Every Priest or Deacon of this Church shall be and is amenable and subject to the judicial authority of the Ordinary of the Diocese or other such jurisdiction within which he is canonically resident or licensed for all offences committed by him against the Discipline of the Church and the laws ecclesiastical.
Without restricting the generality of the foregoing Preface, the following in particular shall be deemed ecclesiastical offences and triable and punishable under the provisions of this Canon:
(a) Any criminal, immoral, dishonorable, or disorderly conduct of evil report or giving cause for scandal;
(b) Heresy or the teaching or maintaining of heretical doctrines by preaching, by teaching or writing, or by editing, publishing or circulating books, pamphlets or newspapers.
(c) Holding and teaching publicly or privately and advisedly, any doctrine contrary to that held by this Church;
(d) The wilful infringement or disregard of the Standards of Public Worship as set forth in the Constitution of this Church and these Canons;
(e) Knowingly celebrating marriages between two persons within the Degrees of Kindred and Affinity, as set forth in these Canons;
(f) Contumacy or persistence in disrespectful or disobedient conduct towards the Bishop Ordinary of that Diocese or other such jurisdiction concerned in any matter ir. which that Bishop is lawfully or canonically, or both, entitled to Obedience;
(g) Habitual irregularity or neglect in the performance of the Offices and other Services of the Church;
(h) Any unauthorized introduction of innovations or novelties in the performance of the Worship of this Church;
(i) Knowingly permitting unauthorized persons to officiate in the Church;
(j) Habitually absenting himself from Divine Worship;
(k) Schism or separation from the Communion of this Church;
(1) Abandoning his Charge without license or leave;
(m) Exercising any lay profession or secular occupation inconsistent with his sacred calling, except as authorized by his Ordinary or the Canons of this Church or of the Provincial Synod concerned;
(n) Any act which involves a violation of his Ordination oaths or vows, or both; or
(o) Wilful violation of the Constitution or Canons, or both, of this Church or of the Constitution or Canons, or both, of the Province or of the Diocese or other such jurisdiction, or both, within which he is canonically resident or licensed.
The following sentences may be pronounced and penalties imposed for offences listed under this Canon:
(a) For any of the Offences set out in clause (a) of Section 1.01 of this Canon, suspension, deprivation, deposition, or degradation according to the gravity or persistence of the offence.
(b) For any of the offences set out in clauses (b), (c), or (k) of Section 1.01 of this Canon, admonition or suspension, or for a second or the continuance of such offence, deprivation or deposition.
(c) For any of the offences set out in clause (m) of Section 1.01 of this Canon, admonition, or for a second or for the continuance of such offence, suspension or deprivation.
(d) For any of the offences set out in clauses (d), (e), (h), or (o) of Section 1.01 of this Canon, admonition, and for a second offence or the continuance of such offence, suspension.
(e) For any of the offences set out in clauses (f), (g), (i), (j), (1), or (n) of Section 1.01 of this Canon, admonition or suspension.
(a) Admonition may be in public or in private, as that Bishop Ordinary concerned may determine.
(b) It shall be within the power of every Diocesan Bishop or Bishop Ordinary of this Church, by virtue of his Office, and not inconsistent with or contrary to these Canons, to admonish those offending, for any offence mentioned in these Canons, not made a subject for enquiry, and such admonition shall be made in private; but upon subsequent offence it shall be in public or in private at the discretion of that Diocesan Bishop or Bishop Ordinary concerned and made in such manner as to that Diocesan Bishop or Bishop Ordinary seems proper.
(a) When the penalty of suspension is inflicted the sentence shall specify on what terms or at what time the suspension shall cease.
(b) During his suspension, such Clergyman shall not exercise the function of his ministry, either in his own parish or elsewhere in this Church under pain of deprivation.
(c) During such suspension that Diocesan Bishop or Bishop Ordinary concerned may deprive such suspended Clergyman of the whole or part of the stipend, income or emoluments of his congregation, parish, or mission, as the case may be, and may appoint another Clergyman in the place of such suspended Clergyman and may apply the whole or a part of such stipend, income, or emoluments to the payment of such substitute.
If any Clergyman of this Church has committed, or, on reasonable grounds, is believed to have been guilty of, any of the foregoing ecclesiastical offences, the Ordinary within whose Diocese or such other jurisdiction the offence is alleged to have taken place or within which the Clergyman is canonically resident, on the written application of at least two unrelated accusers of demonstrable reliability, commonly called Promoters, who should be communicants of this Church, or upon his own motion, may summon that Clergyman to appear before him in private; and, upon confession of the offence alleged, may give such counsel as may be proper and, if the accused be canonically resident within the said Diocese of other such jurisdiction of the Ordinary concerned, said Ordinary may pronounce such sentence as may be proper. Also
(a) If that Bishop should consider the aforesaid matter to be of such a character or magnitude as to require it to be placed on record, in such case the accusation shall be reduced to a definite form; there shall be added the confession signed by the accused party, and the same, with the sentence pronounced, shall be recorded in the records of the Diocesan Court of the ordinary or that Consistory Court concerned; or
(b) If the accused party shall not admit or confess the aforesaid offence alleged, and that Bishop be of the opinion that there is probable cause for further enquiry, the Bishop shall forward the written accusation signed by the aforesaid Promoters to his Diocesan Court of the Ordinary or Consistory Court for presentment and trial in the manner provided for by Diocesan Canon or Canons of that other such jurisdiction.
The charge shall be prosecuted by the Church Advocate thereof.
If the Bishop Ordinary before whom such offence is confessed in Section 1.05 above of this Canon be not the Ordinary of the Diocese or such other jurisdiction in which the accused in canonically resident, then that Bishop shall forward written notice of the charge and the confession to the Ordinary of the Diocese or such other jurisdiction concerned wherein the accused is canonically resident for proper disposition in accordance with the Canons of this Church. Also
(a) If the Bishop of the jurisdiction wherein the aforesaid offence is alleged should consider the matter to be of such a character or magnitude as to require it to be placed on record, the accusation shall be reduced to a definite form and a certified copy of which, together with a certified copy of the confession signed by the accused party, shall be filed and entered in the records of his own Diocesan Court or Consistory Court; or
(b) If the aforementioned accused party shall not admit or confess the aforesaid offence alleged, and the Bishop of the jurisdiction wherein the offence is alleged to have occurred be of the opinion that there is probable cause for further enquiry, that Bishop shall forward the written accusation signed by the aforesaid Promoters in Section 1.02 above of this Canon to the Ordinary of the Diocese or other such jurisdiction concerned within which the aforesaid accused is canonically resident. In which case the latter Bishop shall elect either to authorize the forwarding Bishop to institute proceedings against the aforesaid Clergyman in accordance with the Canons, rules, and regulations governing Discipline in respect of such offence alleged in the Court of the forwarding jurisdiction, or to refer the matter to his own Court as if the matter had arisen in his own jurisdiction.
If any Clergyman is charged as described aforesaid in Section 1.05 above of this Canon in any Diocese or such other jurisdiction of this Church in which he is licensed but in which he is not canonically resident, the Ordinary of that Diocese or such other jurisdiction concerned may proceed, upon the consent of the Bishop Ordinary in whose jurisdiction the accused is canonically resident, as if the accused were canonically resident where he is licensed.
If such consent is withheld, the Bishop refusing such consent shall proceed without delay to trial of the charges in accordance with the Canons of his own Diocese or such other jurisdiction.
No presentment shall be made or conviction had for any offence, unless the offence shall have been committed within five years immediately preceding the time of presentment, except that in a case of a conviction in a Court of Record exercising criminal jurisdiction, a presentment may be made at any time within one year after such conviction notwithstanding five years may have elapsed since commission of the offence.
(a) If presentment shall have been made against any Clergyman, or in the case of any Clergyman convicted of any crime or misdemeanor involving immorality, or against whom a judgement has been entered in a Court of Record in a civil cause involving immorality, or in the case of the abandonment of the Communion of this Church by a Clergyman, the Bishop in whose jurisdiction the aforesaid Clergyman is canonically resident may, upon probable cause, inhibit such Clergyman from officiating in that jurisdiction until after the judgement of the Trial Court becomes final, or sentence has been pronounced.
Also,
(b) In every case in which from the nature of the offence charged it appears to the Diocesan Bishop or Bishop Ordinary concerned that a great scandal is likely to arise from the alleged offender continuing to perform the services of the Church, while such charge is pending, the aforesaid Bishop may cause a notice to be served on the offender inhibiting him from performing any service of the Church either within the Diocese or other such jurisdiction of the said Bishop or elsewhere in this Church, pending such investigation, or until the said Bishop shall withdraw the inhibition, or until sentence has been given in the case.
(c) No Clergyman inhibited under the preceding sub-sections of this Canon shall be deprived, during continuance of such inhibition, of any of the emoluments of his Office.
(d) The aforesaid Diocesan Bishop or Bishop Ordinary concerned may at any time revoke such inhibition.
2.01 By the Common Law of the Church, this Church recognizes that any Bishop of a Diocese or other such jurisdiction may try cases of offences against the Doctrine and Faith of the Church in his own Consistory Court, or he may choose to forward such cases by Letters of Request to the Court of the Metropolitan or the Provincial Court for trial and disposition in the first instance.
2.02 Also it is clearly recognized in this Church, by the same Common Law of the Church, that if any such Bishop be negligent or reluctant in dealing with any such offence or situation within his jurisdiction, especially wherein there is open scandal or harm to the Church or the faithful, the Metropolitan may order such a case to be tried in his own Provincial Court in the first instance, for the protection of the Church and the faithful, whether the aforesaid Bishop has consented and agreed or not.
No Clergyman of this Church may be deprived of an ecclesiastical Office or benefice, or be deposed from the Sacred Ministry, unless elsewhere provided, except he first be properly charged and tried in the Consistory Court wherein he is canonically resident, and upon the determination by the presiding judge, with the consent of the majority of the Court, that such is the sentence and that such sentence is appropriate to the offence tried, the Bishop of that Diocese or other such jurisdiction, shall enter the said Court with his Chancellor, if there be one, and the two Priests of seniority of that Diocese or other such jurisdiction, and the Bishop, after being informed by the judge of the nature of the offence and having declared himself satisfied that it was proved, shall read aloud, sign, and affix his Seal to the sentence of deprivation from such ecclesiastical Office or benefice.
In sentences of deposition from the Sacred Ministry, the Bishop of that Diocese or jurisdiction, in the presence of the aforesaid witnesses, shall himself pronounce aloud and sign the sentence of deposition, affixing thereto his seal. The aforesaid witnesses shall attest the said document of deposition.
If the sentence of deposition from the Sacred Ministry is appealed, it shall be appealed directly to the Metropolitan of that Province himself, who shall summon the aforesaid Clergyman to appear before him in person. After which the Metropolitan shall make his own determination of the case. he shall either confirm the sentence, or assign it to his Provincial Court for further hearing, or make other adjudication.
Upon a sentence of deprivation being pronounced, the connection between the offender and his congregation, parish, or mission shall be ipso facto severed, and all Offices, income, stipends, rents, issues, profits, and emoluments, if any, which he may hold by virtue of such Office or Ministry, from which he has been removed, shall wholly cease and determine.
Any Clergyman so sentenced shall be and remain so deprived until restored by the Bishop who deprived him or by his Successor in that See or other such jurisdiction, and while deprived, and until restored, shall be incapable of holding Office or performing any function in any Diocese or other such jurisdiction of this Church.
A certified copy of the sentence shall be sent to the Offender and copies thereof shall be sent to all Clergymen canonically resident within that Diocese or other such jurisdiction, and shall be read or given such publicity as the Bishop thereof may deem expedient.
Upon a sentence of deposition from the Sacred Ministry being pronounced, such sentence shall include all the consequences of deprivation, and at the same time depose the offender from any Office he may hold and from the Sacred Ministry entirely, being also permanently inhibited and suspended from any exercise thereof.
Any Clergyman so sentenced shall be and remain so deposed from the Sacred Ministry and may only be restored by the Bishop who deposed him, or by his Successor in that See or other such jurisdiction, upon the grant of a specific Faculty from the Primate of this Church to so do, or, there being yet no Primate, then the Metropolitan of the Original Province of this Church.
When any offence, upon being proven in any Diocesan or Consistory Court of this Church, is deemed to be of such gravity that the sentence of degradation is to be pronounced upon any Clergyman canonically resident in that Diocese or other such jurisdiction, the Bishop thereof shall only so pronounce such sentence with the assistance of two other Bishops having jurisdiction within that Province. It shall be by the determination of the Court and the said Bishop as to whether to proceed also to the Solemn Ceremony of Degradation or no.
If the sentence is appealed, it shall be appealed directly to the Metropolitan of that Province himself, who shall summon the aforesaid Clergyman to appear before him in person. After which the Metropolitan shall make his own determination of the case. He shall either confirm the sentence, or assign it to his Provincial Court for further hearing, or make other adjudication.
Upon a sentence of degradation from holy Order being pronounced, such sentence shall include not only all the consequences of deprivation and deposition from the Sacred Ministry entirely, but also at the same time divest the offender of the Office and Orders conferred on him by ordination.
Any Bishop of this Church pronouncing the sentence of deprivation from ecclesiastical Office or deposition from the Sacred Ministry or degradation from Holy Order as set out in Canons 3 and 4 above of this Title shall send written notice thereof to all the Bishops Ordinary of this Church and to all the Metropolitans or Primates, as the case may be, of Churches in which this Church is in formal or canonical Communion.
6.01 No Clergyman in charge of any congregation, parish, or mission of this Church, or in case of any parochial vacancy or his absence, no Churchwarden, Vestryman, or Trustee of such congregation, parish, or mission shall permit any person to officiate or preach therein, without sufficient evidence of his being duly licensed or appointed by the Ordinary of that jurisdiction concerned.
6.02 When a Bishop Ordinary is aware that a Clergyman not of his jurisdiction or not holding his license, is officiating or about to officiate within his jurisdiction, and when said Bishop shall have good reason to believe that doubts exist regarding that aforesaid Clergyman's orthodoxy, canonical ordination, or good morals, then the Bishop may inhibit him from officiating or preaching within his Diocese or other such jurisdiction, by a writing addressed to him, and to the Clergy, Churchwardens, and Vestries thereof.
6.03 Any Clergyman permitting an unlicensed or unappointed person to officiate or preach for more than one Sunday or, after receipt of the Bishop's inhibition, permitting such inhibited person to perform any clerical function in the congregation, parish, or mission committed to his Charge and Cure, shall be proceeded against by the Bishop for breach of canonical obedience and other provision of these Canons.
7.01 If any Bishop, Priest, or Deacon shall abandon the Communion of this Church, either by an open renunciation of the Doctrine, Discipline, or Worship of this Church, or by a formal admission into any religious body not in formal or canonical Communion with the same, or in any other way or manner, it shall be the duty of the Council of Advice, or other such body, of the Diocese, Missionary Diocese, Missionary District or other such jurisdiction concerned, within which the aforementioned Bishop, Priest, or Deacon is canonically resident, after enquiry to certify the fact to the Metropolitan of that Province in the case of a Bishop, or to the Bishop Ordinary of that jurisdiction in the case of a Priest or Deacon.
Such Certification shall be accompanied by a Statement of the facts, acts, or declarations which constitute such abandonment, which Certificate and Statement shall be recorded in the records of that Diocesan Court of the Ordinary or that Consistory Court and with the Recorder or Registrar of that Diocese or other such jurisdiction, and shall be taken and deemed by that aforesaid Metropolitan or Bishop Ordinary concerned to be the equivalent to a renunciation of the Ministry of the Church by the aforementioned Bishop, Priest, or Deacon himself.
7.02 In the case of a Priest or Deacon, the Bishop Ordinary of that Diocese or other such jurisdiction may then suspend the aforementioned Priest or Deacon from any Office, benefice, or appointment which he may hold in inhibit him from officiating in said Diocese or other such jurisdiction, as the case may be, for six months. Written Notice of such suspension or inhibition shall be given by that aforesaid Bishop Ordinary, with a copy of the aforesaid Certificate and Statement, to the Priest or Deacon so suspended or inhibited that unless he shall, within six months, transmit to that Bishop Ordinary:
(a) A Statutory Declaration or a notarized Declaration that the facts alleged in such Certificate and Statement are false; or
(b) A retraction of such acts ai-id declarations constituting a renunciation of the Doctrine, Discipline, or Worship of this Church or leading to his formal admission into any religious body not in formal or canonical Communion with the same, as the case may be;
he will be deposed from the exercise of his ministry.
7.03 If such Declaration, or retraction be not made or given within six months as aforesaid, it shall be the duty of that Bishop Ordinary to depose the said Priest or Deacon from the exercise of the Ministry, and to pronounce aloud and record such deposition in the presence of at least two Senior Priests of that Diocese or other such jurisdiction by Office and rank, or if there be none, at least two Priests of seniority of that Diocese or other such jurisdiction. The Bishop Ordinary shall sign and affix his Seal to the pronouncement of deposition and the aforesaid witnesses shall attest and sign the pronouncement. Certified copies of the said Document of Deposition shall be sent to the Recorder or Registrar of that Diocese or other such jurisdiction, that Diocesan Court of the Ordinary or Consistory Court, and the said Priest or Deacon deposed from the exercise of the Ministry.
7.04 Notice of such deposition set out in Section 7.03 above of this Canon shall be sent to all the Diocesan Bishops or Bishops Ordinary of this Church.
If the aforementioned Priest or Deacon in Section 7.01 of this Canon shall deny or retract as aforesaid in this Canon, that Bishop ordinary may nevertheless, if he deems proper, make enquiry into the matter upon written notice to the Priest or Deacon and if he should be of the opinion that the complaint was true and that the circumstances are such that the Priest or Deacon should be deposed from the exercise of the Ministry, it shall be the duty of that Bishop ordinary to forward all the pertinent documents, declarations, and certificates to his Diocesan Court of the Ordinary or Consistory Court for presentment and trial.
7.06 The Bishop Ordinary or his Successor in that See or other such jurisdiction may for reasons which he may deem sufficient, terminate such deposition set out in Sections 7.03 and 7.05 above of this Canon and restore such Priest or Deacon to the exercise of his Ministry and give written notice thereof to the Recorder or Registrar of that Diocese or other such jurisdiction, his Court, and all the Diocesan Bishops or Bishops Ordinary of this Church.
7.07 In the case of a Bishop as set out in Section 7.01 above of this Canon, the Metropolitan, with the written consent of three other Bishops ordinary of that Province concerned, shall suspend the said Bishop from the exercise of his Office and Ministry and forward to him official copies of he aforementioned Certificate and Statement.
The Metropolitan shall also give immediately to the said Bishop due written notice of such suspension and that unless he shall, within six months, transmit to that Metropolitan:
(a) A Statutory Declaration or a notarized Declaration that the facts alleged in such Certificate and Statement are false; and
(b) demand a trial;
he shall be liable to deposition from the exercise of his Office and Ministry.
7.08 If such a Declaration specified in Section 7.07 above of this Canon is not made within six months and no trial demanded, then the Metropolitan shall refer the matter to the Primate of this Church, who, together with his College of Bishops, shall consider the case and, with their consent, shall depose said Bishop from the exercise of his Office and Ministry, and pronounce and sign such deposition with his Hand and Seal in the presence of two or more Bishops Ordinary of this Church that such Bishop has been so deposed and that any See, Bishopric, or Office he held is in avoidance and canonically vacant. The witnesses shall also respectively sign their Hand and affix their Episcopal Seal to the document.
The Primate shall forward copies of such deposition to the Registrar of the Holy Synod, the High Court of the Holy Synod, and to the aforesaid deposed Bishop.
Until such time as there shall be, respectively, a Primate of this Church, together with his College of Bishops, the authority and duties assigned unto the same under the provisions of this Canon shall be exercised respectively by the Metropolitan of the Original Province of this Church and his College of Bishops.
7.09 Notices of such deposition set out in Section 7.08 above shall be sent to all the Diocesan Bishops or Bishops Ordinary of this Church and to all Metropolitans or Primates, as the case may be, of Churches in formal or canonical Communion with the same.
7.10 In the event members of the Council of Advice of any Diocese or other such jurisdiction of this Church shall have joined any Bishop, Priest, or Deacon thereof in abandoning the Communion of this Church, the members of that Council of Advice remaining in the Communion of this Church or, if there be none, the Council of Advice of a neighbouring Diocese, Missionary Diocese, Missionary District, or other such jurisdiction of the same may make such Certification and Declaration set out in Section 7.01 above of this Canon directly to the Metropolitan of that Province, or if the Metropolitan thereof be the Bishop alleged to have abandoned the Communion of this Church, then directly to the Primate of the same, or if there be as of yet no Primate, then the Bishop Ordinary next senior in the Province.
If any Priest or Deacon of this Church not under presentment shall declare in writing to the Bishop Ordinary of the Diocese or other such jurisdiction within which he is canonically resident, or in the case that such Bishop be absent, then to the Metropolitan of that Province, his renunciation of the Ministry of this Church and his desire to be removed therefrom, it shall be the duty of the said Bishop Ordinary or Metropolitan, as the case may be, to record such Declaration and request so made.
After being satisfied that the Priest or Deacon so declaring is not amenable for any canonical offence and that his renunciation of the Ministry is not occasioned by foregoing conduct or irregularity, but is voluntary and for causes, assigned or known, which do not affect his moral character, that Bishop Ordinary with the advice and consent of his Council of Advice, or the aforesaid Metropolitan, in the absence of such Bishop Ordinary, with the advice and consent of the Council of Advice of that Diocese or other such jurisdiction concerned, may pronounce in their presence that such renunciation is accepted and that such Priest or Deacon is thereby deposed and released from obligations of the Ministerial Office, and that he is deprived of all exercise of the gifts and spiritual authority as a Minister of God's Word and Sacraments conferred on him by his Ordination. Such Bishop or Metropolitan, as the case may be, shall also declare in pronouncing and recording such action that it was for causes which do not affect the man's moral character, and shall, if desired, certify to this effect to the person so removed and deposed from the ministry.
In cases of Renunciation of the Ministry where there may be a question of any foregoing misconduct or irregularity, the said Bishop Ordinary shall need the consent of two-thirds of his Council of Advice to accept such Renunciation. In cases where the Bishop Ordinary be absent, the aforesaid Metropolitan shall need the consent of two-thirds of the Council of Advice of that Diocese or other such jurisdiction to accept such Renunciation. No Declaration of Renunciation may be accepted or acted upon while the person making such Declaration is under presentment, trial, sentence, or censure.
Notice of such renunciation and deposition shall be sent to all the Diocesan Bishops or Bishops Ordinary of this Church.
The said Bishop Ordinary or his Successor in that See or other such jurisdiction may for reasons which he may sufficient, upon the advice and consent of his Council of Advice, terminate such renunciation and deposition and reinstate such Priest or Deacon to the exercise of his Ministry and such Bishop shall give notice thereof to all Diocesan Bishops and Bishops Ordinary of this Church.
If any Bishop of Otis Church not under presentment shall declare in writing to the Metropolitan of the Province wherein he is a member and exercises his Ministry his renunciation of such Ministry and his desire to be removed therefrom, it shall be the duty of said Metropolitan to record such Declaration and request so made.
After being satisfied that the Bishop so declaring is not amenable for any canonical offence, and that his renunciation of the Ministry is not occasioned by foregoing misconduct or irregularity, but is voluntary and for causes, assigned or known, which do not affect his moral character, the Metropolitan, with the advice and consent of his College of Bishops, may pronounce in their presence that such renunciation is accepted and that such Bishop is thereby deposed and released from the obligations of the Ministerial Office of a Bishop and that he is deprived of all exercise of the gifts and spiritual authority as a Minister of God's Word and Sacraments conferred on him by his Ordination and Consecration. Such Metropolitan shall also declare in pronouncing and recording such action that it was for causes which do not affect the man's moral character, and he shall, if desired, certify to this effect to the person so removed and deposed from that Ministry and Office.
In any case of Renunciation of the Ministry by a Bishop where there may be a question of any foregoing misconduct or irregularity, such Metropolitan shall need the consent of two- thirds of this College of Bishops to accept such renunciation. No Declaration of Renunciation may be accepted or acted upon while the Bishop making such Declaration is under presentment, trial, sentence, or censure.
Notice of such renunciation and deposition shall be sent to all the Diocesan Bishops and Bishops Ordinary of this Church and to all Metropolitans or Primates, as the case may be, of Churches who are in formal or canonical Communion with the same.
All members of the Laity of this Church holding any Office or Appointment therein or thereof, especially Church Wardens, Vestrymen, Trustees, Lay Readers, Deaconesses, and Synod Delegates, shall be amenable for offences against the laws ecclesiastical, and in particular, they shall be liable for presentment, trial and such punishment a may be applicable as provided for Clergymen in these Canons.
The Rubric, attached to the Order of Holy Communion in the Book of Common Prayer, prescribes the manner of proceeding by the Clergyman in charge of any congregation, parish, or mission of this Church toward any member of the Laity guilty of any of the offences therein mentioned, and provides for the reporting of the same to the Bishop thereof.
If the party thus repelled shall think proper to make a complaint in writing to the Bishop Ordinary of that Diocese or other such jurisdiction against the conduct of his Clergyman, in such case it shall be the duty of said Bishop, unless he think it proper to restore him, from the insufficiency of the cause assigned by that Clergyman, to institute an enquiry into the merits of the case.
(a) If that Bishop should not think it proper of his own authority to restore such Layman complaining, a above mentioned, he shall appoint his Diocesan Court of the Ordinary or Consistory court, thereof, to inquire into and try the case;
(b) If said Court reports to such Bishop that the repelled person ought to be restored, the Bishop shall so direct, and no Clergyman of that Diocese or other such jurisdiction shall deny him the Holy Communion;
(c) But if the said Court reports otherwise, or makes no report within three months from being assigned the case in question, the repulsion shall continue in force;
(d) If any judgement of that Bishop or his Court direct a continuance of the repulsion, it shall still be subject to the conditions and provisions of the Rubric; and
(e) Such Bishop may grant a re-hearing thereof.