Dear Diocese of the Upper Midwest,

As Chancellor of the Diocese, I chair the Upper Midwest Diocese’s Committee on Constitution and Canons – which is responsible for ongoing review and recommendations pertaining to the Diocese’s Constitution and Canons (C&Cs). The C&Cs are similar to a church’s bylaws–they dictate how the Diocese is governed and conducts ministry. 

So, why does this matter and how does it impact you? The Diocese and its congregations do ministry in relationship with each other. The C&Cs are the guardrails that help keep our relationship in good, working spiritual order. For example, they set forth what defines a congregation, how a congregation becomes part of the Diocese, proper safeguarding matters, what’s necessary in a Vestry, discipline in the Church, and how congregations have voice and vote in matters of the Diocese.

The Committee on Constitution and Canons has been meeting over the past nine months to discuss and recommend potential modifications to our Diocesan Constitution and Canons, which were last modified in 2023. The Committee’s recommended changes are reflected in this document and appear in red. We have also provided occasional added context in red, bold italics, explaining the Committee’s reason for recommending the change. 

Title IV of the Canons, governing ecclesiastical (Church) discipline, contains the most extensive proposed changes, largely stemming from our Province (the ACNA) revising its Constitution and Canons in 2024, and requiring that its Dioceses adopt certain changes by December 31, 2025. In summary, our Committee recommends that our Diocesan Canons incorporate those portions of the Provincial Canons pertaining to ecclesiastical discipline of priests and deacons. We believe this approach will: 1) promote clarity and good order in connection with disciplinary proceedings; 2) ensure consistency with requirements imposed by the Provincial Canons; and 3) take advantage of the Province’s extensive, multi-year effort to completely update and overhaul Provincial Canons governing ecclesiastical discipline.

In summary, the Committee believes that the existing Provincial Canons governing ecclesiastical discipline for priests and deacons are suitable and may be effectively incorporated as set forth in the redline draft. Our Committee recommends the proposed changes and asks for your prayerful consideration and feedback.

Please submit any comments by Sunday, September 21, to enable review and subsequent drafts according to the timeline below.

Timeline for feedback, review, revisions, and voting:

• Sept. 4-5  Diocesan-wide feedback is open for a three-week period
• Sept 21  Open feedback ends. All feedback is reviewed by the Committee on Constitution and Canons and edits are made.
• Oct 6  Revised draft amendments are reviewed by the Standing Committee who will vote to send their recommended draft to Synod delegates.
• Oct 10  Lay and Clergy delegates receive the penultimate draft of the Constitution and Canons for their final review prior to the October 24 Synod meeting.
• Oct 24  Synod delegates meet in person for prayer, study of the Scriptures, mutual encouragement, and the furtherance of common mission which, among other things, includes voting on the proposed amendments to the Constitution and Canons.

If you have any questions, please feel free to e-mail the diocesan office at office@midwestanglican.org.

Submit Feedback Here

Sincerely,

Chancellor Steve Olson, Chair
On Behalf of the Committee on Constitution and Canons