Nominations for Bishop: Two Provisions

There are two routes by which a person can become a candidate in an episcopal election:

1. He or she is nominated by the Diocesan Search Committee (Prov Canon 9.10) or     
2. She or he is nominated by two members of the Synod (s. 9.11).

Search Committee Nominations  

In short, the search committee seeks out and receives proposals for nomination, then assesses each proposal against the canonical requirements and the "local" requirements developed based on input from the diocese. If the proposed person meets both sets of requirements, the committee puts that person forward as a nominee and provides information to help members of Synod make their choice when it comes time to vote. The search committee nomination procedure is described fully here. 

Member of Synod Nominations  

In the Member of Synod nomination procedure, two members of Synod may nominate any person who meets the canonical requirements, whether or not they have been considered by the search committee. The "local" requirements are not considered.  

The point of having two ways to nominate is that, even though we trust that the search committee represents the diocese and has the best interests of the diocese at heart, and even though the search committee is essential for a thorough and smooth process, the writers of our canons did not want to place limits on the range of candidates from which the Synod makes its ultimate choice. Thus, a second option is provided.  

This second option is governed by s. 9.11 of the canon. It might be used if, for example, any two members of Synod do not agree that the search committee’s "local requirements" are appropriate and that some person who does not meet them but does meet the canonical requirements would be an appropriate candidate. In that case, they may nominate that person. This is not to say that members of Synod only nominate persons rejected by the search committee. A person nominated by members of Synod might never have been considered by the search committee. His or her name might simply not have come up.

In order to make a nomination by this process, the two members of Synod must provide the secretary of the search committee a written notice of their intention to make the nomination at the Synod, along with the signed written consent of the intended nominee and her or his curriculum vitae in the form approved by the search committee (s. 9.11(1)) so that the information provided is the same as it was for other nominees. The canon permits this type of nomination to be made up to 72 hours before the beginning of the Synod (s. 9.11(1)).  

If a nomination is made close to the time of the Synod, the search committee may have to quickly adopt a process other than that which was used for the previously assessed nominees in order to ensure the newly proposed person meets the canonical requirements. This job falls to the diocesan members of the search committee (there are three members appointed by the metropolitan from outside the diocese who will have finished their work with the committee by this time).    

Canon s. 9.11(2) says the committee must ensure that the CV provided is in an acceptable form, and that the committee will advise the nominators and the Synod of their conclusions. The canon doesn’t say exactly what would happen if the diocesan members of the search committee determined that a proposed nominee was not canonically qualified. Section 9.11(3) indicates that after the search committee makes its report to Synod, the Chair will rule as to the validity of any nomination made by members of Synod. If the nomination is made despite the diocesan search committee concluding that the nominee is not canonically qualified, the committee’s report to Synod should include the reason for having come to that conclusion. The Chair would then make a ruling.