Diocese of New Jersey | Constitution and Canons

a. Organized Missions

(1) Full ministry
(2) Partial ministry

b. Incorporated Missions

(1) Full ministry
(2) Partial ministry

c. Unorganized Missions

3. Chapels

a. Parochial Chapels
b. Seasonal Chapels
c. Collegiate Chapels

Classification shall be determined in accordance with the provisions set forth in the Constitution and Canons of the Diocese. The Bishop shall present to the Convention annually a written list of the Classification of the Congregations of the Diocese which may be ratified as presented or adopted with amendment by the Convention. The determination of the Convention shall be final, and each Congregation of the Diocese shall be governed in the manner provided in the Constitution and Canons of the Diocese for Congregations in its category.

CANON 47

Boundaries

SECTION 1. The boundaries of a parish or a missionary cure shall be the limits as fixed by law of the municipality in which the parish or mission is located. If there be but one parish or mission within the limits of a municipality it shall be deemed the Cure of the Minister having charge thereof. If there be two or more parishes or missions therein it shall be deemed the Cure of the Ministers thereof.

SECTION 2. The Bishop may extend the boundaries of a parish or mission to include all or part of the municipalities adjacent to a parish or mission and adjacent to each other, provided there be no parish or mission already located in the adjacent municipality. A list of all such boundary extensions shall be printed annually in the Journal of the Diocese.

SECTION 3. All territory in the Diocese not included within the boundaries of a parish or mission by virtue of the provisions of Section 1 and 2 of this Canon shall be deemed to be the Cure of the Bishop of the Diocese for the purposes of Title III, Canon 21, Section 5(a) of the Episcopal Church.

SECTION 4. For the purposes of this Canon the terms mission and missionary cure shall include Organized Missions, Incorporated Missions, and Parochial Chapels, and the term parish shall include Independent Parishes and Associated Parishes. Ministers in charge of or officiating either in Collegiate Chapels or in Seasonal Chapels shall not be deemed to hold a Cure in the Diocese or to have pastoral jurisdiction over any territory in the Diocese.

CANON 48

Formation of New Parishes and Erection of New Church Buildings

SECTION 1. The formation of a new Parish, or the erection of a Church building or Chapel on a new site, must have the previous written consent of the Bishop acting with the advice and consent of the Standing Committee.

SECTION 2. Before consent can be given to the formation of a new Parish, the persons desiring such consent shall at a duly convened meeting make application, signed by the President and Secretary of the meeting and as many of those present as possible, declaring that the said Parish will: (1) at all times adhere to and observe the doctrine, discipline, and worship of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America existing at the time of its formation and as may thereafter be amended, and the laws of the State of New Jersey; (2) be subject to the spiritual jurisdiction of the Bishop of the Diocese of New Jersey; or in case of a division of the Diocese, to that of the Bishop within those jurisdictions it may come; (3) apply as soon as possible after its incorporation for admission into union with the Convention of the Diocese, and become subject to the Constitution and Canons thereof; (4) pay its Rector no less than the canonical minimum salary and provide a rectory or other suitable living quarters; and, (5) hold all parish assets in trust in perpetuity for the Episcopal Church and the Diocese.

SECTION 3. The application required as above, and any application for the erecting of a Church building or Chapel on a new site, shall be in writing and shall be sent to the Bishop, who shall forthwith lay the matter before the Standing Committee, and at the same time give notice by registered mail to the three Parishes whose Houses of worship are nearest to the location of the proposed new Parish or building, that such application has been made and that any objections submitted to the Bishop in writing within thirty days after the date of mailing the notice will be duly considered.

SECTION 4. No new parish shall be formed unless and until it can show satisfactory evidence to the Bishop and Standing Committee that its equipment, buildings and land holdings are sufficient to serve and maintain its Congregation in independent status, and that its current operating expenses and indebtedness, if any, are within the present means of the Congregation.

SECTION 5. After the expiration of said thirty days, the Standing Committee shall proceed to the consideration of the application and of any objections thereto and shall advise the Bishop of their conclusions. If approval be given, the Bishop may then give Canonical consent in the following form:

The formation of a new Parish (or the erection of a new Church or Chapel) in the city (or town) of ................., County of .......... to be known as .............. Church (or Chapel), having been duly considered by the Standing Committee and approved by them, I do hereby give my Canonical consent to the formation of said Parish (or the erection of said Church or Chapel).
Given under my hand this....... day of....... in the year of our Lord, two thousand ......
Bishop of New Jersey
Attest:
...............................
Secretary of Standing Committee

SECTION 6. No Parish shall be entitled to Episcopal visitations and ministrations until it shall have complied with the provisions of this Canon.

See also: Article VI

See Revised Statutes of New Jersey, Title 16:12-1 to 12-31

CANON 49

Election of Church Officers

SECTION 1. There shall be an annual meeting in every Parish for the election of officers, prayers having been said immediately before said meeting, and due notice having been given as required by law. Said meeting shall be held on a date which may be fixed at a regular or special meeting of the Congregation.

SECTION 2. The voters shall be baptized, at least sixteen (16) years of age, domiciled in the Parish or adjacent thereto, of good moral character, adhering to this Church and to no other religious body, regular attendants at the services of the Church in said Parish, meaning thereby those who are more frequently present than absent unless for a good cause prevented and regular contributors to the current expenses of the Parish for six months next before the said annual meeting in the manner prescribed by the Vestry of said Parish. Any voters not baptized or confirmed in the Parish must have been enrolled as members of the Parish in accordance with the provisions of the Canons, or must be baptized persons who have been received on their written request to the Rector or to one of the Wardens if there be no Rector; and said Rector or Wardens shall keep a list of all who have been received as voters, which list shall be open to inspection by the members of the Parish. No one shall be permitted to vote or be eligible to office in more than one Parish in this Diocese.

SECTION 3. At said annual meeting the qualified voters shall elect by ballot, by a majority of the votes cast, to serve for the ensuing year, from among the voters in the Parish, three Deputies and three alternate Deputies to the Diocesan Convention, and a Warden or Wardens, who shall all be communicants in good standing; and also such other Members of the Vestry and other officers as may be provided for by the Charter of the Parish, who shall be communicants if such suitable for the office can be found.

SECTION 4. For the purposes of this Canon, the term "Communicant" shall be as defined by the Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Church.

SECTION 5. No provision of this Canon which may conflict with Charter of any Parish shall have any force in such Parish.

See also: Canon 30, Section 3 Election of Representatives to Convocation

See Revised Statutes of New Jersey, Title 16:12-10 and 12-11

CANON 50

Duties of Rectors, Wardens and Vestry

SECTION 1. The Rector has exclusive charge, under the Canons, of all things affecting the spiritual interests of the Parish, subject only to the Bishop. It is the Rector’s duty to give orders concerning the worship of the Church, together with all that appertains thereto. The Rector may from time to time appoint fit and proper persons to perform under his or her supervision, such duties relative to the service and the decoration of the Church as may be properly done by laity. The Rector shall be at all times entitled to access to the Church, to open the same for public worship, for catechetical or other religious instruction, marriages, baptisms, funerals and all other offices authorized by the Church. The Rector shall have spiritual direction and control of all Sunday Schools, Parish Schools and other educational and charitable associations connected with the Parish, and shall preside, with right to vote, at all Parish and Vestry meetings.

SECTION 2. It shall be the duty of the Wardens and Members of the Vestry, under the Rector, to protect the Church property, and to see that all things needed for the orderly worship of God, and for the administration of the Sacraments and Ordinances of the Church, be provided.

SECTION 3. It shall be the duty of the Wardens and Members of the Vestry to see that the funds of the Parish are expended properly, and to elect and call the Rector and provide for the Rector’s maintenance.

See Revised Statutes of New Jersey, Title 16:12-6, 12-8, 12-9, and 12-12

CANON 51

The Calling of a Rector or an Assistant

SECTION 1. When a Parish is without a Rector, the Wardens or other proper officers shall promptly notify the Bishop. If the authorities of the Parish shall for thirty days have failed to make provision for services of public worship, it shall be the duty of the Bishop to take such measures as may be deemed expedient for the temporary conduct of public worship.

SECTION 2. No election of a Rector shall be had until the name of the Priest whom it is proposed to elect has been made known to the Bishop, if there be one, and sufficient time, not exceeding thirty days, has been given to the Bishop to communicate with the Vestry thereon, nor until such communication, if made within that period, has been considered by the Parish or Vestry at a meeting duly called and held for that purpose.

SECTION 3. Written notice of the election, signed by the Wardens, shall be sent to the Ecclesiastical Authority of the Diocese. If the Ecclesiastical Authority be satisfied that the person so chosen is a duly qualified Priest and that the Priest has accepted the office, the notice shall be sent to the Secretary of the Convention, who shall record it. The record shall be sufficient evidence of the relation between the Priest and the Parish.

SECTION 4. The Bishop may submit to the Vestry the names of several clergy whom the Bishop considers suitable to be chosen as Rector.

SECTION 5. All assistant Clergy, by whatever title they may be designated, shall be selected by the Rector, subject to the approval of the Vestry, and shall serve under the authority and direction of the Rector.

Before the selection of an assistant the name of the Member of the Clergy proposed for selection shall be made known to the Bishop and sufficient time, not exceeding thirty days, shall be given for the Bishop to communicate with the Rector and Vestry on the selection.

Written notice of the selection of an assistant shall be sent forthwith to the Ecclesiastical Authority by the Rector and Wardens.

Any assistant selected shall serve at the discretion of the Rector, but may not serve beyond the period of service of the Rector except that, pending the call of a new Rector, the assistant may
continue in the service of the parish if requested to do so by the Vestry of the Parish and under such conditions as the Bishop and Vestry shall determine.

See Revised Statutes of New Jersey, Title 16:12-7

CANON 52

Associated Parishes

SECTION 1. When two or more parishes wish to share the services of a priest as rector of both parishes, they may make application to the Bishop. The application shall include resolutions passed by each vestry, two-thirds of all the members thereof concurring, stating:

(1) That they wish to be associated with another parish in sharing the services of a rector,
(2) The name of the priest whom they propose to elect as rector,
(3) An agreement specifying each parish's share in the support of the rector, and
(4) An agreement specifying how the rector's services are to be shared.

If the Bishop approves the application the Bishop shall obtain the written consent of the priest named in the application to serve as rector under the conditions set forth in the application, and shall then forward the application together with the consent of the proposed rector to the Standing Committee of the Diocese for its approval. If the Standing Committee approve the application the parishes in question shall be designated Associated Parishes and the election of the Rector may proceed.

SECTION 2. Each Associated Parish shall be entitled to representation in Convention by three lay deputies.

SECTION 3. If any parish wishes to withdraw from an Associated Parish relationship it shall first obtain the written consent of the Bishop and Standing Committee of the Diocese.

CANON 53

Incorporated Missions

SECTION 1. When a parish fails to comply with the requirements set for parishes by Article VI of the Constitution and Canon 48, or is no longer able to support the necessary operating expenses and indebtedness of the parish, or is so diminished in numbers that it is no longer viable as a Parish, or fails to elect officers in compliance with its corporate charter, the Bishop shall invite the rector, wardens and vestry of the parish to meet with the Bishop and the Standing Committee of the Diocese to discuss the problem. If the Bishop shall determine that the problem cannot be resolved and that the parish is no longer viable the Bishop shall certify the same in writing to the Rector, Wardens and Members of the Vestry of the parish concerned and shall report the Bishop’s findings to an annual or special Convention of the Diocese, together with the Bishop’s recommendation that the parish be classified in the category of an incorporated mission in accordance with Canon 46. If the recommendation be adopted by the Convention the Congregation shall be so classified and shall be subject to the Constitution and Canons of the Diocese which govern Congregations in this category.

SECTION 2. When the Rector, Wardens and Members of the Vestry of a parish wish their parish to be reclassified as an Incorporated Mission for any of the reasons given in Section 1 of this Canon, or when, after discussion initiated by the Bishop in accordance with Section 1 of this Canon, the Rector, Wardens and Members of the Vestry agree to such reclassification, they may make application to the Bishop in writing to be reclassified. The application shall be signed by a majority of all the current Members of the Vestry. If the Bishop consents to the reclassification the Bishop shall lay the matter before the Standing Committee of the Diocese, and if it consents the Bishop may forthwith reclassify the Parish as an Incorporated Mission.

SECTION 3. When a Parish which has been reclassified as an Incorporated Mission is no longer able to support the necessary operating expenses and indebtedness of the Mission, the officers of the Mission may make application to the Bishop for financial assistance. If the Bishop approve, the Bishop shall forward the application to the members of the Diocesan Council for their consideration. The Diocesan Council may refer the application to any other committee it may deem appropriate.

SECTION 4. When a Parish is reclassified as an Incorporated Mission the Rector shall relinquish the Rector’s tenure. The appointment of a priest to be Vicar in charge of an Incorporated Mission shall be by the Bishop. The Vicar shall serve without tenure. The Bishop may appoint a full-time or part-time vicar as the Bishop thinks best.

SECTION 5. Title to all real and personal property and endowment funds of an Incorporated Mission, unless otherwise directed by the Diocesan Council, shall be transferred to the Trustees of Church Property of the Diocese of New Jersey, to be held by them in trust until such time as the Incorporated Mission may be reclassified.

SECTION 6. An Incorporated Mission shall retain the corporate structure it had as a parish and shall elect officers and conduct its business in accordance with the provisions of its corporate charter, except that the duties and the functions of the office of the rector shall be performed by the vicar appointed by the Bishop, or if there be no vicar by the Bishop.

SECTION 7. Incorporated Missions shall be entitled to the same representation in Convention as parishes.

SECTION 8. When an Incorporated Mission desires to be reclassified as an Independent Parish, it shall comply with the following procedures:

(a) It shall produce to the Convention the evidence required in Article VI of the Constitution of the Diocese and Canon 48, Section 4.
(b) The vestry shall adopt a resolution approving a written application to the Convention for recognition as an Independent Parish.
(c) At a special parish meeting a resolution shall be adopted approving the application.
(d) The application approved by the vestry and special parish meeting shall comply with the requirements of Canon 48, Section 2, paragraphs (1), (2), (4) and (5).
(e) The application shall be submitted to the Bishop, and if the Bishop approves, it shall be forwarded with the Bishop’s endorsement to the appropriate committee of the Convention, which shall report its findings and recommendations to the Convention. If the Convention approves the application, the Incorporated Mission shall be reclassified as an Independent Parish.

See also: Canon 13, Section 9

CANON 54

Organized Missions

SECTION 1. The residents of any town, village or neighborhood who may desire the services of the Church, may give notice of their desire to the Bishop of the Diocese, who may take such action as the Bishop may deem proper. If the Bishop approve, application shall be made in the following form:

To the Right Rev................., Bishop of New Jersey:

We, the undersigned residents of the town of.........., County of........., Diocese of New Jersey, being desirous of obtaining the services of the Protestant Episcopal Church, do hereby request you to provide them for us as you think fit. For which benefits we do hereby agree to put ourselves under your charge, promising conformity to the Constitution, Canons, doctrine, discipline and worship of said Church, and to the Constitution and Canons of the Diocese of New Jersey, and in accordance with these obligations we are now desirous to be organized as a Mission, under the name of........ Mission......... and we hereby agree to provide the sum of $......... at least, to support the budget of the Mission for the first year.

(1) All the adults who are willing to become members of the Mission shall affix their signatures to the application, together with the sum each pledges for its support.

(2) The Bishop shall then give notice of the application to the three Parishes whose Houses of worship are nearest to the location of the proposed Organized Mission. If after thirty days from the giving of such notice, there is no objection on the part of the three nearest Parishes, the Bishop may then consent to the action proposed. If objections be made within thirty days, the Bishop shall lay the application and the objections before the Standing Committee, and if the Standing Committee approve, the Bishop may consent to the action proposed.

(3) Missions already existing may become Organized Missions as provided in this Canon without notice to the neighboring Parishes.

SECTION 2. If the Bishop consent to the organization of a Mission, the Bishop shall appoint the Missionary, who, subject to approval of the Bishop and the Archdeacon, shall appoint annually the following officers: A Warden, who shall be a communicant; a Treasurer and a Secretary. If there be no Missionary, the Archdeacon may appoint these officers. When the revenue, exclusive of all appropriations from outside sources, shall amount to more than $10,000 per annum, said officers shall be elected annually by the voters of the Mission at an annual meeting of the Mission to be held on a date in the month of January, due notice of said meeting being given in the same manner as prescribed for parishes. The qualifications for voters shall be the same as those for voters in parish elections.

SECTION 3. The Warden, subject to the approval of the Missionary, shall provide a place of public worship; see that the same be kept clean and in good repair and furnished with all things necessary for conducting the services of the Church decently and in order.

SECTION 4. The Warden shall keep a record of events of importance to the Mission, and a list of its families and members; and in case the Missionary be nonresident, shall have the custody of the Register of Baptisms, Confirmation, etc., but shall not make entries therein except by the Missionary's request unless there be no Missionary.

SECTION 5. The Treasurer shall receive all money contributed by the Mission and disburse the same as directed by the officers. The Treasurer shall report to the Archdeacon and the Board of Missions periodically as directed.

SECTION 6. The Secretary shall keep the minutes of all meetings and shall perform the normal duties of this office.

SECTION 7. The Missionary shall preside at all meeting of the officers with right to vote. The Missionary shall appoint the Sexton, Organist, Choir, Sunday School Superintendent and any other helper the Missionary may find necessary. If there be no Missionary, such appointment shall be made by the Warden, with the approval of the Archdeacon.

SECTION 8. The title to real estate, given to or purchased by the Mission for Church purposes, unless otherwise ordered by the members of the Diocesan Council, shall be vested in The Trustees of Church Property of the Diocese of New Jersey, to be held by them until such time as the said property may be sold pursuant to Section 9 of Canon 13, or until such time as the Mission shall become duly incorporated as a Parish and admitted into union with the Convention, when the title may be transferred to the Church corporation if it shall so elect. Mission Advancement, Inc. may be authorized by the members of the Diocesan Council to acquire, mortgage, sell, lease, or otherwise deal with property for mission purposes.

SECTION 9. Each Organized Mission shall report monthly to the Archdeacon, and annually to the Bishop of the Diocese, through the Missionary, or, if there be none in charge, through the Secretary. Every member of the Mission is expected to pledge a definite sum for its support.

SECTION 10. Upon the failure of the Mission to fulfill its stipulations, the Bishop may withdraw the Missionary, and dissolve the organization.

SECTION 11. Organized Missions shall be entitled to the same representation in Convention as parishes.

SECTION 12. At the discretion of the Bishop an Organized Mission may be placed under the supervision of the Department of Urban Ministry and the Executive Officer thereof. In such case the power of the Department of Missions and the Archdeacon as set forth above shall vest in the Department of Urban Ministry and its Executive Officer.

SECTION 13. When a Mission reaches a size large enough to warrant additional leadership the Bishop may, with the consent of the Standing Committee, direct that it shall be organized with the following officers:

(a) The Missionary, appointed by the Bishop

(b) Two wardens who shall be elected in alternate years by the voters at the annual meeting for two-year terms

(c ) Three, six, or nine mission committee members, as the Bishop shall determine, who shall be elected by the voters at the annual meeting for three-year terms, one-third being elected each year.

(d) A treasurer, elected annually by the officers

(e) A secretary, elected annually by the officers.

The duties of these officers shall be the same as those delineated in Section 4, 5, 6 and 7 of this Canon. The Bishop's directive, with the Standing Committee's consent, shall be in writing and shall be filed with the Mission and the Board of Missions.

CANON 55

Seasonal Chapels

SECTION 1. The temporary residents of any Summer or Winter Resort desiring to maintain regular services for a part of the year may give notice to the Bishop of the Diocese of their desire, who may take such action as the Bishop may deem proper. If the Bishop approves, application shall be made in the following form:

To the Rt. Rev............., Bishop of New Jersey:

We, the undersigned, temporary residents of the town of.............., County of............, Diocese of New Jersey, being desirous of obtaining the services of the Protestant Episcopal Church, do hereby request you to provide them for us as you think fit. For which benefits we do hereby agree to put ourselves under your charge, promising conformity to the Constitution, Canons, doctrine, discipline and worship of said Church, and to the Constitution and Canons of the Diocese of New Jersey. In accordance with these obligations we are now desirous to be recognized as a Seasonal Chapel under the name of.............. Chapel, ..........., and we agree to pay all expenses of the same. Furthermore, it is our wish that this Seasonal Chapel shall be regularly organized as a Mission under Canon 54 or as a Parish under Canon 48 whenever in the judgment of the Bishop there shall be enough resident communicants in........... to warrant an all-year organization.

Respectfully your obedient servants,

This application should be signed by all the adults who propose to attend the services of the Seasonal Chapel, and the Bishop shall then take the same action as provided for in the Canons in regard to giving notice to the neighboring parishes as provided for in Canon 54. This Bishop shall, at the Bishop’s discretion, appoint clergy to supply for Chapel the services of the Episcopal Church in due season. No member of the clergy shall officiate at any service in a Chapel governed by the provisions of this Canon without the written consent of the Bishop; or, if there be no Bishop, of the Ecclesiastical Authority.

SECTION 2.

(1) There shall be an annual meeting of every such Congregation either on the Monday after the first Sunday in Advent or the Monday after the first Sunday in August as may be determined by the By-Laws of the Seasonal Chapel for the election of officers. Due notice shall be given of this meeting as required by law in the case of an annual Parish meeting.

(2) The voters shall be baptized attendants at least eighteen years of age who are regular attendants at the services of the Church and duly enrolled contributors to the current expenses.

(3) At the said annual meeting the qualified voters shall elect by ballot by a majority of votes cast a Board of Trustees for the ensuing year form among the voter of the Congregation. The number of said Board shall be three, six or nine as determined by the Congregation, of whom one-third shall be elected annually to serve for three-years. At the first election one-third shall be elected for three-years, one-third for two years, and one-third for one year.

(4) Any Congregation organized and operating under the provisions of this Canon may, at its annual meeting, elect from among its voting members a communicant in good standing of the Episcopal Church to be its representative to the Diocesan Convention. The representative shall be entitled to a seat and voice, but not a vote.

SECTION 3.

(1) Such a Seasonal Chapel may become a Parish by complying with the provisions of Canon 48 with the exception of Section 2, subsection 4 of that Canon which applies to an all-year Parish.

(2) A Parish organized as provided for in Section 3, subsection 2 of this Canon, may be admitted into union with the Convention by complying with Article VI of the Constitution.

(3) Such a Parish or Seasonal Chapel shall, through its officers, consult with the Bishop and secure the Bishop’s approval before requesting any member of the clergy to officiate for the season or a part of the season.

(4) Whenever such a Parish shall continue its services administrations throughout the year the full provisions of Canon 48 shall be in force.

SECTION 4. Congregations of this character already existing may come under the provisions of this Canon by complying with its terms.

SECTION 5. Title to all real and personal property and endowment funds of a Seasonal Chapel, unless otherwise directed by the members of the Diocesan Council, shall be vested in the Trustees of Church Property of the Diocese of New Jersey.

SECTION 6. No baptism, confirmations, weddings or funerals shall be conducted at a Seasonal Chapel without the written consent of the Bishop of the Diocese.

SECTION 7. Every Seasonal Chapel shall maintain a register as provided in Canon 73, but duplicate entry of every baptism, confirmation, wedding and funeral shall be made in the register of a neighboring parish or in the register of the home parish of the person receiving the rite or sacrament, as the Bishop shall direct. The entry in the register of the Seasonal Chapel shall not be used for Statistical reporting. Every Seasonal Chapel shall maintain a list of the families associated with the Chapel, including the names of the members thereof, and of all individuals not included as members of a family; but it shall not maintain an official communicant list or an official list of baptized members, or include in it annual report any membership statistics.

See also: Canon 47, Section 4

CANON 56

Parochial Chapels, Optional Forms of Chapel Organization

SECTION 1. Any independent parish in full union with the Convention of this Diocese may, upon resolution adopted by a majority of the voters in attendance at a regular or special meeting of the Congregation called for that purpose, and upon compliance with all of the pertinent Canons of the Diocese of New Jersey, and upon the approval of the Bishop of the Diocese of New Jersey, establish and maintain a Parochial Chapel to be administered in accordance with Plan A or Plan B as hereinafter set forth. Every Chapel shall be designated as "......., a Chapel of ............ ." (Name of Parish Church).

SECTION 2 PLAN A - A Parochial Chapel may be established and maintained as the sole responsibility of a Parish, in which case the salary of the Vicar shall be fully provided for by the Parish as well as all other expenses in connection with its operation and maintenance. There shall be no diversity of membership or administration as between the Parish and its Parochial Chapel. This relationship shall continue until such time as the Parochial Chapel becomes an incorporated Parish as provided elsewhere in Constitution and Canons of this Diocese.

SECTION 3 PLAN B

Paragraph 1

The spiritual authority of a Parochial Chapel shall be the Rector of the Parish in which the Chapel is located.

The Vicar shall be appointed by the Rector of the Parish and shall exercise the Vicar’s ministry under the direction of the Rector of the Parish. The Vicar’s appointment shall be subject to the approval of the Bishop.

The Vicar shall report monthly to the Rector on the state of the Chapel.

The Rector shall be the Chairman of the Annual Chapel Meeting, which shall be held on a date in the month preceding the Annual Parish Meeting.

At this Annual Chapel Meeting there shall be elected a lay delegate and a lay alternate to the Diocesan Convention, and such other officers as provided by Canon.

Paragraph 2

The following officers of the Chapel shall be appointed by the Vicar, subject to the approval of the Rector: A Warden, who shall be a communicant; a Treasurer, and a Secretary. When the revenue, exclusive of all outside sources, shall amount to more than $1500.00 per annum, the said officers shall be elected at the Annual Chapel Meeting by the registered voters of the Chapel, as defined in Canon 49, Section 2 of the Diocesan Canons.

The Chapel Committee shall consist of the above three officers plus two Members of the Vestry of the Parish appointed by the Rector for that purpose.

The Vicar shall appoint the Sexton, Organist, Choir, Sunday School Superintendent, and any other helper the Vicar may find necessary, subject to the approval of the Rector.

The Rector shall be chair of the Chapel Committee. In the Rector’s absence, the Vicar, as Assistant Chair, shall preside. The Rector shall be chair ex officio of all sub-committees.

Paragraph 3

The Chapel Committee shall develop a chapel budget. It shall be empowered to receive, deposit and expend monies under the terms of its budget. The budget shall be approved by the Rector, Wardens and Members of the Vestry of the Parish.

The Rector, Wardens and Members of the Vestry of the Parish shall underwrite the budget which they have approved, and the Chapel Committee shall not be authorized to make any expenditure not included in the said budget.

A complete report of the Chapel's financial operations shall be provided for the Rector, Wardens and Members of the Vestry of the Parish each month by the Chapel treasurer, in writing.

Any monies contributed by the Parish Church or the Diocese shall pass through the Chapel books, including contributions for the Vicar's stipend.

Pension premiums on the Vicar's stipend shall be paid in proportion to the source of the income.

An Every Member Canvass shall be conducted annually by the Chapel Committee.

The Chapel shall submit to the Bishop an annual report on the form approved by the Diocesan Convention. This form shall be attached to and become part of the Annual Report of the Parish Church. In the Diocesan Journal and other publications, the Chapel reports shall be listed directly under the Parish listing.

A Parochial Chapel shall be subject to a Diocesan Assessment on the basis of its annual report.

Paragraph 4

Chapel quotas for Missions shall be established by the Diocesan Convention on the customary basis.

All monies received for Missions shall be remitted monthly to the Chief Financial Officer of the Diocese and shall be so reported to the Rector, Wardens, and Members of the Vestry of the Parish by the Chapel Treasurer in the Treasurer’s monthly report.

SECTION 4. Two or more independent parishes in full union with the Convention of this Diocese may, upon resolutions adopted in each such parish by the Rector, Wardens and Members of the Vestry, and upon compliance with all of the pertinent Canons of the Diocese of New Jersey, and upon the approval of the Bishop of the Diocese of New Jersey, establish and maintain a Parochial Chapel to be administered in accordance with Plan B(2) as hereinafter set forth and with such additional terms and conditions not inconsistent with the provisions of this Section 4 as may be acceptable to all of such parishes. Every such Chapel shall be designated in such manner as may be agreed upon by all of such parishes and as may be approved by the Bishop of the Diocese of New Jersey.

PLAN B (2)

Paragraph 1

The spiritual authority of the Parochial Chapel shall be the Rector of that one of such cooperating parishes as may from time to time be designated therefore by the Rectors of such cooperating parishes, who shall be known as the Supervising Rector.

The Vicar shall be appointed by the Supervising Rector and shall exercise the Vicar’s ministry under the direction of the Supervising Rector. The Vicar’s appointment shall be subject to the approval of the Bishop.

The Vicar shall report monthly to the Supervising Rector on the state of the Chapel.

The Supervising Rector shall be the Chair of the Annual Chapel meeting, which shall be held on such date as may be agreed upon by all of such cooperating parishes. At this Annual Chapel Meeting there shall be elected a lay delegate an a lay alternate to the Diocesan Convention, and such other officers as provided by Canon.

Paragraph 2

The following officers of the Chapel shall be appointed by the Vicar subject to the approval of the Supervising Rector; a Warden, who shall be a communicant; a Treasurer, and a Secretary. When the revenue, exclusive of all outside sources, shall amount to more than $1500.00 per annum, the said officers shall be elected at the Annual Chapel Meeting by the Registered voters of the Chapel, as defined in Canon 49, Section 2.

There shall be a Chapel Advisory Committee which shall consist of the Supervising Rector, the Vicar, the above three officers plus one Member of the Vestry of each of the cooperating parishes appointed by the Rector of such parish for that purpose. This Committee shall meet at least annually and report to the Vestries of the several parishes.

The Vicar shall appoint the Sexton, Organist, Choir Director, Sunday School Superintendent, and any other helper the Vicar may find necessary, subject to the approval of the Supervising Rector.

The Supervising Rector shall be the Chair of the Chapel Committee. In the Rector’s absence, the Vicar, as Assistant Chair, shall preside. The Supervising Rector shall be chair ex officio of all sub-committees.

Paragraph 3

The Chapel Committee shall develop a chapel budget. It shall be empowered to receive, deposit and expend monies under the terms of its budget. The budget shall be approved by each of the cooperating parishes.

The budget shall be subsidized if necessary by the cooperating parishes jointly or in such proportions or other manner as may be agreed upon by all of the cooperating parishes, and the Chapel Committee shall not be authorized to make any expenditure not included in the said budget.

A complete report of the Chapel's financial operations shall be provided for each cooperating parish each quarter by the Chapel treasurer, in writing.

The Chapel shall submit to the Bishop an annual report on the form approved by the Diocesan Convention, a copy of which shall be submitted to the Chapel Advisory Committee.

The Chapel shall be in all respects a Congregation as provided in Canon 73 of the Canons of the Diocese of New Jersey.

Paragraph 4

The title to all real property shall be vested in the Trustees of Church Property of the Diocese of New Jersey.

SECTION 5.

Paragraph 1

A Parochial Chapel organized under one of these plans shall not operate under any other plan without the prior consent of the Diocesan Convention.

SECTION 6. Parochial Chapels operating under Plan B and Plan B(2) shall be entitled to representation in Convention by one lay deputy.

CANON 57

Collegiate Chapels

SECTION 1. At any institution of higher learning in this Diocese it shall be lawful for the Diocese to establish a college chaplaincy and center for ministry to college students and staff. Such establishments are to be made upon the recommendation of the Bishop and the approval of the Diocesan Council and, if financially supported by the William Alexander Procter Foundation, such Foundation. Chapels or other places of meeting or of worship established at such centers, and their congregations, shall have the status of "Chapels of the Diocese."

SECTION 2. There shall be an advisory committee for each Collegiate Chapel. The members of this committee shall be communicants of this Church in good standing. It shall be the duty of the advisory committee to care for the properties of the Chapel to which they are appointed, to make recommendations to the proper authority for needed repairs and improvements, to as certain that the use of the Chapel is in accordance with the regulations of the local institution as well as those of the Diocese, and to assist the college chaplain in the furtherance of the church's work on the campus.

SECTION 3. There shall be provided for each Collegiate Chapel a standard register in which shall be recorded all official acts as provided in the canons for parishes. The Chapel communicant register shall consist only of those persons who have been confirmed or received into The Episcopal Church at the Chapel. It shall be a special duty of the chaplain to seek to transfer such members upon their permanent departure from the institution.

SECTION 4. It shall be lawful for the college chaplain to organize from the faculty and student body of the institution to which the chaplain has been assigned such student vestries, choirs, auxiliaries, guilds and societies as the chaplain may think advisable for the furthering of the ministry of The Episcopal Church on the campus.

SECTION 5. Any Collegiate Chapel congregation operating under the provisions of this canon may elect from among its regular communicants a communicant in good standing of The Episcopal Church to be its deputy to the Diocesan Convention, who shall be entitled to seat, voice, and vote at Diocesan Convention. The chaplain and any member of the advisory committee shall certify the election of the deputy to the Secretary of Diocesan Convention.

SECTION 6. The chaplain and the advisory committee shall make annual reports to the Bishop of the Diocese in such form as the Bishop may direct.