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Dioceses in the Province of Canada

Canons of the Province of Canada

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The Anglican Church of Canada

L’Église Anglicane du Canada

The Province of Canada

Canon II

The Election, Office and Work of the Metropolitan Bishop



1(1) When the Office of Metropolitan becomes vacant the diocesan bishop senior by consecration shall summon the Provincial Council to meet as an electoral college within six months of the vacancy occurring. If it is known that the office of Metropolitan is to become vacant at a future date, the diocesan bishop senior by consecration may summon the Provincial Council to meet as an electoral college not more than six months before the date of vacancy to elect the Metropolitan's successor.

1(2) The Prolocutor shall preside at the election of the Metropolitan.

1(3) The Provincial Council shall elect the Metropolitan from among the diocesan bishops of the province.

1(4) The Election shall be by secret ballot taken by orders and the voting shall continue by consecutive ballots until a bishop receives a majority of those present and voting in each order.

2(1) The See of the bishop who holds the office of Metropolitan is the Metropolitical See.

2(2) The Metropolitan shall bear the title of Archbishop of the diocese of which the Metropolitan is Bishop and Metropolitan of the Ecclesiastical Province of Canada.

3(1) The Metropolitan shall preside over the House of Bishops, the Provincial Synod and the Provincial Council and shall arrange for the consecration of bishops elected in the province.

3(2) The Metropolitan has a pastoral relationship to the whole ecclesiastical province and, in particular, shall give pastoral care to the bishops of the province.

4. A diocesan synod, by a two-thirds majority of the orders of clergy and laity, may request the Metropolitan, after consultation with the House of Bishops, to assume visitatorial powers.

5. When the Metropolitan is incapacitated or when the office is vacant, the diocesan bishop senior by consecration shall have all the rights, duties, powers, privileges and prerogatives of the Metropolitan.

6(1) The office of Metropolitan is vacated when the Metropolitan ceases to be a diocesan bishop or his resignation as Metropolitan is accepted.

6(2) The Metropolitan may resign the office by submitting a written resignation to the diocesan bishop senior by consecration but such resignation does not take effect until it is accepted by the House of Bishops of the province.


Note: this text is provided for information purposes only. While every effort has been made to ensure that this text is accurate, in the event of any discrepancy between this version and the official printed version, the latter shall prevail.

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© 1998-2003 Last Updated: 20030920
© 1998-2003 Mise à jour : 20030920