Invitation to the 2021 FIFNA Assembly and AWI Conference July 7-10
It is great relief and pleasure to be able to invite you to attend the 2021 FIFNA Assembly, being held in conjunction with the Anglican Way Institute Conference in Dallas, Texas July 7-10. This event had to be cancelled in 2020, and our abbreviated Assembly was held by phone-in only.
We will begin a new era in our ministry at our Assembly as we elect a new President and vote on significant changes to our Constitution and Ordinances to equip us for the ministry opportunities and challenges we face in a realigned Anglicanism in North America. The list of positions open and current slate of nominees, as well as the proposed changes to our organizational documents, will be posted online. Our Assembly will open on Wednesday, July 7, at 1:00 pm. All our activities, as well as the Conference, will take place at the Church of the Holy Communion in Dallas.
The important Teaching we have always offered at our Assemblies will happen at the AWI Conference. Keynote Speaker Dr. Peter Kreeft will be giving 4 addresses on The Apologetics of CS Lewis. In my ministry, I have used more books by Dr. Kreeft in adult education than anyone except CS Lewis, so this will be a special blessing to me as well as all who will attend. In addition, Bishop Sutton will give an Opening Address on Lewis, and I will offer one on the Theology of Charles Williams, a friend of Lewis who was also influential in his life and thought. Bishop Sutton will also be the Speaker after our FIFNA Dinner the evening of the 7th.
To facilitate our attendance, we are offering scholarships to attendees of up to $500. These funds will be available upon request to reimburse travel expenses. Registration costs will be $35 for the Assembly and Dinner on Wednesday, plus the special rate of $75 for FIFNA members for the Conference. Further information is found on the AWI flyer.
To register for the Assembly and Conference, please contact Cathy Heissenhuber at holycommuniondallas.org or at (972) 896-6458.
Thank you for your support of FIFNA, and I hope that you will be able to attend this important event. If not, please keep it and those who will be attending in your prayers.
Faithfully, Fr. Lawrence Bausch
President, FIFNA
FIFNA Council Positions Open For Election at The Assembly
President, 1 Clergy & 1 Lay
Nominees at Present:
Bishop Eric Menees, President, Fr. Terry Moore, Clergy, Br. Kirt Gerber OSB, Lay.
If Bishop Menees is elected President, Bishop Clark has accepted nomination to the Council as an Episcopal member.
Proposed Changes to the FIFNA Constitution And Ordinances
3rd Draft as revised by All Council Meeting
Proposed amendments to the
CONSTITUTION AND ORDINANCES OF
FORWARD IN FAITH, NORTH AMERICA
2 December 2020
CONSTITUTION
PREAMBLE: OBJECTS
Forward in Faith, North America (heretofore known as The Episcopal Synod of America) is an Organization of persons, associations, and other bodies which have assented to the Declaration of Common Faith and Purpose (including the Agreed Statement on Communion), established to preserve and extend evangelical faith and catholic order in accordance with the principles set out in those documents. In furtherance of this mission, the Organization shall have the following powers:
* To provide spiritual support to all who in conscience are unable to accept the ordination of women to the presbyterate and episcopate, and any other deviation from apostolic faith and practice and Biblical teachings through the Church regarding Human Sexuality as revealed in God our Father’s plan for Human Sexuality in Creation.
* To do all such lawful things as may be conducive or incidental to the attainment of the objects of the Organization to the extension of evangelical faith and catholic order, and to the strengthening and encouragement of its members in their common life in Christ and His Church
* To print, publish, issue, and circulate literature in the interests of the Organization
* To co‑operate, associate, or amalgamate with any institution, society, body or association carrying on or engaged in, or about to carry on or engage in, any business or activity capable of being conducted so as directly or indirectly to benefit the Organization
* To employ such staff on such reasonable terms and conditions to perform such duties as may be authorized by its Council.
ARTICLE I: MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. Forward in Faith, North America (also referred to herein as “the Organization”) is a voluntary association of Anglican Christians committed to upholding Evangelical Faith and Catholic Order on the North American continent, and called to proclaim and propagate this Faith and Order.
Section 2. Types and Categories of Affiliation. Corporate entities and persons may join Forward in Faith, North America as provided below:
- Corporate categories
(1) Subject to approval by a majority vote of the Council, a Congregation located in North America, Central America, South America or the Caribbean (hereafter “The Americas”)which is in union or communion with a Province of the Anglican Communion including the Anglican Church in North America or an ecclesial body in communion with Forward in Faith, North America (hereinafter “The Anglican Communion”) may join the Organization by adopting the Declaration of Common Faith and Purpose through a majority vote of its active membership and by paying annually the subscription set by the Council. Such congregations are known as Member Congregations.
Any other organization, body or agency located in The Americas in the Anglican Communion may join the Organization by adopting the Declaration of Common Faith and Purpose through a majority vote of its governing body and by paying annually the subscription set by the Council. Such bodies are known as Member Bodies.
(2) Subject to approval by a majority vote of the Council, a Congregation located in The Americas which is not in union or communion with the Anglican Communion may join the Organization by adopting the Declaration of Common Faith and Purpose through a majority vote of its active membership. Such congregations are known as Partner Congregations.
Any other organization, body or agency located in The Americas which is not in union or communion with the Anglican Communion may join the Organization by adopting the Declaration of Common Faith and Purpose through a majority vote of its governing body. Such bodies are known as Partner Bodies.
(3) The Assembly of Forward in Faith, North America, is empowered to revoke by majority vote the Member or Partner status of any Congregation or other Body which, subsequent to signing the Declaration of Common Faith and Purpose, is deemed to have acted in a manner indicating that it no longer adheres to the principles contained therein.
- Personal categories
(1) Baptized persons domiciled in The Americas who are members of the Anglican Communion may join the Organization by subscribing to its Declaration of Common Faith and Purpose and by paying annually the subscription set by the Council. Such persons shall be known as Members and shall be entitled to seat, voice and vote in deliberative bodies thereof.
(2) Baptized persons domiciled in The Americas who are not members of the Anglican Communion may join the Organization by subscribing to its Declaration of Common Faith and Purpose and by paying annually the subscription set by the Council. Such persons shall be known as Partners and shall be entitled to seat and voice but not vote in in deliberative bodies thereof.
(3) Anglican Christians who are domiciled outside The Americas, may join the Organization by subscribing to its Declaration of Common Faith and Purpose and by paying annually the subscription set by the Council. Such persons shall be known as International Adjuncts, and shall be welcome to attend deliberative bodies of the Organization.
(4) The Council, by majority vote, may deny membership in this Organization to any person it deems to have signed the Declaration of Common Faith and Purpose without acceptance of and intention to adhere to the principles contained therein. It is also empowered to expel from membership any person who, subsequent to signing the Declaration of Common Faith and Purpose, is deemed to have acted in a manner indicating that he or she no longer adheres to the principles contained therein.
ARTICLE II: THE ASSEMBLY OF FORWARD IN FAITH, NORTH AMERICA
Section 1. The Assembly of Forward in Faith, North America shall consist of a single House, the members of which shall sit, deliberate, and vote together. No person shall serve in the Assembly without having first signed the Declaration of Common Faith and Purpose.
Section 2. Every Bishop, active or retired, of a Province of the Anglican Communion including the Anglican Church in North America or of an ecclesial body in communion with the same or with Forward in Faith, North America, who exercises his ministry in The Americas, who has signed the Declaration of Common Faith and Purpose shall have seat, voice and vote as a Member in the Assembly.
Other Bishops of the Church, exercising their ministries in The Americas, who have signed the Declaration of Common Faith and Purpose, may be admitted by majority vote of the Council to seat and voice but not vote as Associate Members in the Assembly.
Section 3. Every Member in Good Standing attending the annual assembly shall be entitled to seat, voice and vote. If a special election is called pursuant to Art. II, sec. 5 below, Members in Good Standing, regardless of their physical presence or absence, will be allowed to vote as determined by the Council.
Section 4. The constitutional officers and other members of the Council of Forward in Faith, North America, shall have seat, voice, and vote in the Assembly.
Section 5. A regular meeting of the Assembly of Forward in Faith, North America, shall be held each year. A special meeting may be called by the President, or by action of a majority of the Council. Unless otherwise provided herein, the Assembly may act at either a regular or special meeting by vote of a majority of those Members present and qualified to vote. In addition, under emergency circumstances as declared by the Council, ballots by Members not able to be present on specific issues as communicated to the membership no later than 30 days prior to an assembly duly called may be allowed.
ARTICLE III: THE OFFICERS
Section 1. The following officers of Forward in Faith, North America shall be elected from among the Members of the Organization for a term of three years at the annual meeting of the Assembly, by vote of a majority of those Members present and qualified to vote, and shall perform the usual and necessary duties connected with their office (as set forth in the most recent edition of Robert’s Rules of Order, Revised) and other such duties as shall from time to time be assigned to them by action of the Assembly or the Council: a President, two Vice Presidents, a Secretary, and a Treasurer. [The President and two Vice Presidents shall be members of the clergy.] The Second Vice-President and the Secretary will be elected in each year following the election of the President; and a Treasurer in each second year after his election.
The Bishop of the Missionary Diocese of All Saints or his representative shall serve as First Vice-President. The Second Vice-President shall be a Member of the Episcopal Church. The Second Vice-President shall be charged with special ministry to members within The Episcopal Church. He shall be designated “Chairman of the Episcopal Desk.”
Section 2. In the event of the resignation, death, or incapacity of an Officer, the Council shall by majority vote elect a Member of the Organization to serve the remainder of that Officer’s term, provided that the Council shall submit its action for ratification by the next annual meeting of the Assembly. If the President is affected as described above, the First Vice-President shall be responsible for calling the council for the purpose of selecting a replacement. In the event that the action of the Council is not ratified, the Assembly shall elect a Member of the organization to fill the balance of the unexpired term.
ARTICLE IV: THE COUNCIL
Section 1. The Council shall consist of the elected officers and nine (9) persons elected at large from among the Members of the Organization, three of them Bishops, three of them Priests, and three of them members of the Laity, one person in each order to be elected each year for a three‑year term.
Section 2. The Council shall be empowered to act in place of the Assembly between meetings of that body for all purposes except for the adoption or amendment of the Constitution and Ordinances.
Section 3. The duties of the Council shall be to carry out the mission of Forward in Faith, North America as set forth in the Preamble to this Constitution and to implement such policies and resolutions as may be adopted by the Assembly.
Section 4. In the event of the resignation, death, or incapacity of Member of the Council, the Council shall by majority vote elect a Member of the Organization to serve the remainder of that Member’s term, provided that the Council shall submit its action for ratification by the next annual meeting of the Assembly. In the event that the action of the Council is not ratified, the Assembly shall elect a Member of the organization to fill the balance of the unexpired term.
Section 5. The Council may select, for such terms as it shall determine, Adjunct Members and appointed officers who shall enjoy seat and voice, but not vote, in its deliberations. All Bishops domiciled in The Americas who are members of The Anglican Communion, who have signed the Declaration of Common Faith and Purpose and have paid annually the subscription set by the Council, but are not serving as elected Officers or Members of the Council, all former Presidents of Forward in Faith, North America and of the Episcopal Synod of America not serving as elected Officers or Members of the Council, and the Chairmen or Presidents of the international Forward in Faith organizations (or their nominated representatives) shall be Adjunct Members of the Council ex officio.
ARTICLE V: QUORUMS
Section 1. Unless otherwise provided, the Assembly shall act in all matters before it, including elections, by majority vote of Members who are present and qualified to vote. The Council shall act in all matters before it by majority vote of the Officers and elected members of Council who are present and qualified to vote. All subsidiary legislative meetings of the Organization shall act in all matters before them by majority vote of Members who are present and registered for the meeting. It shall be within the power of each such body, however, (subject to the Constitution and Ordinances) to determine a different number of persons necessary to constitute a quorum for the conduct of business.
Section 2. In the absence of a quorum no business shall be transacted by the Assembly, the Council, and any subsidiary legislative meeting of the Organization except that it may adjourn sine die or from day to day until a quorum is present.
ARTICLE VI: AMENDMENT
This Constitution may be amended by a two‑thirds vote of those Members present and qualified to vote at the annual meeting of the Assembly. Unless otherwise provided in the amending resolution, all amendments shall take effect upon the adjournment of the meeting of said Assembly at which they were adopted.
ARTICLE VII: FINANCIAL PROVISIONS
Section 1. No part of the net earnings of Forward in Faith, North America shall inure to the benefit of any Member of that body, or any private individual, except that reasonable compensation may be paid for services rendered to or for Forward in Faith, North America, in accordance with the principles set forth in its Declaration of Common Faith and Purpose, its Agreed Statement on Communion, and this Constitution; and no such person shall be entitled to share in the distribution of any of its assets on dissolution of Forward in Faith, North America. Forward in Faith, North America shall not undertake any activities which may have the effect of attempting to influence public legislation (except as otherwise provided in Sections 501(h) and 4911 of the Internal Revenue Code), nor shall it in any way, including the publication or distribution of statements, participate or intervene in any political campaign on behalf of, or in opposition to, any candidate for public office.
Section 2. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Constitution, Forward in Faith, North America shall not conduct or carry on any activities not permitted to be conducted or carried on by an organization exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Code and the Regulations of the Internal Revenue Service as they now exist or as they may hereafter be amended, or by an organization, contributions to which are deductible under Section 170(c)(2) of the Code and the applicable regulations of the Internal Revenue Service as they now exist or as they may hereafter be amended.
Section 3. Forward in Faith, North America, may appeal for and accept gifts, donations, subscriptions, and collections, and, under the direction of the Council, apply the same for the objects of the Organization, or invest the same in such manner as may be thought fit, and apply the income thereof for any of the objects of the Organization, with power to vary the said investments, and to resort to the capital thereof if and when required for any of the said objects.
Section 4. Forward in Faith, North America, may, by action of the Council, borrow, raise, or secure the payment of money for the purposes of, or in connection with, the Organization’s objectives in such manner and upon such terms as the Council may think fit.
Section 5. Forward in Faith, North America, may, under the direction of the Council, institute, conduct, defend, or compromise legal proceedings by and against the Organization.
Section 6. Forward in Faith, North America, may, under the direction of the Council, establish and support or to aid in the establishment and support of any associations, institutions, funds and trusts, and any educational, literary, religious, or charitable institutions, and any club or establishment calculated to advance the interests of the Organization.
Section 7. Forward in Faith, North America, under the direction of its Treasurer, shall keep true accounts of the sums of money received and expended by the Organization, and the matter in respect of which such receipts and expenditures take place, and of the property, assets, and liabilities of the Organization, and regularly report the same to the Council. It shall be an obligation of the Organization once at least in every year to have the accounts of the Organization examined and the correctness of the balance sheet ascertained by a Certified Public Accountant.
Section 8. No officers or members of the Council shall receive any stipend or other form of remuneration for the performance of their duties; they may, however, receive reimbursement for reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of the duties of their office or of such other duties as may be assigned them in the service of the organization as may be permitted under policies and rules adopted by the Council.
Section 9. Upon dissolution of Forward in Faith, North America or the winding up of its affairs, the assets of Forward in Faith, North America shall be distributed exclusively to one or more organizations, selected by the Council, which are exempt from income tax under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3) for one or more purposes that are exempt under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3). Upon the dissolution of a unincorporated local or regional body of Forward in Faith, North America or the winding up of its affairs, the assets of such unincorporated body shall be distributed exclusively to the ESA Missionary Society, Inc.
ORDINANCES
Ordinance I.
Section 1. The financial support of Forward in Faith, North America is a voluntary obligation of its Members and Partners. The Council shall prepare a budget for each calendar year and present it to the annual meeting of the Assembly preceding the beginning of that year for approval, which shall also include the amount to be asked of Members and Partners as dues for the succeeding year, the amount of which shall be sufficient, together with other anticipated revenues, to fund the budget approved by the Assembly.
Section 2. The Council may by majority vote authorize the President or a person designated by him to address an appeal for additional funds for the general purposes of the Organization or for some specific purpose to each Member and Partner, and to each Member or Partner Congregation, Member or Partner Body, and local or regional body.
Ordinance II. Task Forces
Section 1. Task Forces may be established by action of the Assembly of Forward in Faith, North America, or of its Council.
Section 2. The President shall appoint a Convener for each Task Force, who shall serve as its presiding officer.
Section 3. The Members of each Task Force may be appointed by the President, or by its Convener with the approval of the President.
Section 4. The Assembly shall make provision for the expenses of each Task Force in the annual budget of the Organization. Adjustments must be approved by majority vote of the Council. The Convener of each Task Force shall submit an account of funds disbursed during the preceding calendar year within thirty (30) days after the end of that year.
Ordinance III: Amendment
These Ordinances may be amended by a majority vote of those Members present and qualified to vote at the annual meeting of the Assembly. Unless otherwise provided in the amending resolution, all amendments shall take effect upon the adjournment of the meeting of said Assembly at which they were adopted.