting separately; and that any proposed alteration in the Canons may become immediately operative if considered and approved by the Executive Committee, and afterwards confirmed at a Synod by a simple majority of each Order present, voting separately; a copy of the proposed change in either Constitution or Canons shall be sent to each member of the Executive Committee at least one week before the meeting at which it is to be considered, and to each member of Synod at least one week before the meeting of Synod.

5.08 Proceedings of Synod

(1) The proceedings of Synod shall commence with a celebration of the Holy Eucharist after which the Bishop may read his Charge.

(2) At the first session after prayers have been said the Credentials Committee shall make its report; the Scrutineers' names shall be announced; the election of one Clerical and one Lay Recording Honorary Secretary by the Clergy and the Laity respectively shall take place; the names of those on the Committee on the Bishop's Charge will be announced.

(3) At each succeeding session after prayers, the Credentials Committee shall declare a quorum; and if there is a quorum the business of Synod shall proceed.

(4) The Bishop shall appoint a Resolutions Committee consisting of one Priest and two Lay members of Synod, which shall be named in the Convening Circular. Memorials and Resolutions from any congregation shall be referred to the Resolutions Committee which shall be responsible for its presentation to Synod in proper form. At the beginning of each session the Resolutions Committee shall make its report and present resolutions which are to be considered by Synod.

(5) Notices of Motion which are presented after Synod has been convened will be referred to the Resolutions Committee for presentation at the final session of Synod.

(6) Any business not completed at Synod shall be referred to the Executive Committee.

(7) The Executive Secretary shall circulate with the Convening Circular of Synod, a memo explaining the meaning of terms, such as memorial, notice of motion, voting by Orders, Faith and Order, etc. In all ecclesiastical Synods it is customary to vote on questions affecting Faith and Order by Orders.

5.09 The Election of Delegates to the General and Provincial Synods and of members of the Executive Committee, the Long Range Planning Committee, and the Constitution and Canons Committee.

(1) The election shall take place at noon on the second full business day of the session of Synod.

(2) A Nominating Committee consisting of one cleric and one layperson from each Regional Deanery, named by the Bishop on the first day of Synod, shall present before the election a slate of nominations for all these Committees. Further nominations can be made from the floor.

(3) Printed lists shall be prepared by the Executive Secretary of the Diocese of (a) the Clerical nominees and (b) the lay nominees to the respective committees. The lists shall be arranged alphabetically. They shall be distinguished by being printed on paper of different colour, and shall specify in each case the number of delegates to be elected.

(4) In each case the names of ex-officio members of Committees shall be omitted from the lists of nominations.

(5) Two clergy and two lay people shall be named by the Bishop to act as scrutineers of the vote of each ballot required to be taken under this Canon.

(6) A Credentials Committee, consisting of the Registrar, one Priest and one lay person appointed by the Bishop shall be responsible for declaring quorum and the validity of the credentials of all members of Synod.

(7) In all elections under this Canon the Synod shall ballot by Orders.

(8) On the balloting being declared closed by the Chairperson, the scrutineers shall retire for the purpose of counting ballots. They shall report the result to the Chairperson on a form provided for the purpose, giving the names of those elected in the order of majority of votes, and the names of an equal number receiving the next highest number of votes, who shall be substituted in the order given. This report shall be announced to the Synod by the Chairperson.

(9) For the purpose of a quorum, the scrutineers while engaged in their duties, shall be counted as present.

(10) A ballot paper shall be deemed to be spoilt if more persons are voted for than are to be elected, or if the ballot paper is signed. The scrutineers shall report the number of such spoiled ballots to the Chairperson.

(11) In electing delegates to General Synod, the delegate in each Order who receives the highest number of votes shall be the Diocese's nominee to the National Executive Council.

(12) Any elected delegate to either the General or Provincial Synod ceasing to reside in the Diocese shall cease to be a delegate from this Synod.

(13) It shall be the duty of the Secretary of Synod to notify the elected delegates at least a month previous to any session of Synod for which such delegate has been elected, of the date of such session, and such delegate shall notify the Secretary of the Diocese of his or her ability, or otherwise, to attend the session of the Synod of which he has been elected a member, two full weeks previous to the opening thereof. In the event of such notification not being received, then the Secretary of the Diocese shall inform the substitute next in order that he is entitled to attend the said Synod, and shall also notify the elected delegate that such action has been taken.

(14) A certificate of election containing the names of the delegates of each Order, and the substitutes of each Order, signed by the Chairperson shall be forwarded by the Secretary of the Diocese to the Secretaries of the General and Provincial Synods, immediately upon every such election.