Following a joint meeting of the standing committee and diocesan council, the Rt. Rev. John W. Howe, Bishop of Central Florida, announced Nov. 15 that they were unable to agree upon a protocol for congregations desiring to secede from The Episcopal Church.
 
The rejected proposal would have permitted a departing congregation to purchase church property from the diocese provided that they made adequate provision for those members who desired to remain Episcopalians and participated in a parish discernment process devised and supervised by the diocese.
 
The diocese’s special task force on property would seek to revise the document, Bishop Howe said, for reconsideration at a joint meeting on Dec. 13.
 
Participants to the joint meeting were able to agree on the language of a proposed amendment to the diocesan constitution for consideration at the annual convention to be held Jan. 25-26, 2008, at St. James’, Ormond Beach. The proposed revision to Article 3 of the diocesan constitution would delete a statement that the diocese gives an unqualified “adhesion” to the constitution and canons of The Episcopal Church.
 
The proposed revision states that Central Florida is a “constituent member of the Anglican Communion, a fellowship of those duly constituted dioceses, provinces, and regional churches in communion with the See of Canterbury, upholding the propagating the historic faith and order as set forth in the Book of Common Prayer. So long as The Episcopal Church is the constituent member province of the Anglican Communion with rightful jurisdiction in this country, the Diocese of Central Florida declares its adhesion to the same and accedes to its constitution and canons.”
 
The proposed revision to the constitution passed the joint meeting on a unanimous voice vote.
 
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