6.00 EPISCOPAL AFFAIRS

6.01 The Bishop of Saskatchewan shall be the President and chief Executive Officer of the Synod of the Diocese of Saskatchewan.

6.02 Election of a Bishop

Subject to the provisions of the Constitution and Canons of the Provincial Synod, the procedure for the election of a Bishop shall be as outlined in the Canons of the Diocese, or if no such Canons exist, or if so requested by the Diocesan Synod, the procedure shall be as provided in 'Alternate Modes of Elections' in the Constitution and Canons of Provincial Synod.

6.03 Special Episcopal Authority

Whenever it is deemed advisable the Bishop may, on application of any person or persons affected by the Canons, have power to abridge or suspend the operation of any Canon and by this order substitute such alternative authority or procedure as he deems advisable in the circumstances.

Such Bishop's Order shall be considered as full and sufficient authority for the conduct of any procedure relating to the said matter.

6.04 Licensing of Cleric

No cleric of the diocese shall do duty within the diocese for more than four weeks in the same Parish or congregation without a written licence from the Bishop. In order to serve as a cleric in a Parish, College, School, or other institution, under the jurisdiction of the Bishop, or to exercise a special ministry, the cleric must hold the licence of the Bishop.

Canonically non-resident clergy must have the Bishop's express permission to minister within the diocese.

6.05 Subscriptions etc. of the Clergy (as provided by the Canons of Provincial Synod).

6.06 Discipline of the Clergy (as set forth by the Canons of Provincial Synod and General Synod).

6.07 Stipendiary and Honorary Lay Readers

(1) A Stipendiary Lay Reader is defined as one who is a Lay Reader licensed by the Bishop, receiving an Honorarium, and having responsibility in a congregation where there is no cleric to conduct services, or where the cleric in charge owing to the extent of the Lay Reader's Parish, is unable to minister adequately. The Lay Reader may conduct the public service of Morning and Evening Prayer, omitting the Absolution and the Benediction, read such sermons as the Lay Reader may be authorized to use, or preach and expound if the Lay Reader be specially licensed by the Bishop, visit in the district and generally conduct the parochial work and perform all such ministerial functions as it is competent for a Lay Reader of the Anglican Church of Canada to perform. When necessity requires and no Priest can be obtained the Lay Reader may administer the Rite of Holy Baptism, omitting the blessing of the water. When officiating at services the Lay Reader shall always wear a cassock and surplice. The Lay Reader shall provide, if the Bishop should require, reports of the Lay Reader's work and services.

(2) Honorary Lay Readers: Lay Readers shall be licensed by the Bishop upon the recommendation of the Archdeacon or a cleric of the Diocese; such licence may be issued for a particular Parish or district or for the whole Diocese.

(3) Diocesan Lay Readers shall be under the direction and control of the Archdeacon.

(4) Parochial Lay Readers shall be under the direction and control of the cleric in charge, and shall officiate only at the cleric's request.

(5) Licences shall be renewed annually by the Bishop upon the recommendation of the Archdeacon, or the Rector of the Parish, as the case may be.

(6) The office and work of an Honorary Lay Reader shall be to take such parts in Divine Service as are herein before authorized for Stipendiary Lay Readers. When conducting a service in the absence of the Rector, the Lay Reader should wear a cassock and surplice.

6.08 The Diocesan Court of Appeal

(1) There shall be a Diocesan Court of Appeal.

(2) Any lay person who is a member of the Diocese of Saskatchewan, or any cleric who has held or does hold the Bishop's license, and who believes that an injustice has been done, may appeal to the Bishop for a reconsideration of the case.

(3) When the appellant is unable to obtain satisfaction from the Bishop, the appellant may present the appellant’s case to the Diocesan Court of Appeal. The appellant may choose to be represented by counsel.

(4) When a case is to be presented to the Diocesan Court of Appeal, the appellant shall notify the Registrar of the Diocese of an intent to press for a judgement, and the Registrar shall immediately inform the President of the Court, who shall within three months summon the Court to deal with the case.

(5) The decision of the Court shall be determined by a simple majority vote of the quorum in attendance.

(6) If the Bishop refuses to accept the decision of the Diocesan Court of Appeal, or if the appellant feels that justice has not yet been done then the appellant may proceed with an appeal to the Provincial Court of Appeal.

(7) The membership of the Diocesan Court of Appeal shall be as follows:

(a) The President shall be the Chancellor or in the Chancellor’s absence the Dean of Saskatchewan.

(b) The Clerk of the Court shall be the Registrar of the Diocese, who shall not be a voting member of the Court.

(c) Besides the Chancellor, the ex officio members of the Court shall be the Dean of Saskatchewan and the Archdeacons of Saskatchewan and Prince Albert.

(d) There shall be elected by the Diocesan Synod two Priests and three lay delegates of the Diocesan Synod to be members of the Court of Appeal.

(8) A quorum shall consist of the President of the Court, or the President’s deputy, two Priests and two lay members.

(9) In the event of a vacancy in the Court from those elected by Synod, the Executive Committee of the Diocese shall appoint alternates.

(10) The President of the Court shall be a voting member, but shall not have the casting vote.

(11) In the event of a tie vote it shall be taken as a negative vote.

(12) In the event of a member of the Board having an interest in any matter before the Board which would create a conflict of interest, such member or members shall remove themselves from the Board during such hearing.

(13) The Bishop may be represented by counsel and may address the Court should the Bishop desire, but cannot be required by the Court to appear during the hearing of the case.