FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF THE

PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH

IN THE

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA;

BEING THE

SUBSTANCE OF VARIOUS CANONS ADOPTED IN GENERAL CONVENTIONS OF SAID CHURCH (FROM A.D. 1832), AND SET FORTH, WITH ALTERATIONS AND ADDITIONS, IN GENERAL CONVENTION, A.D. 1832;

ALSO,

THE CANONS PASSED IN GENERAL CONVENTIONS, A.D, 1835, 1838, AND 1841.

TO WHICH ARE ANNEXED THE

CONSTITUTION OF THE CHURCH,

AND THE

COURSE OF ECCLESIASTICAL STUDIES,

ESTABLISHED BY THE HOUSE OF BISHOPS,

IN THE GENERAL CONVENTION OF 1804.

CONSTITUTION

OF THE

PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH

IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

Adopted in General Convention, in Philadelphia, October, 1789.

ARTICLE I.

THERE shall be a General Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, on the first Wednesday in October, in every third year, from the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty-one, and in such place as shall be determined by the convention; and in case there shall be an epidemic disease, or any other good cause to render it necessary to alter the place fixed on for any such meeting of the convention, the Presiding Bishop shall have it in his power to appoint another convenient place (as near as may be to the place so fixed on) for the holding of such convention; and special meetings may be called at other times, in the manner hereafter to be provided for; and this church, in a majority of the dioceses which shall have adopted this Constitution, shall be represented, before they shall proceed to business; except that the representation from two dioceses shall be sufficient to adjourn and in all business of the convention freedom of debate shall be allowed.

ARTICLE II.

The church in each diocese shall be entitled to a representation of both the clergy and the laity, which representation shall consist of one or more deputies, not exceeding four of each order, chosen by the convention of the diocese; and in all questions, when required by the clerical and lay representation from any

diocese, each order shall have one vote; and the majority of suffrages by dioceses shall be conclusive in each order, provided such majority comprehend a majority of the dioceses represented in that order. The concurrence of both orders shall be necessary to constitute a vote of the convention. If the convention of any diocese should neglect or decline to appoint clerical deputies, or if they should neglect or decline to appoint lay deputies, or if any of those of either order appointed, should neglect to attend, or be prevented by sickness or any other accident, such diocese shall nevertheless be considered as duly represented by such deputy or deputies as may attend, whether lay or clerical. And if, through the neglect of the convention of any of the churches which shall have adopted, or may hereafter adopt, this Constitution, no deputies, either lay or clerical, should attend at any General Convention, the church in such diocese shall nevertheless be bound by the acts of such convention.

ARTICLE III.

The bishops of this church, when there shall be three or more, shall, whenever General Conventions are held, form a separate house, with a right to originate and propose acts for the concurrence of the House of Deputies, composed of clergy and laity and when any proposed act shall have passed the House of Deputies, the same shall be transmitted to the House of Bishops, who shall have a negative thereupon; and all acts of the convention shall be authenticated by both houses. And in all cases, the House of Bishops shall signify to the convention their approbation or disapprobation (the latter with their reasons in writing) within three days after the proposed act shall have been reported to them for concurrence; and in failure thereof, it shall have the operation of a law. But until there shall be three or more bishops, as aforesaid, any bishop attending a General Convention shall be a member ex officio, and shall vote with the clerical deputies of the diocese to which he belongs; and a bishop shall then preside.

ARTICLE IV.

The bishop or bishops in every diocese shall be chosen agreeably to such rules as shall be fixed by the convention of that diocese; and every bishop of this church shall confine the exercise of his episcopal office to his proper diocese, unless requested to ordain or confirm, or perform any other act of the episcopal office by any church destitute of a bishop.