Church Canons

THE CANONS

of

The Episcopal Church of the Holy Trinity

Midland, Texas

 Canon I

Name

The Episcopal Church of the Holy Trinity, a Texas corporation, shall be situated in the City of Midland, Midland County, Texas, and hereinafter may be referred to as Holy Trinity Church.

Canon II

Governing Laws

These canons are subject to the constitution and canons of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America and the constitution and canons of the Diocese of Northwest Texas, and no provision herein contained shall be construed to be in conflict therewith, and the same shall be subordinate thereto.

Canon III

Authority

Section 1.  The authority of the parish is vested in the rector and vestry of Holy Trinity Church.

Section 2.  In the absence of the rector and in periods of vacancy in the rectorship, the senior warden or, in his/her absence, the junior warden shall be in charge of the parish.

Section 3. All other ministers of the parish, by whatever name they may be designated, are to be regarded as under the authority of the rector.

Canon IV

The Rector

Section 1. Duties

a. The rector of a parish by virtue of his office has the exclusive charge of all rites, ceremonies, and ordinances of the church and the worship with the music and ceremonial accessories thereto, subject to the rubrics of the Book of Common Prayer , the canons of the church, and the Godly counsel of the bishop. He shall have the direction and control of all church schools, parochial day schools, and other parochial institutions, guides, and organizations within the parish, and through him every such organization shall annually report to the bishop. He is entitled at all times to have access to the church building and open the same as he may deem proper for the celebration of the Holy Communion, for public common prayer, for catechetical or other religious instructions, for marriages, baptisms, or burials, and for all other rites and ceremonies authorized by the church or by the ecclesiastical authority of the diocese. He shall be entitled at all times to have access to other church properties and to open the same as he may deem proper to be consistent with the purposed for which the parish or mission was organized.

b. It shall be the duty of every minister of this church in charge of a congregation to record in the parish register a list of all persons who have received Holy Baptism, a list of all persons who have received confirmation, a record of all marriages solemnized by him or any assistant minister; and a record of all burial services conducted by any minister of the congregation. He shall indicate upon the parish register each year the names of those who have died in the past year or whose names have been added or removed by letter of transfer. He shall also indicate those whose domicile is unknown and those whose domicile is known but are inactive. He shall maintain as far as practicable a list of all families and persons within his cure, which list shall remain in the parish for the use of his successor.

c. It shall be the duty of every minister of this church in charge of a congregation to make report to the ecclesiastical authority in the month of January on the standard parochial report form authorized by the general convention.

d. No clergymen shall officiate in any capacity or activity within the cure of any other clergyman without the request or permission of the incumbent or, in case of his absence or incapacity, of the wardens of the parish and, if he be not canonically resident in the diocese and in good standing, without the consent of the ecclesiastical authority.

e. The rector of the parish shall be the adviser of every organization of the congregation.

f.  The rector, with the advice and consent of the vestry, shall appoint a day in the month of January each year upon which the annual meeting of the congregation will be held.

Section 2. Election

The election of a rector shall be held according to provisions contained in Canon 27, Section 2, of the Diocese of Northwest Texas.

Canon V

The Vestry

Section 1. Membership

Each parish shall have a vestry consisting of not less than five and not more than fifteen members, who shall be confirmed lay communicants in good standing, of at least eighteen years of age, canonically resident in the parish, and who were financial supporters of the parish and mission program of the church in the preceding year as shown in the records of the parish treasurer, and who will subscribe to the following declaration:

"I do believe the Holy Scripture of the Old and New Testaments to the Word of God and to contain all things necessary to salvation, and I do solemnly engage to conform to the doctrine, disciplines, and worship of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States America."

Section 2. Term of Office

a. The vestry shall be elected at the annual parish meeting by a majority vote of the qualified voters of the parish present and voting. However, if the requisite number of persons are not elected by majority vote on the initial ballot, the officer presiding at the meeting shall, on motion and two thirds vote of those present and voting prior to any subsequent ballot, declare that the remaining vestry positions will be filled by plurality vote as reflected by subsequent ballots. In the absence of such motion and two thirds vote before any ballot after the initial ballot, such ballot shall be by majority vote. Vacancies occurring more than sixty days before the annual meeting shall be filled for the unexpired term by vestry election.

b. Each year the retiring vestry members, together with two remaining vestry members appointed by the senior warden, shall constitute a nominating committee. They shall present a double slate for the election of vestry members. Following the report of the nominating committee, nominations for vestry members may be made from the floor at the annual meeting, providing consent of the nominee has been obtained. If it is desired to increase or reduce the vestry membership, they shall be elected for such staggered terms, not less than one year and not more than three years, as shall be necessary to allow retirement of one third of the vestry members annually.

c. The nominating committee shall present to the annual meeting a double slate of names for delegates and alternates to the annual diocesan convention. The names of other nominees may be presented from the floor by any qualified voter, providing the consent of the nominee has been obtained. By plurality vote those receiving the highest number of votes will be elected as delegates, the number being determined by diocesan canon. The same number of alternates will be elected by plurality vote from the remaining nominees.

Section 4. Duties of the Wardens

From the vestry members a senior warden shall be appointed by the rector with the consent of the vestry at the first vestry meeting held after the annual meeting of the parish. The vestry shall elect from its number a junior warden at the first vestry meeting held after the annual meeting. If the office of rector is vacant, the vestry shall elect from its number a senior warden.

Duties:

a. To keep watch over the church properties, informing the vestry of necessary repairs.

b. To see that sextons and other parish employees perform their duties.

c. To give immediate notice to the bishop if for reason of resignation or death the office of rector becomes vacant.

d. To keep the parish register if the parish is without a minister.

e. In the absence of the rector and in periods of vacancy in the rectorship, the senior warden shall be in charge of the parish.

Section 5. Other Officers

A treasurer of the parish, who may or may not be a member of the vestry, shall be elected annually by the vestry from the communicant membership.

Annually, the vestry shall elect a clerk from its membership who shall be the secretary to the vestry and the annual meeting of the parish.

The vestry may also elect from the communicant membership a parish chancellor, who may or may not be a member of the vestry, to serve as legal adviser to the vestry and the parish.

Section 6. Meetings

a. The vestry shall meet at least bi-monthly. It shall be the duty of the vestry members to attend the meetings of the vestry. Special meetings of the vestry may be called by the rector and shall be called by him at the written request of three members of the vestry, including one warden. At least twenty-four hours' written notice of special meetings shall be given to members of the vestry, except a vestry meeting may be held without notice with the rector's consent, providing every member of the vestry shall be present.

b. The quorum of the vestry shall be a majority of the members including the rector, if there is one. If the rector is absent from the diocese for two calendar months or if; when duly notified of such meeting, he shall decline or neglect to be present, the vestry shall be authorized to transact business if there is a quorum present, including one warden.

c. In the event a vestry member fails to attend vestry meetings for a period of three consecutive, regularly scheduled meetings, the vestry shall give written notice to such vestry member that failure to attend the next regular meeting or to provide satisfactory reason for failure to attend shall be evidence of his/her inability or lack of desire to serve. In such case if said vestry member does not attend the next meeting and does not provide reason satisfactory to a majority of the other members of the vestry, the vestry by a two thirds vote shall declare the office vacant and notify said vestry member of their action.

Section 7. Duties of the Vestry

a. To elect a rector, to cooperate with him for the spiritual welfare of his cure, to see that he is properly supported and that his agreed salary is paid regularly and punctually.

b. To make provision for the payment of all diocesan apportionments and of the Church Pension Fund premiums.

c. To make and execute and approve all contracts for the erection, furnishing, and preservation of the church properties, with the further provision that the vestry shall appoint a committee to approve all furnishings of the sanctuary, and memorials.

d. To comply with the canons of the church in regard to bonds and audits.

e. To provide out of the funds of the parish a sufficient supply of vestments and books to be used in public worship and also the vessels and elements for the celebration of Holy Communion.

f. To maintain order and decorum during the time of public worship.

g. To transact all temporal business of the parish as the constituted agents of the same.

h. To approve the employment of all lay personnel necessary to carry on competently the business of the church.

Section 8. Duties of the Treasurer

a. To take charge of all funds collected in the parish for any and all church purposes and to disburse the same under direction of the vestry, provided that he shall pay over promptly to the rector the communion alms as provided by the canons of the church and to the bishop the undesignated plate offering received at the time of his official visitation for confirmation.

b. To keep fill and accurate accounts, in a system of bookkeeping approved by the vestry, of all finances and financial transaction of the parish.

c. To make an annual report thereof on and in accordance with the standard annual parochial report form authorized by the general convention and transmit the same to the rector and the vestry or, if there be no rector, to the senior warden at least one week before the annual parish meeting in January

Section 9. Duties of the Clerk

a. To keep in bound ledger the approved minutes of all meetings of the vestry and the annual parish meeting.

b. To certify to the bishop after their election the names and addresses of the officers of the parish and other members of the vestry.

c. To fulfill such duties of his office as the vestry may request.

Canons continued

Canon VI

 Annual Parish Meeting

Section 1. There shall be an annual meeting of the parish in the month of January.

Section 2. Notice of the annual meeting shall be given at the regular services of the church on the two Sundays next preceding the date of the meeting, and written notice by mail shall be furnished to all qualified voters of the parish at least fourteen days before said meeting.

Section 3. The business of the annual meeting shall include reports of the officers of the congregation, election of vestry members, the election of delegates and alternates to the annual convention of the diocese, and such other business as may be lawfully and canonically transacted.

Section 4. The rector shall preside at the annual meeting. In the absence of the rector or minister-in-charge, the senior warden shall preside; in his/her absence the junior warden shall preside. The clerk of the vestry shall serve as secretary of the annual meeting. In the case of the clerk's absence or disability, the voters shall elect a clerk to serve for that meeting.

Section 5. The qualified voters at the annual meeting shall be adult communicants of the congregation who are at least sixteen years of age and are regular contributors to the work of the church as shown by the treasurer's records and listed in the parish register. Voting by proxy or by mail shall not be allowed.

Section 6. All elections shall be by ballot vote, unless there is but one nominee for office-in which case the election may be determined by voice vote. With the exception of election to the vestry, as heretofore provided, a plurality shall elect.

Section 7. Special meetings of the congregation may be called by the rector or by the vestry, if there is no clergy in residence, and shall be called upon the written request of the vestry. The purpose of a special meeting shall be stated in the call to the meeting. Notice of a special meeting shall be by mail and shall be given at least seven days before the meeting.

Section 8. At any meeting of the parish the presence of ten percent of qualified voters of the parish shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, provided, however, that a parish may increase the percentage of qualified voters to constitute a quorum.

Section 9. All resolution, petitions, and memorials presented to the annual meeting, other than courtesy resolutions, must be submitted in writing to the congregation at least thirty days before the meeting. In the event such petitions, memorials, or resolutions are not so received, they may not be considered by the meeting, except upon a majority vote permitting same. The vestry shall consider and evaluate such resolutions.

Canon VII

Parliamentary Authority

The rules contained in Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised, shall govern in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these canons; any special rules of order the parish may adopt; the constitution and canons of the Diocese of Northwest Texas; or the constitution and canons of the Protest Episcopal Church of the United States of America.

Canon VIII

Amendments

Section 1. The canons may be amended at any parish meeting or any special meeting called for that purpose, but a two thirds vote of those present and voting, provided that written notice of the proposed amendments shall be given to all qualified voters of the parish at least thirty days before such meeting.

Section 2. At any time between annual meetings of the parish, the vestry may amend the canons to conform to amendment of the constitution and canons of the Diocese of Northwest Texas or amendment of the constitution and canons of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America. The parish shall be notified in writing of such amendment.

A complete revision of the former bylaws, including the change of name to canons, was approved by the vestry on January 10, 1980. Revisions were made by the vestry in 1985 and 1986 to conform to diocesan changes.