8.1 DIOCESAN
DEPARTMENTS, COMMISSIONS, AND COMMITTEES
There are three kinds of groups in the diocesan
structure. Ministries are subsections of the Diocesan Council and are
established by Canon. Commissions are established by the Bishop or
Diocesan Convention to assist in the conduct of specific diocesan functions. Committees
are formed by Convention, the Bishop, the Council or almost any group that needs personnel
or special expertise to accomplish certain tasks. Sometimes these groups are all called
program groups.
There are other ministries and institutions
sponsored by the diocese and other groups that are so specialized that they do not fit
into any of the above categories.
For many years there were only a few groups that
offered program, but there came a time when that number started to grow; when it reached
more than twenty-five it was suggested that we needed this organized into something more
manageable for planning. For budget and planning purposes, four Area Ministries
were created that matched the major functions of the diocese: missionary work, education,
social service, and worship. These became Growth Ministry, Education Ministry, Ministry in
Community, and Faith & Worship Ministry. The program groups that related to each of
these major functions were assigned to that Area.
For organization of the budget, two other Areas of
Ministry were named: work and ministry outside our own structure became Ministry in the
World, and work and concerns relating to clergy became Organized Ministry.
These six areas are grouped as follows with Roman
numerals indicating that portion of the diocesan Program and Budget which lists the
details of each Area Ministry:
I MINISTRY IN THE WORLD
Fund for the Poor and Homeless
National Church Program
General Convention
Province VIII
Synod Deputies
Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon
II GROWTH MINISTRIES
Ministry of Communication
Ministry of Congregational Development
Hispanic Ministries Commission
Indian Ministries Commission
Ministry of Ministry in Higher Education
Total Ministry Task Force
III MINISTRY IN COMMUNITY
Alcohol and Drug Commission
Deaf Ministry Commission
Environmental Commission
Healing Commission
Human Sexuality Commission
Mental Illness Commission
Ministry with Gays and Lesbians Commission
Commission to End Racism
IV EDUCATION MINISTRIES
Ministry of Christian Education
Ecumenical Commission
Education for Ministry (EFM)
Evangelism Commission
Stewardship Commission
Triangle Lake Board
Youth Ministries Commission (YMC)
V FAITH & WORSHIP MINISTRIES
Art and Architecture Commission
Diocesan Altar Guild
Commission on Liturgy and Music
VI ORDAINED MINISTRIES
Clergy Support
Commission on Ministry (Development)
Center for the Diaconate
Insurance
VII ADMINISTRATION
Convention
General Services
Diocesan Committees
Phone numbers and addresses for the conveners of all
the program groups are published annually in the DIRECTORY of the Diocese of Oregon which
is distributed to all clergy and lay leaders. Additional copies can be obtained by calling
the Diocesan Office (503) 636-5613 or by writing PO Box 467, Lake Oswego, OR 97034. Names
and phone numbers of conveners of program groups are also included in the directory of
services in Section 8.6 of this manual.
OTHER DIOCESAN MINISTRIES AND INSTITUTIONS
Bishop's Close
Center for Community Counseling (Eugene)
Episcopal Bishop of Oregon Foundation
Good Samaritan Hospital (Corvallis)
Legacy Good Samaritan Hospital (Portland)
Oregon Episcopal Schools (Portland)
Samaritan Village (Corvallis)
Samaritan Health Services (Corvallis)
8.2 REFERENCE BYLAWS, CANONS, and FORMS
8.2.1 BYLAWS Each of the 77
parishes and missions in the diocese is required to operate under the Constitution and
Canons of the diocese and may have bylaws designed for that local congregation. Bylaws can
be amended and revised and are often more complex for large parishes than for small ones
and again different for missions. This manual therefore does not attempt to include
examples of bylaws but rather to suggest several parishes and missions which will make
their bylaws available for vestries and BACs that may wish to review or up-date their own
documents.
PARISH BYLAWS:
Church of the Good Samaritan
333 NW 35th St., Corvallis OR 97330
St. Luke the Physician
120 SW Towle, Gresham, OR 97080
St. Stephen's Parish
1432 SW 13th Ave., Portland, OR 97201
MISSIONS BYLAWS:
Church of the Resurrection
3925 Hilyard St., Eugene, OR 97405
St. Andrew's
PO Box 15, Florence, OR 97439
St. Bede's
1609 Elm St., Forest Grove, OR 97116
St. Stephen's
PO Box 1014, Newport, OR 97365
8.2.2 REFERENCE EXCERPTS from DIOCESAN CANONS RELATING TO
MISSIONS:
Canon 6.2: Election of Wardens
Sec. 7 Both wardens must be
confirmed communicants in good standing in the church. They shall be selected and hold
office by either of the following methods, determined by vote of the members of the
mission:
(1) At the first meeting of the Bishop's Advisory
Committee, as provided in Sec. 9 of this canon, the vicar (if there is one; otherwise, the
Bishop) shall appoint one of the committee to be Senior Warden and the Committee shall
elect another of them to be Junior Warden. They shall remain in office until their
successors are chosen, unless they or either of them shall not be re-elected at the next
Annual Meeting; in which case they or either of them shall vacate the office of warden
upon adjournment of the Annual Meeting.
(2) The Senior Warden shall be nominated by the vicar
(if there is one; otherwise, the Bishop) and both wardens shall be elected at the Annual
Meeting to serve a term of two years. Both wardens are eligible for nomination and
election in the same manner to one additional term of two years. Upon completion of one
term, or if re-elected, to two terms, neither shall be eligible for election as warden or
committee member for a period of one year. The wardens shall remain in office until their
successors are chosen.
Duties of Wardens...Canon 6.2 sec.8, 10 and 11
Duties of Wardens....Sec. 8
It shall be the duty of the wardens, under the direction of the vicar, to
procure a proper place to be used as a place of worship; to see that the same is kept
clean and in good repair; and that it is provided with all things necessary for conducting
the services of the church decently and in good order. They shall also have charge of all
property of the mission, except real property, and shall cooperate with the Bishop,
Archdeacon, and Dean of the Convocation in maintaining services in the absence of a vicar.
Duties of the Clerk....Sec. 10
It shall be the duty of the Clerk to keep a record of events of importance to
the mission and a list of its families and members and to keep the minutes of all business
meetings of the Mission and of the Advisory Committee.
Duties of the Treasurer...Sec. 11
It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to collect and receive all moneys
contributed to the mission and to remit or disburse them according to the canons. It shall
also be the duty of the Treasurer to remit to the Diocesan Treasurer, not later than the
15th day of each month, the portion of the Diocesan Program Assessment then due, together
with all moneys designated for missionary purposes that have been received during the
preceding month.
Canon 6.7 Election of Wardens
Sec. 5 The Wardens must be
confirmed communicants in good standing in the church. They shall be selected and hold
office by either of the following methods, determined by the vote of the parish:
(1) At the first meeting of the vestry as provided in
Sec. 6 of this canon, the rector shall appoint one of the members of the vestry to be
Senior Warden and the vestry shall elect another of them to be Junior Warden; provided,
that in case of a vacancy in the rectorship, the vestry shall elect both wardens. They
shall remain in office until their successors are chosen, unless they or either of them
shall not be re-elected members of the vestry at the Annual Meeting; in which case, they
or either of them shall vacate the office of warden upon adjournment of the Annual
Meeting.
(2) The Senior Warden shall be nominated by the rector
and elected at the Annual Meeting to serve a term of two years. The Junior Warden shall be
elected at the Annual Meeting to serve a term of two years.
Both wardens shall be eligible for election in the
same manner to one additional term of two years, but upon completion of one term, or if
re-elected, of two terms, neither shall be eligible for election as warden or members of
the vestry for a period of one year. The wardens shall remain in office until their
successors are chosen.
Duties of Wardens...Canon 6.8
The wardens, under the direction of the rector or
priest in charge, shall see that the church building is kept from all secular or other
uses prohibited by canon law; that it is kept clean and in good repair as becomes the
House of God, and that the premises are kept in proper order. They shall also see that the
parish is provided with all things necessary for conducting the services of the church
decently and in good order; shall gather the alms and other offerings of the people in
decent basins provided for the purpose, and reverently bring them to the priest in charge;
and shall preserve order and decorum in and around the church building, and especially
during the time of Divine Worship. In case there is no rector, or if absent or unable to
act, the Senior Warden or, the Junior Warden, shall preside at all meetings of the vestry
and of the parish. The wardens shall perform all other duties which are assigned to them
by the canons of the General Convention and of this diocese.
Duties of Officers...Canon 6.9
Sec. 1 The Clerk shall attend
all meetings of the vestry and of the parish, take minutes of their proceedings, and when
approved, enter and attest them in the Book of Minutes of the vestry and parish; act as
Clerk of the parish corporation and, as such, attest to the public acts of the vestry;
preserve the journals and records of the parish; and perform such other duties as may be
legally assigned. Books and papers relating to the affairs of the parish shall be
delivered to the Clerk's successor.
Sec. 2 The Treasurer shall
receive all money collected under authority of the vestry, the receipt and disbursement of
which is not otherwise provided for. Money shall not be disbursed by the Treasurer except
on order from the vestry. The Treasurer shall present to the parish at its Annual Meeting
a full and accurate statement of all money received and disbursed during the year
preceding, accompanied by vouchers. The Treasurer shall be subject to the direction of the
vestry and shall answer all questions as to the state of the treasury, and shall attend
meetings of the vestry when requested. The books and accounts of the Treasurer shall be
open at all times to the inspection of the rector, wardens, and members of the vestry
8.2.3 REFERENCE EXCERPTS from NATIONAL CANONS
Title III Canon 1 Of the Ministry of all Baptized Persons.
Each diocese shall make provision for the
development and affirmation of the ministry of all baptized persons in the church and the
world.
Title III Canon 2 Of Commissions on Ministry.
Section 1. In each diocese there
shall be a Commission on Ministry consisting of clergy and lay persons. The number of
members, terms of office, and manner of election to the Commission shall be determined by
the canons of each diocese.
Section 2. The Commission shall
assist the Bishop with regard to implementation of Canon III.1 :
(a) In determining present and future needs for ministry in the
diocese.
(b) In recruiting and selecting persons for Holy Orders and in guiding
and examining Postulants, Candidates, and Deacons in training for priesthood.
(c) In providing for the guidance and pastoral care of clergy and lay
persons who are in stipendiary and non-stipendiary positions accountable to the Bishop.
(d) In promoting the continuing education of the clergy and lay
professionals employed by the church.
(e) In supporting the development, training, utilization, and
affirmation of the ministry of the laity in the world.
Sec. 3 The Bishop and
Commission shall actively solicit from the clergy and laity of parishes, college and
university campus centers, and other communities of faith, nominations of persons whose
demonstrated qualities of Christian commitment, leadership, and vision, and responsiveness
to the needs concerns and hopes of the world mark them as desirable candidates for
leadership positions in the Church. The Commission shall invite such nominees to
engage in a process of discernment appropriate to the cultural background of the nominees
by which to ascertain the type of leadership, lay or ordained, to which they may be
called. When this discernment process has been completed, the Commission shall
commend to the agencies with their procedures as established under (c) and (e) above,
those whose vocation is to lay ministry, and shall present to the Bishop those whom it
wishes to support for ordianation to the Diaconate or Priesthood, and those who have
indicated their willingness to be so nominated.
Sec. 4. The Commission may
adopt rules for its work, subject to the approval of the Bishop, provided they are not
inconsistent with the constitution or the canons of this church or of the diocese. These
rules may include provision for committees of the Commission as a whole to report to the
Bishop concerning an applicant's fitness and readiness for admission as a Postulant or
Candidate for ordination to the Diaconate and, if requested by the Bishop, to the
priesthood.
Title III Canon 3 Of Licensed Lay Persons
Sec. 1
(a) A confirmed adult communicant in good standing may serve as Lay
Reader, Lay Preacher, Lay Eucharistic Minister, or Catechist if licensed by the Bishop or
Ecclesiastical Authority of the Diocese in which the person is a member. Guidelines for
training and selection of such persons shall be established by the Bishop.
(b) .licensing a member of the Armed Forces for ministry in the Armed
Forces.
Sec. 2
(a) A license shall be given only at the request, and upon the
recommendation, of the member of the clergy in charge of the congregation in which the
person will be serving. The license shall be issued for a period of time not to exceed
three years and shall be revocable by the Bishop, or upon the request of the member of the
clergy in charge of the congregation.
(b) Renewal of the license shall be determined on the basis of the
acceptable performance of the ministry by the licensee and upon the endorsement of the
member of the clergy in charge of the congregation in which the person is serving.
(c) A person licensed in any diocese under the provisions of this canon
may serve in another congregation in the same diocese at the invitation of the member of
the clergy in charge, and with the consent of the Bishop in whose jurisdiction the service
will occur.
(d) The person licensed shall conform to the directions of the Bishop
and the member of the clergy in charge of the congregation in which the person is serving,
in all matters relating to the conduct of services, the sermons to be read, and the dress
to be worn. In every respect, the person licensed shall conform to the requirements and
limitations set forth in the rubrics and other directions of the Book of Common Prayer.
Sec. 3 A Pastoral Leader is a lay person licensed to
exercise pastoral or administrative responsibility in a congregation, under special
circumstances, and may be licensed to lead regularly the offices authorized by the Book of
Common Prayer. Prior to licensing, a Pastoral Leader shall be trained, examined, and found
competent in the following subjects:
(a) The Holy Scriptures, contents and background
(b) The Book of Common Prayer and the Hymnal
(c) The conduct of public worship
(d) Use of the voice
(e) Church History
(f) The Church's Doctrine as set forth in the Creeds and the Outline of
the Faith, commonly called the Catechism
(g) Parish Administration
(h) Appropriate Canons
(i) Pastoral Care
A Pastoral Leader shall not be licensed if, in the
judgement of the Bishop or ecclesiastical authority the congregation is able to and has
had reasonable opportunity to secure a resident member of the clergy in charge.
Sec. 4 A Lay Preacher is a person licensed to
preach. Prior to licensing, the Lay Preacher shall be trained, examined, and found
competent in the following subjects:
(a) The Holy Scriptures, contents and background
(b) The Book of Common Prayer and the Hymnal
(c) The Conduct of public worship
(d) Use of the voice
(e) Church History
(f) Christian Ethics and Moral Theology
(g) The Church's Doctrine as set forth in the Creeds and An Outline of
the Faith, commonly called the Catechism
(h) Appropriate Canons
(i) Pastoral Care
(j) Homiletics
Persons so licensed shall only preach in
congregations upon initiation and under the supervision of the Member of the Clergy in
charge.
Sec. 5 A Lay Eucharistic Minister is a confirmed
adult communicant in good standing, specially licensed to this extraordinary ministry. The
Lay Eucharistic Minister shall have one or both of the following functions as specified in
the license:
Administering the elements at any celebration of Holy Eucharist in
the absence of a sufficient number of priests or deacons assisting the celebrant;
Directly following a celebration of the Holy Eucharist on Sunday or
other principal celebrations, taking the sacrament consecrated at the celebration to
members of the congregation who, by reason of illness or infirmity, were unable to be
present at the celebration. Persons so licesnsed may also be known as "Lay
Eucharistic Visitors".
Qualifications, requirements, and guidelines for the selection,
training, and use of Lay Eucharistic Ministers shall be established by the Bishop.
This ministry is not to take the place of the ministry of priests and
deacons in the exercise of their office including regular visitation of members unable to
attend the celebration of the Holy Eucharist. A Lay Eucharistic Minister should normally
be under the direction of a deacon of the Congregation, if there is one.
Sec. 6 A Catechist is a person licensed to
prepare persons for Baptism, Confirmation, Reception, and the Reaffirmation of Baptismal
Vows. Prior to licensing, Catechists shall be trained, examined, and found competent in
the following subjects:
The Holy Scriptures, contents and background
The Book of Common Prayer and the Hymnal
Church History
The Church's Doctrine as set forth in the Creeds and the Outline of
the Faith, commonly called the Catechism
Methods of Catechesis
Sec. 7 A Lay Reader is a person who regularly
leads public worship under direction of a member of the clergy in charge of the
congregation. Training and licensing shall be under the authority of the Bishop for those
persons recommended by the member of the clergy in charge of the congregation as provided
by the canons of the diocese.
Sec. 8 A Lector is a person trained in the
reading of the Word and appointed, without license, by the member of the clergy in charge
of the congregation to read lessons or lead the Prayers of the People.
8.2.4 MARRIAGE:
Request for Consultation and Consent (Title I Canon 19)
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Marriage Consent by the Bishop
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8.2.5 USE OF FACILITIES POLICIES
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8.2.6 AGREEMENT FOR USE OF FACILITIES
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8.2.7 POLICY ON THE USE OF ALCOHOL
The January 1991 Diocesan Convention adopted the following points of
policy concerning the use of alcoholic beverages at church sponsored events, on church
property or at other locations.
Whenever alcohol is served in any form, non-alcoholic beverages must
always be offered and served with the same attractiveness and accessibility as those
containing alcohol. They should be clearly labeled as such. This also applies to any food
where alcohol has not been volatilized. Common courtesy excludes pressing upon people any
food or drink.
Although these guidelines recognize the long-standing tradition of the
use of alcoholic beverages, they also recognize that excessive drinking is always
unacceptable Christian behavior. Care always must be taken to insure that responsible
persons are in control of serving alcoholic beverages. Any parish or mission that serves
alcoholic beverages to the public is urged to attend Server's School through OLCC or a
Community College.
It is the duty of the clergy in charge of the congregation, or in his or
her absence, the Wardens and Vestry, to assume responsibility for the dissemination and
enforcement of these guidelines.
Any group or organization sponsoring an activity or event at which
alcoholic beverages are served must assume full legal responsibility for those persons who
might become intoxicated, including the provision of transportation for anyone whose
driving might be impaired.
All occasions at which alcoholic beverages are to be offered publicly
must be licensed. All applicable federal, State and local laws and ordinances, including
those governing the serving of alcoholic beverages to minors, must be observed.
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