515 Herron Road Farragut, Tennessee 37934 Traditional,  Scriptural,  Liturgical,  Evangelical

This Diocese is... ...AMERICAN.

Many of the first colonists were members of the Church of England. They founded parishes in the original thirteen colonies. Many of the Founding Fathers of the United States were Anglicans.

After the Revolution, the Church of England (Anglican) parishes formed the Protestant Episcopal Church. Gradually, Anglican churches throughout the world gained local independence but remained a union of churches called the Anglican Communion.

For many years these churches were united by a common faith, a common form of church government, and a common worship. In recent years, member churches have tended to stress their independence rather than their unity. Differences in belief and worship have created tensions that unhappily divide Anglicans.

This Diocese is an Anglican diocese which seeks to be faithful to the ideals and faith of the first Episcopalians and their descendants.

This Diocese is...  ...EPISCOPAL.

The word episcopal means of bishops. Our Lord Jesus Christ sent His disciples into the world. They were called Apostles, or sent men. The Apostles added ministers to their ranks to care for the growing Church. These men became known as bishops. Our bishops are descendants of the Apostles and of the first Episcopal bishops in the United States.

This Diocese is... ...A CHURCH.

There is only one Church. The Church is the visible sign of the called company of baptized believers who are members of the Church, which contains both the living and departed.

The Church came to Britain in very early days. The English Church was a national church within the great Western Church. Four hundred years ago the Church of England was affected by the Reformation. At the time of the Reformation, the English Church separated from that part of the Church we now called the Roman Catholic Church. This separation was achieved in a unique way. The Church of England remained a CATHOLIC Church. By reforming itself, it became a Protestant or EVANGELICAL Church. When the American branch of the Church of England became independent, it established a DEMOCRATIC Church.

The English Reformers translated the old worship books then being used into English in what is known as the BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER. Anglicans are LITURGICAL Christians.

This Diocese is... ...CATHOLIC.

Catholic means the Church established by our Lord Himself, which is always served by clergy who are successors of the Apostles, who administer the Sacraments which our Lord gave to the Church. The faith of the Church is summarized in the Creeds and in the teachings defined by the Early Church.

This Diocese is... ...EVANGELICAL.

The word evangelical means of the Gospel. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is found in the Holy Bible, God's Word written by inspired people. The Bible is the book of the Church. Anglicans cherish the Scriptures. They are read in public worship. The Prayer Book is Bible-based. Its words echo the teachings, words, and expressions of the Holy Scriptures.

This Diocese is... ...LITURGICAL.

Liturgy means hard work. We show our duty to God and our love for Him in corporate worship. The 1928 American edition of the BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER is the official liturgy of this Diocese. It is basically the same form of service used by the first settlers. Many scholars maintain that this book, together with the King James' Version of the Bible (an Anglican translation), has affected the English language and the spiritual life of the English speaking people of the world more than any other published work.

This Diocese is...   ...TRADITIONAL.

By traditional we mean that we do not allow the current winds of public and societal opinion to alter that Faith which we have received from our forefathers as contained in the Holy Bible, the writings of the Early Church, and the Book of Common Prayer.

This Diocese is...  ...DEMOCRATIC.

The Protestant Episcopal Church was the first Anglican church to restore to the laity the rights and duties they enjoyed in the Early Church. At every level of church life, in the parish and in the diocese, the laity share with the clergy the duty of determining the policies governing the day-to-day life of the church.

This Diocese is...   ...INDEPENDENT.

While the Church is one, it adapts itself to differing cultures and circumstances. Anglicans believe in the freedom of individual diocese and provinces to respond to the needs of the particular people they serve. Independence does not mean that a parish or diocese or any other level of church government has the right to change the Faith.

The Diocese of the Eastern United States was established in 1970 and serves faithful Anglicans east of the Mississippi River. At the present time, there are 28 congregations affiliated with the Diocese.

Each congregation owns its own property. Neither the bishops nor the synods of this Church attempt to make political decisions for the people of the Church. Christians are bound to make their political decisions and exercise their rights in the light of the Gospel.

THE DIOCESE OF THE EASTERN UNITED STATES... SERVES YOU!

This Diocese is a family of Christians. You are invited to be a part of our family.

The Most Rev. Walter H. Grundorf +
Diocesan Bishop

Office of the Bishop: Saint Alban's Anglican Cathedral 3348 West State Road 426 Oviedo (Orlando), Florida 32765 (407) 657-0880

CANON 1.1 - Of the Name of the Diocese
This Diocese shall be known and designated as the Diocese of the Eastern United States (Anglican) and shall deem its geographical boundaries to be those as set forth in Canon 45 of the Constitution and Canons of the Anglican Province of America.

CANON 1.2 - Of the Composition of this Diocese

CANON 1.3 - Of this Church

CANON 2.1 - Of the Diocesan Bishop
The Bishop of the Diocese shall be chosen and elected in conformity with the Constitution and Canons of the Anglican Province of America, by the concurrence of a two-thirds majority of the clerical and lay delegates entitled to vote in Diocesan Synod casting votes by Orders. He shall be the chief pastor of all the members of the Church in this Diocese and the President of the Diocesan Synod. He shall make at least one visitation to each parish and congregation every two years, shall have the right to summon and attend meetings of parishes and missions within his jurisdiction and shall be ex officio a member of all diocesan committees and agencies.

CANON 2.2 - Of Bishops Suffragan

CANON 2.3 - Of Assistant Bishops

CANON 3.1 - Of the Diocesan Synod
The Diocese shall be governed by a Synod meeting annually at a date and place established by Synod at its previous meeting, or for special reasons at other times at the call of the Bishop and the Standing Committee, or, during the vacancy of the see, by the Standing Committee. Synod shall be comprised of the clergy in good standing and by two lay delegates elected by each parish and mission listed on the most recent Annual Report.

CANON 3.2 - Of Assessments, Budgets and Quotas

The tithes offered at Synod by each parish and mission, shall, upon acceptance by Synod, become the annual assessment of such parishes and missions and shall be sent in equal monthly installments to the diocesan treasurer.

A tithe of all regular diocesan income shall be paid to the Province in accordance with Canon Law.

CANON 4 - Of the Standing Committee
Between Synods, the administrative authority of the Diocese shall reside in the Bishop and the Standing Committee. The membership of the Standing Committee shall consist of the Bishop, the Bishops Suffragan, two clergymen elected by the clergy of the Diocese at Synod, a treasurer, who shall be a communicant member of the Diocese elected by the lay delegates of Synod, a chancellor, being a priest or lay person appointed by the Bishop and three lay communicants of the Diocese elected by the lay delegates of Synod. The lay members of the Standing Committee shall constitute the Finance Committee of the Diocese. The Standing Committee shall meet at the call of the Bishop, or during a vacancy of the see, by the senior Suffragan Bishop or by its own resolution. The President of the Standing Committee shall be elected by that body from among its members who are Priests. The Secretary of the Standing Committee shall be elected by that body from among its members. The members of the Standing Committee shall have seat, voice and vote in Diocesan Synod.

CANON 5.1 - Of Parishes
A parish shall be a congregation of at least forty adult communicant members as defined in the Provincial Canons, meeting in permanent accommodations, served by a Rector paid the minimum diocesan salary and which regularly meets its assessments and quotas to the Diocese and the Province.

CANON 5.2  - Of Annual Parish Meetings and Vestries

CANON 5.3 - Of Parish Property

CANON 5.4 - Of the Rector

The rector of each parish shall be responsible for the worship of the parish in accordance with the Canons of the Church, for the music, organist and choir, for Christian Education and for all priestly and pastoral ministries in the parish. He shall keep a register of services and of all baptisms, confirmations, marriages and funerals and of all baptized and confirmed persons. He may, with the consent of the Bishop and in consultation with the vestry appoint such assistant clergy in good standing as he shall deem necessary. A rector may resign his cure or may be removed in accordance with the Canons of the Province and the terms set forth in the Letter of Institution contained in the Book of Common Prayer.

CANON 5.5 - Of Mission Congregations

An annual meeting shall be called, to which shall be summoned all adult communicant members of the mission. At each annual meeting a Mission

Committee shall be elected, except in the case of a meeting called to establish such a mission, when the Bishop shall appoint the initial Mission Committee which shall serve until the next regular annual meeting. A Mission Committee shall elect annually from its membership a Warden and a Treasurer. It shall also elect a Clerk or secretary from the adult communicant members of the mission. Mission Committee members shall be elected, or appointed, from among the adult communicant members of the mission.

A mission shall be the agency of the Bishop who shall appoint and license the priest in charge. A priest in charge shall enjoy all the rights and duties ascribed in these Canons to a rector, except that he may be removed by the Bishop in consultation with the Mission Committee.

The properties and monies of a mission shall be owned in the same manner as established by these Canons for parishes.

CANON 6 - Of Non-Parochial Clergy
All clergy of this Church physically resident in this Diocese without cure or other ecclesiastical appointment shall be licensed under seal by the Bishop and shall annually on or by Advent Sunday give an account, in writing, to the Bishop concerning their spiritual functions.

CANON 7 - Of Lay Readers
Lay Readers shall be appointed by the Bishop in accordance with the Canons of this Church and for such periods of time as shall be stated on their license. They shall serve under their rector or priest in charge.

CANON 8 - Of Membership
An adult communicant member of this Diocese is a person of at least eighteen years of age who has been validly baptized and confirmed and whose name is contained in the register of a parish or mission of this Diocese. A communicant member of this Diocese is a person who has been baptized and confirmed and whose name is contained in the register of a parish or mission of this Diocese. A member of this Diocese is any person who has been validly baptized and whose name appears in the register of a parish or mission of this Diocese.

CANON 9 - Of the Reception of a Parish and Mission
An established parish or mission which, by a majority vote of its adult communicant membership accedes to the Solemn Declaration and the Constitution and Canons of this Church and of this Diocese and to the doctrine, discipline and worship of this Church, may be received into membership of the Diocese by the Bishop with the advice and consent of the Standing Committee. The Bishop, with the advice and counsel of the Standing Committee, at their discretion, these Canons notwithstanding, may permit such a congregation to retain its former status as a parish or mission.

CANON 10 - Of Trial Courts and the Election of Delegates to Provincial Synod
Election of all officers to courts, agencies and of delegates to Provincial Synods shall be conducted in accordance with the requirements and rules set forth in the Constitution and Canons of the Anglican Province of America.

CANON 11 - Of Amendments
These Canons may be amended by a two-thirds majority vote of Synod, sixty days notice of such amendment having been previously submitted to the rector and senior warden of or the vicar and warden of each parish and mission. Such amendments shall be in effect at the close of the Synod adopting the same.