TABLE OF CONTENTS
Constitution of the Anglican Diocese of the Upper Midwest

Preamble

Article I: Fundamental Declarations of the Diocese

Article II: Structure, Order, Governance and Discipline

Article III: Standing Committee

Article IV: Deaneries

Article V: Diocesan Council

Article VI: Ecclesiastical Court

Article VII: Synod

Article VIII: Office of the Bishop

Section 1. The Calling to the Episcopate – 1 Timothy 3

Section 2. Criteria for selecting a Bishop

Section 3. Process for Selecting a Bishop

Article IX: Vacancy in the Office of the Bishop

Section 1. Death, Retirement or Removal of the Bishop

Section 2. Disability or Impermissible Absence of the Bishop

Section 3. Succession in Case of Death, Retirement, or Removal of the Bishop

Article X: Holy Orders

Article XI: The Officers of the Diocese

Article XII: Concerning Property of Congregations and Missions

Article XIII: Concerning Diocesan Property

Article XIV: Incorporation

Article XV: Vision, Mission and Values

Article XVI: Amendment

The Table of Contents and the Canons of the Anglican Diocese of the Upper Midwest begin at the Conclusion of its Constitution.

THE CONSTITUTION OF THE ANGLICAN DIOCESE OF THE UPPER MIDWEST OF THE ANGLICAN CHURCH IN NORTH AMERICA

PREAMBLE
In the name of the Holy and Undivided Trinity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
As followers of Jesus Christ and Anglicans in the Upper Midwest, concerned for the proclamation of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, the mission of the Church in the world, the salvation of all people, and the worship of Almighty God, we prayerfully establish this Diocese of the Upper Midwest of the Anglican Church in North America and ask God’s blessing in order that the mission of the Church in the Upper Midwest might be promoted and congregations multiplied through a revival of Word and Sacrament infused by the power of the Holy Spirit and through greater unity, fellowship, prayer, and cooperation in the ministry to which God has called us. The Diocese of the Upper Midwest (“the Diocese”), a member of the Anglican Church in North America (“the Province”) and thereby a member of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church, solemnly ordains and establishes this Constitution.

ARTICLE I: FUNDAMENTAL DECLARATIONS OF THE DIOCESE

The Diocese hereby subscribes to the Fundamental Declarations of the Anglican Church in North America as set forth in Article I of the Provincial Constitution. The Diocese acknowledges the authority of the Province as set forth in the Provincial Constitution and Canons and adopts this Diocesan Constitution to be in conformance with them. All powers not granted to the Province are reserved to the Diocese.

ARTICLE II: STRUCTURE, ORDER, GOVERNANCE AND DISCIPLINE

The Diocese is comprised of Anglican congregations in the Upper Midwest and congregations located outside the Upper Midwest with which these congregations maintain close relational connections and for which they are the primary point of contact with the greater Church and is currently organized into four deaneries: Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Greater Chicago. and the Greenhouse Net. It is envisioned that additional deaneries may be formed and that some deaneries may grow into new dioceses as the number of communicants and congregations in an area grows, subject to the provisions of both the Provincial and Diocesan Constitution and Canons. The fundamental agency of mission is the local congregation gathered in union with the local Deanery and the Diocese. The order, governance and discipline of the Diocese shall be vested in the Bishop as the Ecclesiastical Authority, the Deans, the Bishop’s Council, and the Diocesan Assembly, in conformity with this Constitution.

ARTICLE III: STANDING COMMITTEE

There shall be a Standing Committee of the Diocese to function as the Diocesan Board of Directors, presided over by the Bishop and serving as a legislative, consultative and oversight body, with such composition, membership selection, responsibilities, powers and authority as set forth in the Diocesan Canons.

ARTICLE IV: DIOCESAN COUNCIL

There shall be a Diocesan Council, presided over by the Bishop, to serve in an executive, consultative and advisory capacity, including acting on behalf of the Synod between meetings of that body, with such composition, membership selection, responsibilities, powers and authority as set forth in the Diocesan Canons.

ARTICLE V: ECCLESIASTICAL COURT

There shall be an Ecclesiastical Court of the Diocese for the application of church discipline in accordance with the Diocesan Constitution, Canons and Rules of Court (Procedural and Evidentiary). The jurisdiction, composition, terms, of office, and procedures of the Ecclesiastical Court shall be established by canon, and it shall be composed of clergy and lay members.

Until initial adoption of the Upper Midwest Diocese Rules of Court (Procedural and Evidentiary), the Ecclesiastical Court of the Diocese shall operate in accordance with the Rules of Court (Procedural and Evidentiary) as adopted and utilized by the ACNA Provincial Ecclesiastical Court.

ARTICLE VI: THE SYNOD

There shall be a Synod which shall be the primary legislative body of the Diocese, with such composition, membership selection, responsibilities, powers and authority as set forth in the Diocesan Canons.

ARTICLE VII: THE DEANERIES
There shall be Deaneries of the Diocese (currently including Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Greater Chicago, and Greenhouse Net), responsible for encouraging the ministry of congregations and expansion of the ministry of the Church within their respective areas, with such composition, membership selection, responsibilities, powers and authority as set forth in the Diocesan Canons. The formation of new deaneries is encouraged as growth occurs.

The formation of a new deanery shall be recommended by the Dean of the existing deanery of which it is part. The formation of a new deanery must be affirmed by the deans and Bishop acting in council and then confirmed by the Bishop, after consultation with the Bishop’s Council. This paragraph moved to Canons to follow the format of other Articles in terms of procedure.

ARTICLE VIII: OFFICE OF THE BISHOP

Section 1. The Calling to the Episcopate – 1 Timothy 3
A Bishop is called by God and the Church to be a shepherd who feeds the flock entrusted to his care. A Bishop is an overseer of the flock and as such is called to propagate, to teach, and to uphold and defend the Faith and Order of the Church, willingly and as God directs. He must not be greedy for money but be eager to serve, not lording the authority of his office or position over those entrusted to his care. He must be a humble, wholesome example to the entire flock of Christ. By the tradition of Christ's One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church, Bishops are consecrated for the whole Church and are successors of the Apostles through the grace of the Holy Spirit given to them. They are chief missionaries and chief pastors, guardians and teachers of doctrine, and administrators of godly discipline and governance.

Section 2. Criteria for selecting a Bishop
To be a suitable candidate for Bishop, a person must:

• Be a man of prayer and strong faith;
• Be pious, have exemplary morals and exhibit Godly character;
• Have a zeal for souls;
• Have demonstrated evidence of the fruit of the Holy Spirit;
• Possess the knowledge and gifts that equip him to fulfill the office;
• Be held in high esteem by the faithful;
• Be a male Presbyter at least 35 years old;
• Have significant leadership experience and wisdom in parish life;
• Have demonstrated the ability to lead and grow the Church.

Section 3. Process for Selecting a Bishop

The initial process for selecting a bishop shall be as follows:
• Each Dean shall actively engage all congregations in the deanery to participate in a process of prayer, fasting and discernment leading to the selection of candidates for the office of Bishop.
• All should be educated on both the role of the Bishop and the selection process.
• Each Dean, accompanied by three representatives of the Deanery (four in the case of the Greenhouse net), should gather together for the initial retreat while forming the diocese to discern which individuals should be recommended to the College of Bishops for their selection or consent. In all future discernment retreats, the Bishop’s Council shall determine the number of representatives from each deanery who shall accompany each dean on retreat to discern together which individuals to recommend to the College of Bishops for their selection or consent.
• After prayer and discussion, those participating in the discernment retreat shall reach consensus on the names of at least two individuals to be forwarded, in a single sealed envelope, to the College of Bishops. That envelope also shall contain any reflections that the group as a whole deems appropriate for the bishops’ consideration.
• The selection process for a successor shall be the same as the process just described, except that those participating in the discernment retreat shall have the option of forwarding the name of a single individual to the College of Bishops.
• In the event that all candidates are rejected by the College of Bishops, the Bishop or the Bishop’s Council shall promptly convene another retreat to discern one or more additional candidates to be recommended to the College of Bishops for their consent.
• A Bishop Coadjutor or a Bishop Suffragan may be selected according to this same process, subject to the provisions of the Provincial and Diocesan Constitution and Canons.
The process for nominating and electing a bishop shall be established by canon.

ARTICLE IX: VACANCY IN THE OFFICE OF THE BISHOP

Section 1. Death, Retirement or Removal of the Bishop
Upon the death, retirement or removal of the Bishop, if there is no Bishop Coadjutor or Bishop Suffragan, the Bishop’s Council Standing Committee shall be the Ecclesiastical Authority of the Diocese and shall elect one of the Deans to preside. The Bishop’s Council Standing Committee may also request the College of Bishops to appoint an Acting Bishop to be in charge of the Diocese until a Bishop can be elected. Such Acting Bishop shall have full ecclesiastical authority, in conjuction with the Standing Committee, with regard to applications for ordination, the discipline of clergy, the admission of clergy and congregations to the Diocese, and other powers and duties established by the Constitution and Canons of the Province and the Diocese.

Section 2. Disability or Impermissible Absence of the Bishop
If the Bishop’s Council Standing Committee should determine upon careful deliberation that the Bishop is under a disability, or has absented himself without permission from or consultation with the Diocese for more than two months, it may, with the consent of the Archbishop, declare the Office of the Bishop vacant. In such case, the Bishop Coadjutor, if there is one, or the Bishop Suffragan shall take charge until the Bishop’s Council Standing Committee with the consent of the Archbishop declares the Bishop restored. If there is neither a Bishop Coadjutor nor Bishop Suffragan, the Bishop’s Council Standing Committee shall serve as the Ecclesiastical Authority of the Diocese until the Bishop’s Council Standing Committee, with the consent of the Archbishop, declares the Bishop to be restored.

Section 3. Succession in Case of Death, Retirement, or Removal of the Bishop
A Bishop Coadjutor shall become the Bishop upon the death, retirement, or removal of the Bishop. A Bishop Suffragan may not become the Bishop of the Diocese unless he has been selected in accordance with the Process for Selecting a Bishop (Article VI, Section 3, above) provided by canon and his selection is consented to by the College of Bishops.

ARTICLE X: HOLY ORDERS

This Diocese encourages the cultivation of spiritual gifts in its members, including the call to Holy Orders, in conformity with the process specified by the Diocesan Canons. While recognizing that every baptized Christian is a member of a “royal priesthood” (1 Peter 2:9) and that each member of the Body of Christ—both male and female—has spiritual gifts for ministry and leadership that are to be nurtured, cultivated, and exercised (Romans 12:4-7; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11; 1 Peter 4:10), we affirm the scriptural teaching and historic tradition of the Church that only males can be admitted to the offices of presbyter and bishop (1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9).

ARTICLE XI: THE OFFICERS OF THE DIOCESE

The Bishop, after consulting first with the Deans in council, and then with the Bishop’s Council with the advice and consent of the Standing Committee, shall appoint officers to serve as the Secretary, Treasurer, Chancellor, and Registrar of the Diocese. The selection and duties of the Officers of the Diocese shall be prescribed by canon. The Bishop also may appoint other officers, at his discretion, in this same manner.

The Bishop also may appoint a group of personal advisors, at his sole discretion, to aid him in his ministry. Should the Bishop do so, he shall so inform the Bishop’s Council Standing Committee. Likewise, the Bishop shall inform the Bishop’s Council Standing Committee of any change in the membership of this group.

ARTICLE XII: CONCERNING PROPERTY OF CONGREGATIONS AND MISSIONS

All property, real and personal, owned or held by or on behalf of a Congregation of the Diocese is and shall be owned by the Congregation, free of any trust or other claim in favor of the Diocese or the Province. A Congregation may not alienate or encumber its real property except with the consent of a majority of the Congregation by vote taken at a meeting called for that purpose with adequate advance notice.

ARTICLE XIII: CONCERNING DIOCESAN PROPERTY

Any property, both real and personal, owned by the Diocese now and in the future is not and shall not be subject to any trust interest in favor of the Province or any other claim of ownership arising out of the canon law of the Province.

ARTICLE XIV: INCORPORATION

The Diocese may incorporate in accordance with the laws of the State where located or the State where any of its congregations are located. The Bishop shall be the President of the corporation, and the Bishop’s Council Standing Committee shall be its Board of Directors. Operation of the corporation shall be as provided by canon and applicable state law.

ARTICLE XV: VISION, MISSION AND VALUES

Consistent with our vision of A Revival of Word and Sacrament infused by the power of the Holy Spirit in the Upper Midwest, the mission of the Diocese shall be Multiplying Churches and Transforming Communities. Under the oversight of our Bishop and Deans, and in cooperation with our Diocese and Deaneries, we pledge that we and our congregations will labor joyfully for the spread of the Gospel and the growth of the Church in our communities and around the world.

Further, we rejoice in our common embrace of these values:

1. Greater Unity for Greater Mission
We pray for a kingdom mindset, a collaborative spirit, a common purpose.

2. Submission to Godly Authority
We rejoice in humbling ourselves under Scripture as God’s Word revealed, under the Creeds of the Great Tradition and under our Bishop.

3. Spirit-Filled Ministry
We celebrate the gifts of the Spirit and the ministry of all baptized Christians.

4. Creative Worship
We honor our Prayer Book tradition of Word and Sacrament and work imaginatively to blend the three streams of catholic, evangelical, and charismatic Christianity.

5. Innovative Mission
We release multiple models of church planting and mission to reach all types of people for Christ.

6. Holistic Transformation
We value discipleship and healing for the individual and justice and hope for our communities.

7. Next-Generation Leadership
We invest deeply in children, youth, and younger leaders.

8. Multicultural Competence
We seek to reach all nations, tribes and languages in the Upper Midwest and to practice healthy unity-in-diversity in our life together.

9. Sacrificial Commitment
We invite God’s strength in our weakness, by fasting, prayer, and generosity.

ARTICLE XVI: AMENDMENT
No amendment to this Constitution may be adopted until it has been reviewed by the Bishop’s Council and its recommendation has been given to the Diocesan Assembly. An amendment to the Constitution must then be approved by a two-thirds majority vote at two consecutive regular annual meetings of the Diocesan Assembly the Constitution and Canons Committee in consultation with the Diocesan Council, approved by the Standing Committee and submitted in writing to the Synod for consideration. This Constitution may be amended at the annual meeting of the Synod by a majority vote of the total delegates of each Order present at the meeting. If approved, the amendment shall lie over to the next annual meeting of the Synod. If approved in the same form by the majority of the total delegates of each Order present at the meeting this Constitution shall then stand amended as proposed.