Canon XVI - Canon on Ordained Ministers

The Rector, or Vicar of all congregations, has charge under the Constitution and Canons of all things affecting the spiritual interests of their Congregations, subject only to the Ecclesiastical Authority of the Diocese, and at all times shall be entitled to the use and control of the church and all Parish buildings with the appurtenances and furniture thereof; at all times shall be entitled to access to the church, to open the same for public worship, for catechetical or other religious instruction, marriages, baptisms, burials, and all other offices authorized by the church and shall have full charge of all services in the church and, except as provided in Canon XXV, spiritual direction and full charge and control of all church schools, Parish schools, and all other associations, including separate corporations, related to or connected with the Parish.

It is the duty of the Rector or Vicar, who shall have full charge of all services in the church subject only and at all times to the Ecclesiastical Authority, to give directions concerning the worship of the Church, together with all that pertains thereto, and appoint fit persons to perform such duties relative to the service of the church as may properly be done by lay persons.

The Rector, or Vicar, of any Congregation, is ex officio President of the Vestry, or Vestry Committee and of the Congregation, and has the right to vote at all times.

A Parish may call a member of the clergy as Rector only with the approval of the Ecclesiastical Authority and by meeting the minimum requirements as set forth below, unless waived by the Ecclesiastical Authority:

(a) Contributing to the ministry and mission of the Diocese of Central Florida the equivalent of at least 10% of the Parish's plate and pledge income,

(b) Paying to all full time clergy serving in the Parish, at least the minimum compensation established by the Ecclesiastical Authority and approved by the Board,

(c) Paying in full the premiums due to the Church Pension Fund and health insurance carrier on account of clergy serving in the Parish,

(d) Paying in full the insurance premiums for general liability coverage, including coverage for sexual misconduct, in an amount set by the Diocesan Board, and with an insurance company approved by the Diocesan Board, as per Canon XX Section 5.

Vicars are to be appointed by the Ecclesiastical Authority and may be removed by the Ecclesiastical Authority.

A Parish may call a member of the clergy as Rector only with the approval of the Ecclesiastical Authority and by meeting the minimum requirements as set forth below, unless waived by the Ecclesiastical Authority:

Every member of the clergy temporarily vacating his or her cure shall arrange in advance with the Vestry for the supply of services and the care of the Congregation during any absence. If such member of the clergy be paid wholly or in part by the Diocese, approval of the Ecclesiastical Authority must be obtained in advance of such absence.

(a)    Every Deacon shall be subject to the direction of the Bishop, or, if there be no Bishop, that of the clerical members of the Standing Committee, acting by their President. A Deacon shall officiate only in such places as the Bishop, or the clerical members of the Standing Committee, as the case may be, may designate.

(b)   No Deacon, except one in training for the priesthood, may be in charge of a Parish or Mission.

(c)    A Deacon ministering in a Parish or Mission under the charge of a Priest, shall act under the direction of such Priest in all such ministrations.

(d)   A Deacon ministering in a Parish or Mission not under the charge of a Priest shall, if not under the immediate direction of the Ecclesiastical Authority, be placed under authority of some neighboring Priest. Such Deacon shall be governed by such priest, in subordination to the Ecclesiastical Authority.

(e)    A Deacon ministering in circumstances other than a Parish or Mission shall, if not under the immediate direction of the Ecclesiastical Authority, be placed under authority of some member of the Clergy designated by the Ecclesiastical Authority.

(f)     Upon attaining the age of seventy-two years, each Deacon occupying any position in this Diocese shall resign that position and retire from active service, and the resignation shall be accepted. Thereafter, the Deacon may accept any position in this Diocese; provided, that (1) the tenure in this position shall be for a period of not more than one year, which period may be renewed from time to time, and (2) service in the position shall have the express approval of the Ecclesiastical Authority.

No Bishop, Priest or Deacon shall be excluded from any Parochial or Diocesan office because of gender, race, color, or ethnic origin.

All clergy canonically resident and/or licensed in the Diocese shall comply with all risk management policies established by the Diocesan Board.

All members of the clergy of this Diocese, having subscribed to the Declaration required by Article VIII of the National Constitution, shall be under the obligation to model in their own lives the received teaching of the church that all its members are to abstain from sexual relations outside of Holy Matrimony.

All members of the clergy of this Diocese may allow to take place in their cures, officiate at, bless or participate in, only those unions prescribed by Holy Scripture: the wedding of one woman and one man. Said clergy are forbidden to allow to take place in their cures, officiate at, bless or participate in any other unions, as proscribed by Holy Scripture.

The staff and employees of a congregation shall serve under the direction and control and at the pleasure of the Rector or Vicar. Nothing in this section, however, shall prevent the Rector or Vicar from delegating to an employee, the Vestry or committee thereof, all or part of the authority to employ, direct, control, evaluate, discharge, or otherwise control the staff or employees.

I, the undersigned, do hereby acknowledge that I have read and understand Canon XVI of the Diocese of Central Florida, that I subscribe to the standards set forth in it, and will endeavor to pattern my life accordingly.