CODE OF CANON OF THE REFORMED CATHOLIC CHURCH™

Phillip Zimmerman Presiding Bishop

  Preface:

The Reformed Catholic Church™ and the Canons that follow are founded wholly on the letter and spirit of Vatican II as reiterated in the Constitution of the Church. It is explicitly tied to and informed by the Constitution of the Church. The mission of the Church is therefore dedicated to realizing the dream of Saint John XXIII, Bishop of Rome, and strives to carry the intent that he initiated through to the fullness of his logic, holy disposition and inspiration.

Canon 1

Name of the Church.

The Name of the Church shall be The Reformed Catholic Church™ in English-speaking countries and shall be translated appropriately in other places. Use of the name is reserved to those authorized by the College of Bishops.

Canon 2

Membership Clergy.

Membership in The Reformed Catholic Church™, hereafter called the Church, is by virtue of ordination or incardination as a member of the clergy and service in one of its ministries. Membership in the Church shall not preclude membership or office in any other organization, ecclesiastical or otherwise, unless such an affiliation would clearly contravene the Reformed Catholic Principles as set forth in the Constitution, Code of Canons and Statement of Principles. However, those in Holy Orders in the Church shall not simultaneously hold membership or Orders in another rite in apostolic succession.

All those in Holy Orders in the Church shall have the rank and office of clergy and shall be entitled to a seat and a voice in the Synod.

Canon 3

Membership Laity.

Lay members of The Reformed Catholic Church™ are those people recognized as active members of their respective local communities.

Canon 4

Amenability to Canon Law.

All members of the Church shall be amenable to Canon Law insofar as its provisions may be applicable.

Canon 5

Active and Inactive Clergy.

All bishops, priests, deacons and other ministers of the Church who have not been placed on the inactive list shall be considered active. Bishops, priests, deacons and other ministers who do not meet their obligations to the Church as stipulated in these canons shall be placed on the inactive list and shall be regarded for purposes of Canon Law as being inactive. Those placed on the inactive list may reactivate by meeting the necessary conditions established by the Formation Committee.

Canon 6

Good Standing.

Members of the clergy, whether active or inactive, shall be considered to be in good standing for the purposes of Canon Law provided that they are not under suspension from office or under the inhibition of ecclesiastical functions -- save that members of the clergy who shall have been notified that their conduct is under investigation shall forfeit any vote to which they are otherwise entitled in the matter, and their ministry shall be temporarily suspended until the matter is appropriately adjudicated by the Formation Committee.

Canon 7

Communion of Others with the Church.

The Presiding Bishop of the Church may admit clergy and ecclesiastical bodies into communion with the Church as s/he sees fit only after a mandatory due diligence period of 90 days during which time the full Clergy receives notification of the intent and is invited to provide input and knowledge of the work and reputation of the communion being considered. Members of bodies in communion with the Church shall not be considered members of the Church. Clergy who are themselves in communion with the Church or who are members of bodies in communion with the Church shall not be considered clergy of the Church.

Canon 8

Doctrine.

The Church preserves the Catholic Faith. The Church accepts apostolic teaching and Christian scripture and tradition as guides to a holy life. It establishes no dogma save that stipulated to in the Statement of Principles, the Constitution, and Professional Standards.

The Church acknowledges the traditional sacraments as mysteries of faith. It advances the view that apostolic teaching faithful to Jesus and the Apostles holds that the aim of discipleship is to become Spirit-filled and that when one opens to the mysteries of faith, these mysteries can become "hierophanies," or pathways to the direct experience of God in our lives, and, as such, special aids to authentic discipleship.

The spiritual and religious orientation of the Church has been determined on the basis of the view that Jesus called his apostles and disciples to be Spirit-filled. Therefore, the attainment of the life of the Spirit is central to Christian spirituality and worship as practiced in this Church.

For the purpose of Canon Law, "spirituality" is defined as openness to transcendence through the grace of the Holy Spirit. Clergy of the Church are required to be established on a Christ-centered spiritual path of their own choosing, provided that this path leads to transcendence and is founded on a well-defined Rule of Prayer. All clergy are encouraged to recite the daily Divine Office and celebrate Eucharist daily.

Bishops may define the spiritual and religious orientation of the Church but these shall not be interpreted as being dogmatic pronouncements but as catalysts for dialogue, mutual learning and aids to contemplation.

Canon 9

Statement of Principles

The Church shall promulgate a Statement of Principles setting forth the basic tenets of the Church. This Statement of Principles shall have the same force as the Constitution and Code of Canons in establishing the spiritual and religious orientation of the Church and defining its tenets.

Canon 10

Scripture and Tradition.

The Bible is a library of several kinds of writings, some of which may be of greater value than others. The Church does not subscribe to any particular interpretation of scripture, creed, doctrine or theology, and advances the notion that a rich theological dialogue is made richer through a diversity of points of view. The objective of theological study and discourse is to quicken practical spirituality and to provide a wide range of lenses through which to gaze lovingly and with awe into the mysteries of Christ, and to enliven prayer, contemplation and action. The Church also recommends non-canonical scriptures for study and the local ordinary may authorize them for one time liturgical use, with the exception of the Gospel Readings. These are always to be drawn from the Synoptic Gospels.

Tradition has been recognized historically as on a par with scripture as a component of the Christian revelation. Like scripture, various aspects of tradition differ in value and the Church does not sponsor any particular interpretation of tradition to the exclusion of others.

The Church recommends studying scripture and tradition in the light of contemporary scholarship, as well as in the light of one's growing spiritual discernment. It also avers that revelation is ongoing. Wisdom seeks out those who are open to her in every age and makes prophets in every generation.

Canon 11

Ethics and Morals.

The Church leaves individuals free to follow the dictates of an informed conscience after sincere deliberation with due regard for Christian precepts, ethical principles, moral standards and the relevant circumstances. As professional clergy, however, all members of the synod are expected to attest by their signature full agreement to the ethical precepts as set down in the Professional Standards (modified tenets that have been established by the Academy of Parish Clergy). No clergy of the Church will be regarded as in good standing without a signed statement agreeing to fidelity to these principles of professional conduct.

Canon 12

College of Bishops.

The College of Bishops is made up of all active bishops in the Church and is chaired by the Presiding Bishop of the Church. The Presiding Bishop is to be understood as operating within the context of a "Chairperson" of the governing body of the College with the authority to act on the articulation of the vision of the Church and the advancement of major policy initiatives. The Bishop Coadjutor will serve as the equivalent of a "CEO" with operational authority as regards all matters of policy formulation in collaboration with the Presiding Bishop and other Bishops, and policy implementation. Every bishop forming the College shall have an equal vote on matters of decision-making and a 2/3rds vote is needed for policy to be approved after review and consent also by 2/3rds of the Executive Council (which assumes full Clergy reaction and input over a 30-day period of discernment managed by the Executive Council).

[Canons governing the formation and operation of the Executive Council are provided in Canon #40 below.]

Mitered abbots may be invited to sit on the College of Bishops and have a voice, as the Council deems appropriate, and shall be entitled to a vote on the Council. While ecclesiastical primacy rests with the Council as a whole, the Presiding Bishop chairing the Council shall be the titular Ecclesiastical Primate of the Church and as such, shall symbolically represent the Council. The Presiding Bishop may delegate this role to the Coadjutor as s/he sees fit in certain circumstances.

The Vicar General should be a Monsignor.

Canon 13

Authority of Bishops.

In accordance with accepted tradition, the fullness of the catholic priesthood rests with the bishops. Accordingly, the ecclesiastical authority of all other ministers obtains from the bishops through delegation of their ecclesiastical authority as the successors of the apostles. All ministers of the Church hold their ecclesiastical authority through their ordaining bishop, who shall retain this position unless it is formally transferred to another bishop by a mandate of the Presiding Bishop and with the concurrence of the College of Bishops. Clergy may petition the College of Bishops for such transfer for any reason submitting the request to the Vicar General of the Church. The Vicar General will make the decision after consultation with the Coadjutor or defer the judgment for reasons of special complex circumstances directly to the Presiding Bishop. The Presiding Bishop has the right to appoint vicars -- and Bishops -- to serve in various capacities. S/he also retains the right to revoke appointments and make reassignments depending upon the needs of the Church and the performance of incumbents. A Coadjutor may have these responsibilities delegated to him or her by the Presiding Bishop.

Bishops of the Church may terminate the delegation of ecclesiastical authority at any time for due cause, but doing so is a matter of great gravity and should be done with enormous care, prayerful reflection, and serious consultation with other senior Bishops of the Church. The College of Bishops shall arbitrate matters regarding just cause in particular cases. Members of the clergy deprived of authority by their bishop, who are not delegated ministerial authority by another bishop of the Church, shall desist from performance of ministerial functions and cease representing themselves as ministers of The Reformed Catholic Church. They may appeal their case to the appropriate Tribunal as specified in the Constitution and pursue the process detailed there.

Canon 14

Responsibility of the College of Bishops.

The College of Bishops is charged with the responsibility for maintaining the ecclesiastical integrity of the Church -- especially with respect to preserving the apostolic tradition -- including apostolic teaching, sacramental efficacy, and apostolic succession of Holy Orders.

Canon 15

Authority of the College of Bishops.

The bishops, as the successors of the apostles, are entrusted with the gifts of the Spirit attending Episcopal office. As such, they are charged with the responsibility for preserving the ecclesiastical integrity of the Church and therefore have the ecclesiastical authority to do so. Hence, the College of Bishops shall have the authority and responsibility to establish, unilaterally, such ecclesiastical requirements as it deems necessary in order to regulate sacerdotal and non-sacerdotal ministries and their ministers with respect to preserving apostolic teaching, sacramental efficacy and apostolic succession of Holy Orders, as well as to maintain appropriate standards of ecclesiastical dignity. This shall include the authority to establish qualifications for Holy Orders and also training and performance regulations for clergy and ministers of the Church in conjunction with the appointed Vicar of Formation.

The College of Bishops shall have the authority to create or endorse publications and other materials in order to establish and to define the spiritual and religious orientation of the Church, without erecting binding requirements for belief thereby.

The College of Bishops shall have the authority to require clergy and ministers to cease and desist from conduct that it deems contrary to Reformed Catholic principles as set forth in the Constitution, Code of Canons, and Statement of Principles, or from anything which threatens the ecclesiastical integrity of the Church, under threat of suspension from the ecclesiastical authority they have delegated. Those who do not meet the requirements of the College of Bishops are liable to have their ecclesiastical authority revoked. The College of Bishops may suspend ecclesiastical authority pending the outcome of a fair investigation that they shall cause to have initiated, involving the appropriate adjudicatory tribunal, but they shall not revoke such ecclesiastical authority without due process, including the opportunity of the party under investigation to present a defense. The decision of the College of Bishops shall be final in matters regarding ecclesiastical authority and its delegation to clergy, ministers and ministries. Clergy and ministers who have had their ecclesiastical authority revoked by the Council shall cease representing themselves as clergy or ministers of the Communion.

The College of Bishops shall have the sole authority to remove any of its members who contravene Reformed Catholic principles as set forth in the Canons, Constitution, and Statement of principles, or who seriously breach the ecclesiastical integrity or dignity of the Church. Bishops who have been removed from the Council shall cease representing themselves as a bishop of the Church.

Canon 16

Episcopal Jurisdictions

Episcopal jurisdiction shall be in designated areas. This shall not be construed as conflicting with the delegation of sacerdotal and ecclesiastical authority by the bishops to priests, deacons, and other ministers and to ministries, or in delegation of the authority for management and oversight by the Executive Council.

Canon 17

Ministry.

The mission of the Church is primarily sacramental, evangelical, pastoral, educational and contemplative. The Church shall charter ministries and ordain sacerdotal and lay ministers for the purpose of carrying out its mission to teach, to preach, to guide, to heal, to serve, to administer the sacraments and to do all else that Jesus Christ commissioned His apostles to do both by His teaching and His example. Such ministries receive their ecclesiastical authority to carry out such functions in the name of the Church as delegated by the College of Bishops.

The ministries of the Church shall include, but not be limited to, churches, chapels, contemplative and service orders, congregations, educational institutions, and dedicated groups such as prayer groups, as well as private ministries for spiritual direction, and counseling, and spiritual healing. The College of Bishops shall authorize ordination to Orders. Guilds and lay orders organized under the auspices of the Church shall be formally chartered by the power and authority of the Executive Council.

Canon 18

Other Ecclesial Bodies

The Church affirms the validity of the ministry of other churches and rites for these bodies and their members but not for itself or for its members unless meets the criteria of Canon 25.

Canon 19

Authority of Ministries

Ministries may establish their own by-laws for self-regulation, provided that such by-laws are in conformity with Reformed Catholic principles as set forth by the Constitution, Code of Canons and Statement of Principles of the Church. Ministries may have ownership of all property, which they acquire and may manage as they see fit in accordance with their by-laws; however, on their dissolution, ministries must distribute these properties, or the proceeds therefrom, among other ministries of the Church.

Canon 20

Regulation of Ministries.

By-laws and regulations passed by ministries, which contradict the Constitution, Canons and Statement of Principles of the Church, shall be null and void with respect to the Church, and ministries which do not revise or amend such by-laws and regulations upon advisement and direction by the Executive Council shall be in violation of Reformed Catholic principles. The Mediation Committee shall investigate the matter. Should the Mediation Committee find the ministry in violation, that ministry shall have one month to correct the situation to the Council's satisfaction or be separated from the Church by the Council. Separated ministries may apply to the Council for reinstatement.

Canon 21

Ministers.

All clergy who have been delegated ecclesiastical authority through a letter of faculties issued by the Presiding Bishop shall be considered ministers of the Church and may represent themselves as such.

Canon 22

Sacraments.

The Reformed Catholic Church™ administers the traditional seven sacraments of Baptism or Rite of Christian Initiation, Confirmation or Chrismation, Penance or Reconciliation, Holy Eucharist or Communion, Holy Matrimony or the Rite of Christian Union, and Anointing of the Sick or the Sacrament of Christian Healing.

A priest is the ordinary minister of the Sacraments of Baptism, Reconciliation, Holy Eucharist, Holy Matrimony and Holy Anointing. Only a Priest may perform the consecration of the Mass. A Deacon is the ordinary minister of Baptism, Holy Communion, Matrimony, and the Anointing of the Sick. A bishop is the ordinary minister of Confirmation and Holy Orders and, in the fullness of the priesthood, celebrates all seven sacraments.

Canon 23

Liturgy.

The College of Bishops is charged with regulating the liturgy so as to preserve sacramental efficacy and to ensure the dignity and effectiveness of the sacred rites. No sacerdotal minister of the Church shall administer the sacraments with any rubric that has not been reviewed and approved by the College of Bishops. In addition to rubric, all ancillary aspects of the rites, including appurtenances, vesture, music and liturgical calendar, shall be considered part of the liturgy. When celebrating, all clergy, regardless of rank, must be vested appropriately in keeping with their ecclesiastical office.

Local ministries may adapt as appropriate to local custom and traditions with the permission of the ordinary.

Canon 24

Liturgical Commission.

The College of Bishops shall appoint a Liturgical Commission for the Church. The Liturgical Commission, chaired by the Vicar of Liturgy, shall assist the College of Bishops regarding liturgical matters as directed by the Council.

Canon 25

Approved Liturgies.

The central pillar of our liturgical worship is the Novus Ordo. Other liturgies may be considered for use based on circumstances or community after due deliberation, research and consultation with the Liturgical Commission and the College of Bishops.

Canon 26

Eucharistic Liturgy.

Priests are authorized to celebrate the Eucharist using any approved Canon of the Mass, which includes the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist as found in the Novus Ordo. As laid down in Vatican II, the Liturgy is "the source and summit of our faith". The Canon of any approved liturgy may not be changed or altered in any way, including translation into a language other than the one in which it was originally written and approved for use, without prior approval of the Liturgical Commission and College of Bishops. Any change or alteration to the approved liturgies are to be done with the approval of the Liturgical Committee.

The form taken by the Rite of the Catechumens, now designated the Liturgy of the Word, is left to the discretion of the celebrant, excepting that the reading of the Gospel is a sacerdotal function reserved to those who have been ordained to the office of deacon. The form of the Post Communion or ending prayers, and the Final Blessing is also left to the discretion of the celebrant.

Canon 27

Baptismal Rites.

The baptismal rite shall follow a Vatican II authorized rubric, which includes ablution with water along with the proper Trinitarian formula, as well as anointing with Oil of the Catechumens and Sacred Chrism. Baptism may be administered conditionally in cases of doubt.

Any person may administer baptism with a short form in extreme circumstances.

Canon 28

Confirmation Rites.

Confirmation shall be administered by imposition of hands with the proper formula and the anointing with Sacred Chrism. The ordinary minister of Confirmation is a bishop; however, bishops may delegate this office to priests where the need arises, and, in extraordinary circumstances, a Deacon, may serve as an extraordinary minister in performing confirmation upon special designation by a Bishop of the Church. Confirmation may be administered conditionally in cases where doubt exists.

Canon 29

Rite of Reconciliation.

The Rite of Reconciliation may only be administered by a duly ordained priest. Both individual and general absolutions are administered in the Reformed Catholic Church. Auricular confession is optional though encouraged.

The Reformed Catholic Church™ recognizes the traditionally inviolable seal of the confessional. Ministers of the Sacrament of Reconciliation shall not divulge to anyone, in whole or in part, the content, substance, context, or subject matter of any information revealed during the administration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Canon 30

Holy Orders.

All members of the Church are eligible for Holy Orders. The Reformed Catholic Church does not discriminate on the basis of age, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, nationality, race, or any other life circumstances when considering candidates for Holy Orders. Twenty-one is the minimum age for ordination to the priesthood. The Church confers Holy Orders in accordance with accepted tradition and liturgy in order to insure the preservation of apostolic succession.

The Church recognizes all validly conferred Holy Orders in apostolic succession. Sacerdotal clergy holding such orders may be received into the church through incardination, although a bishop shall perform a formal reception ceremony with the approval of the College of Bishops. If there is a doubt concerning matter or form, or other factors affecting apostolic succession, or if a request is forthcoming from the person entering the clergy of the Church, such a person may be ordained conditionally.

Those in sacerdotal orders who request to join the Church must demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Vicar of Formation and the Formation Committee that they have met the qualifications required of other ministers of the Church, especially with respect to being established on a Christic spiritual path which promotes transcendence and in service within the context of a viable ministry. In the case of incardinating bishops, the Presiding Bishop or designee shall also verify, on behalf of the College of Bishops, that such persons hold valid apostolic orders and shall make recommendations to the full College of his or her findings. Upon endorsement, the Presiding Bishop shall issue a formal written mandate.

Reception of Holy Orders in another Catholic or Orthodox rite by anyone in Orders in the Church is taken to be a repudiation of the Orders of this Church, and such persons automatically remove themselves from ministry in the Church or candidacy for Holy Orders.

Canon 31

Rites of Holy Orders.

The Rites of Holy Orders shall be approved by the College of Bishops, and these rites must invariably include the traditional essentials of matter and form. The essential matter of all ordinations is the laying on of hands of a bishop. The form is the accepted formulae for praying over the candidate, including the statement of intention to ordain to the particular Order and office. In the case of ordinations to the priesthood, the traditional anointing shall also be administered by the Bishop, in recognition of the Priesthood of all the faithful, all are invited to lay hands of blessing on those being ordained.

Canon 32

Selection of Bishops.

Priests being selected for the episcopacy of the Church shall be affirmed and presented by the laity and/or members of the College of Bishops, and ratified by the Presiding Bishop of the Church. The Presiding Bishop may seek the advice of the full College of Bishops in cases where the candidates are best known to other members of the College. Lay assemblies may petition the Presiding Bishop to consider candidates of their own choosing.

Candidates shall each be named "Bishop-Elect" upon selection (by the Presiding Bishop) and the issuance of a proper mandate, and they alone shall have the right to the use of this title until the time of their consecration.

The Presiding Bishop in collaboration with the College of Bishops shall establish standards for the selection of bishops. As a general rule, only those will be considered as candidates for the episcopate who have met the following conditions: 1) are actualizing their chosen spiritual path, 2) have been in active ministry at least five years previously, and 3) have demonstrated responsible leadership. Bishops requesting to be admitted to the church in that office shall meet similar requirements, in addition to proving to the satisfaction of the College of Bishops the validity of their apostolic succession.

The Presiding Bishop serves a four-year renewable term or until formal resignation from office, or incapacitation. On the fourth anniversary of service, calculated from the date of ratification of these canons and the Constitution of the Church, a confidence vote is initiated in accordance with the process detailed in the Constitution. A second four-year term is begun upon a 2/3rds vote. Should the vote fail to reconfirm, then the Coadjutor assumes the role of Presiding Bishop. In this case, a vote of confidence must be sought within the first year of service as Presiding Bishop to ratify a four-year term of office.

The Presiding Bishop may be removed by the College of Bishops in the case of serious violations of the Professional Standards or behavior that directly contravenes the Principles, Constitution or Code of Canons.

The Presiding Bishop shall appoint a Bishop Coadjutor of the Church to share the leadership role for the welfare of the life of the Church. Upon vacancy of the office of the Presiding Bishop the appointed Coadjutor becomes the Presiding Bishop. Should both the Presiding Bishop and the coadjutor resign or be incapacitated, the College of Bishops may elect another Presiding Bishop from among its ranks. A unanimous election is mandatory.

Canon 33

Consecration of Bishops.

Every Rite of Consecration shall follow a rubric approved for this purpose by the College of Bishops and shall include the traditional form and matter of the sacrament. Since apostolic succession is preserved and transmitted through the Consecration Mass, due care shall be taken to ensure that all the traditional requirements for sacramental efficacy are faithfully observed.

Any bishop who consecrates another without a mandate from the Presiding Bishop of the Church resigns thereby from the Church and shall desist forthwith from representing association with the Church or its ecclesiastical authority. Bishops shall not participate as co-consecrators in other rites without the consent of the Presiding Bishop and full College of Bishops.

Canon 34

Orders.

Orders prepare and qualify a person for sacerdotal ministry. Orders include Deacon and Priest. Deacons are chosen from Sub-Deacons that have completed all requirements and are judged ready by the Vicar of Formation and the Bishop to whom s/he is assigned. Ordination is only at the hands of a Bishop in apostolic succession to preserve full catholic identity and validity of the Orders.

Canon 35

Ordination.

The Formation Committee shall review all candidates for Orders on the basis of standards established by the College of Bishops. Bishops of the Church shall consider only those recommended by the Committee for ordination. The final determination regarding Ordination resides with the Presiding Bishop.

Canon 36

Illicit and Irregular Consecrations and Ordinations.

Any consecration or ordination that does not take place in accordance with the Code of Canons is illicit, and any consecration or ordination that does not take place in accordance with the regulations established by the College of Bishops is Irregular. Any member of the clergy of the Church who knowingly participates in an irregular or illicit consecration or ordination forfeits good standing.

Canon 37

Standing Committees.

Standing Committees shall be appointed as provided for in the Constitution and Code of Canons and shall function in accordance with the authority, responsibility and direction provided for therein, and as amplified by the Executive Council or College of Bishops as appropriate. A designated Vicar shall chair these Committees and include: Liturgy, Formation, Ministry, Social Justice & Peace, Canon, and Finance.

Canon 38

Ad Hoc Committees.

The College of Bishops, and the Executive Council shall have the power and authority to appoint ad hoc committees to assist them in carrying out their functions, as they deem necessary. Such committees shall serve as delegates sharing in the power and authority of those whom they are serving. They shall serve at the discretion of those delegating this authority and under their direction.

Canon 39

The Executive Council.

An Executive Council shall be maintained to develop proposals and act on the business, operational and process needs of the Church. Responsibilities include advertising, communications, the maintenance of the Church website, development of outreach ministries, and the development of proposals coming from the clergy. The Committee acts on behalf of the clergy and is designed to serve as an instrument for articulating the sensus fidelium, representing issues and concerns to the College of Bishops.

On matters of policy, the Committee works to ensure that full input is gathered from Clergy nationwide before final decisions are made. There are eight seats on the Committee of which four are permanent members, and four are elected to two-year renewable terms upon election by the Clergy. The permanent members are: the Presiding Bishop, Bishop Coadjutor, and the Vicar of Formation the Vicar General, and the Vicar of Finance. Vicars are Priests or Bishops of the Church. Other ministers may be appointed to specialized service to the Church based on expertise who are drawn from the ranks of the Deacons of the Church. The four elected seats fill each of the following roles: Vicar of Canon, Vicar of Liturgics, Vicar of Ministry Development, and Vicar of Peace & Social Justice. Vicars are to minimally be ordained Priests of the Church. Additional members of the clergy and the laity are to be invited to participate in Council meetings depending upon the relevance of their expertise given the issues on the Council docket to aid the Council in its deliberations.

Should any of the permanent members also be filling the designated national vicariates, other roles deemed necessary by the Presiding Bishop might be added with the upper limit of committee size set at twelve. All members have one vote and votes are cast only after a 30-day period of discernment and input from the full clergy has been coordinated, summarized and published as part of the policy proceedings and deliberations of the Council.

Upon first founding of an Executive Council and under conditions of small overall size of the community at large, the Presiding Bishop may establish the initial appointments to the committee without the taking of the customary vote. The full Clergy, however, must ratify the four or more non-permanent members before the close of the first full year of Council work. This vote then determines the membership of the non-permanent seats for a period of two subsequent years. New elections are held every two years on the anniversary dates of the original appointments. The pre-requisite to service on the Executive Council is ordination to the Priesthood of the Church or incardination as a Priest of the Church. [This does not apply to clergy or laity invited to provide expert opinion or perspective on specific issues under discussion.]

Canon 40

General Fund and Special Funds.

The Executive Council shall authorize a General Fund to provide for the expenses of the Church and may institute a tithe for this purpose. The Council may also authorize Special Funds for specific purposes, as it deems necessary for the operations of the Church. The Executive Council shall manage such funds under the guidance and record-keeping authority of the Vicar of Finance. Clergy and ministries that fail to meet their financial obligations to such funds in a timely fashion shall be considered delinquent and may be suspended by the Executive Council until such obligations are met.

Canon 41

Voting.

Unless otherwise specifically provided, a simple majority shall carry in all voting pertaining to the actions of the clergy, the Executive Council and other designated committees. Voting shall normally be open ballot but any voting member of any voting body may request a secret ballot on any occasion.

Canon 42

Disciplinary Action.

In matters concerning Church administration, disciplinary action shall be initiated by the Executive Council, and concerning ecclesiastical matters, by the College of Bishops. The Executive Council, or the full Clergy -- if a member of the Executive Council is involved -- the Mediation Committee where administrative matters are concerned, and the College of Bishops where ecclesiastical matters are involved.

The Mediation Committee shall determine the facts of the case and make recommendations in accordance with Canon Law and precedent. Findings are to be published and forwarded to the appropriate committee as detailed in the Constitution of the Church. No person with a personal interest in a case under investigation may sit on such a committee. In all cases, justice and impartiality shall be meticulously observed, and those under investigation shall be given the opportunity to defend their position using all reasonable means, without, however, creating artificial and needless obstructions to the investigation. No one shall be deprived of any right or privilege or otherwise censured without due process of canon law.

The sanctions available for disciplinary action include censure, deprivation of good goad standing, dismissal from ministerial appointment, and suspension or revocation of ecclesiastical authority. The Executive Council shall have the authority to censure, deprive of good standing and to dismiss clergy and ministers for breach of conduct or office. Only the College of Bishops shall have the final authority to suspend or revoke ecclesiastical authority for the Church.

Canon 43

Holy Cross Seminary

[ – this canon suspended until such time as we develop a seminary ]

The Church shall operate the Reformed Catholic Institute for the education of its people, designating its Seminary Division as the Seminary of Saint John, XXIII for training and qualifying clergy for the Church. The Executive Council shall serve as the Board of Trustees of the Reformed Catholic Institute. The trustees shall appoint a Chancellor as the Chief Executive Officer of the Institute, and a Bursar to oversee the financial affairs of the Institute. The Presiding Bishop shall appoint a Vicar of Formation to serve as Managing Director of the Institute and Rector of the Seminary. These officers of the Institute shall serve at the pleasure of the trustees with the exception of the

Vicar of Formation & Rector of the Seminary who serves by appointment of the Presiding Bishop. The Rector of the Seminary will deliver an annual report on the State of the Seminary to the Executive Council and shared with the full clergy of the Church by January 15 of each year.

The Presiding Bishop may recommend to the Rector of the Seminary that an honorary degree of "Doctor. of Divinity" be conferred on a bishop of the Church. Upon receiving such a recommendation, the Rector will initiate a credentials review through a comprehensive biographical process and respond to the Presiding Bishop’s recommendation within 30 days. Upon collaborating on the merits of the one proposed for honorary recognition, a decision is made and the action taken. All such actions are then announced within 30 days to the rest of the Church.

Canon 44

Distribution of the Sacraments.

The Church welcomes all sincere and reverent people at its altars whether members of the Church or not. No one is excluded from the sacraments on the basis of membership alone; however, clergy shall make the final determination concerning to whom they make the sacraments available on the basis of attendant circumstances. Additionally, Confirmation (called Chrismation in the Eastern Rites) and Holy Orders are reserved for those properly prepared.

The Church does not consider divorce an obstacle to Christian marriage in contemporary society or an obstacle to receiving any sacrament.

Canon 45

Consecration and Blessing of Objects and Buildings.

Consecration sets an item aside for sacred use; therefore, what has been consecrated should not be put to profane use. Before consecrated objects or buildings are discarded or retired from sacred use, they should be formally deconsecrated or otherwise appropriately disposed of. Objects or buildings that will be employed for sacred purposes but not set aside for such use should be blessed and dedicated but not consecrated. Consecrated objects belonging to the Church should be returned to the Executive Council when they cease being used by the party to whom they were assigned.

Canon 46

Concelebration.

Concelebrating the Eucharistic Liturgy with other sacerdotal ministers in apostolic succession is permitted, whether the concelebrants are clergy of the Church or not. Concelebration with sacerdotal ministers specifically not known to be in apostolic succession is permitted also, provided that the principal celebrant is specifically known to be in apostolic succession.

Canon 47

Participation by Clergy in other Rites.

Sacerdotal Clergy are permitted to participate in and to distribute the sacraments in other Christian rites, provided that all canonical requirements are observed. Clergy also may participate in non-Christian sacred rites, as they deem appropriate, provided that such behavior does not contravene Reformed Catholic principles as set forth in the Constitution, Code of Canons, and Statement of Principles. However, they shall not distribute the sacraments in the context of predominantly non-Christian rites. Services, which are specifically ecumenical, are excepted from this restriction.

Canon 48

Compensation of Clergy.

Clergy of the Church generally serve voluntarily and without compensation. No charge shall be levied by clergy on those they serve for the performance of the sacramental rites or for distribution of the sacraments, although this shall not be interpreted as preventing ministries and their clergy from suggesting and receiving contributions or accepting honoraria, as is customary in many places in the case of Christenings and Holy Matrimony.

Clergy may receive compensation from those they serve for the performance of non-sacramental ministerial services involving their time and expertise, such as spiritual direction and counseling, and organizational functions.

Chartered ministries, which may include local parishes, may compensate clergy in accordance with their by-laws and regulations. Compensation of clergy by The Reformed Catholic Church™ shall be at the discretion of the Executive Council.

Canon 49

Seminary Application, Evaluation & the Process of Priestly Formation.

[ – this canon suspended until a formal educational process developed. Until then this canon can be a guide ]

All seminarians of the Church will be assigned a Bishop, a mentor (or major advisor), and agree to an Individual Formation Plan that recognizes any prior studies. This is established in dialogue with the Vicar of Formation upon acceptance to the Seminary.

Acceptance to the Seminary is always provisional pending the completion of the psychological evaluation process. An FBI background check involving fingerprinting is required at the time of application as is the practice now of many service organizations. Self-understanding is an essential part of formation and it begins with an examination of the Call through dialogue with the Rector of the Seminary and the use of validated instruments that have a history of reliable professional use. These will be administered by a licensed Psychologist and are strictly held in confidence between the Vicar of Formation and the seminarian.

The Vicar will be responsible to determine if there are reasons to delay movement forward with the Formation Process assuming a Psycho-spiritual issue that may need to be managed first.

Formation follows the ten-core competency model described in the Bulletin of the Seminary. The Rector of the Seminary administers formation policy as set down in collaboration with the College of Bishops. Ordination to the Deaconate will not normally occur until at least 50 % of the designated coursework has been completed and documented. Upon completion of all coursework, the award of the Licentiate in Sacred Theology, and an oral examination precede ordination to the  Priesthood before one's Committee on Priestly Formation. Ordination to the Priesthood also requires an established and documented ministry.

Seminarians must attend at  least one meeting of the Church in a designated location for face-to-face time in community each year, and have the opportunity to worship together with the clergy of the Church. In addition, twenty hours of time in confidential interaction with a licensed Psychologist of Jungian persuasion is mandatory prior to ordination to the Priesthood. Completion of the 20 hours must be documented and on record with the Seminary before ordination takes place.

Canon 50

Attestations of Understanding and Intent

It is mandatory that candidates sign the following documents for Holy Orders and Incardination as a legally binding agreement that each document has been read, understood, and agreed to as a definition of professional accountability. Failure to sign any one of them prevents receipt of orders or incardination. A violation of the content of these documents is grounds for revocation of faculties to serve as a member in good standing of the Church. The documents are: The Professional Standards, the Canons, the Constitution, the Affidavit on Absence of Criminal record or Child Abuse, and the Statement of Principles. The content of these documents are among the items covered in the oral examination before the designated Committee on Priestly Formation that precedes ordination to the Priesthood. Signed documents must be on file for every Deacon, Priest, and Bishop of the Church.

Canon 51

Clergy Continuing Education.

[ this canon requires further review, all are “strongly” urged to be guided by its intent ]

All active clergy of the Church are expected to have at least 20 CE credits per annum documented with the Reformed Catholic Institute and arranged through the Institute to maintain good standing. This applies to all clergy without exception.

Canon 52

Orders of the Church.

The founding of new religious orders of the Church is encouraged. Contemplative prayer and the monastic life are great blessings in a world in desperate need of the force of prayer and the great work of lay and clergy brothers and sisters in Christ who have chosen to live under vows as stipulated by the Order Rule. All seminarians of the Church are encouraged to associate themselves with one or another of the many monastic forms available throughout the Church universal including but not limited to: Franciscan, Augustinian, Jesuit, Dominican, Benedictine, Carmelite, etc.

Canon 53

Appointments of the Church

It is the privilege of the Presiding Bishop to appoint clergy to staff positions based on the needs of the Church and after assessment and consideration of the relevant credentials and experience of those appointed. Likewise, this is a privilege also granted to Vicariate Bishops within the context of the terms of the respective Vicariate Constitutions. Appointments are a weighty matter and are to be approached with prayer and ample thought and never hastily initiated. Once an Episcopal mandate is issued, the incumbent serves with all the rights, dignity and obligations of the office assumed. While incumbent performance will be evaluated by the ordinary granting the assignment, any performance-based or other grievance against the incumbent's effectiveness by the managing Ordinary will be brought to the incumbent's attention first with constructive feedback offered and opportunity given for corrections to be applied. Should coaching and counseling fail; the matter is to be brought before the appropriate council and/or tribunal for a judgment to be made in accordance with the Constitution. This is done to avoid summary dismissals without cause and due process, and to protect the rights of the appointees. However, an incumbent can be suspended by the managing Ordinary until the matter is resolved given his or her judgment that this action is warranted due to the nature of the issue under contention.

The Presiding Bishop has the right to appoint persons to the dignity of Monsignors. This dignity shall last for a long as the appointing Presiding Bishop remains the Presiding Bishop, or until he is removed from this dignity pursuant to these canons.

Canon 54

Amending the Canons of The Reformed Catholic Church™.

Upon ratification of these Canons, the process of amendment thereafter requires a petition of amendment to be sent to the Bishop Coadjutor who will then convene the Executive Council and College of Bishops to consider the petition in full with all due deliberation and care. The Executive Council shall call upon all clergy to comment on the proposal in advance of the joint Council and College meeting to vote the amendment. A 2/3rds vote is required to ratify the amendment upon which event the amendment is entered into the Constitution and assumes the weight of Canon Law.

If you would like a copy of any of these documents for review, please contact the Presiding Bishop.