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1.
Introduction |
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11.
Vestments |
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2.
Work |
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12.
Continued formation |
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3.
Being part of the One Church |
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13.
Holy Orders |
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4.
Working in the community |
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14.
Membership of the Order |
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5.
Liturgy |
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15.
Overseas Provinces |
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6.
Prayer |
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16.
Resignation from the Order |
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7.
The Bible |
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17. |
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8.
The place of ‘the traditions of the church’. |
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18. |
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9.
Language usage |
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19. |
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10.
Authority within the Order |
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20. |
Resignation
from the Order.
1)
Resignation is a last resort and is not something to take lightly.
The Order is a both a community and family which shares a common
vision and bond of unity through Christ
2)
A period of time before a resignation comes into effect may be
requested at the discretion of the Executive Bishop.
3)
A resignation unless for reason of a long term change in family
circumstances, incapacity, age or infirmity may only be accepted
after all avenues have been explored and there is no further
possibility of reconciliation.
4)
A resignation of this kind is a mark of failure on both the
Order’s part and that of the individual member. The Executive
Bishop shall endeavour to make a full enquiry (or appoint another to
do so on his/her behalf) and respond appropriately.
5)
Those who have resigned their membership of the Order and wish to
re-apply will be treated as a new applicant and shall undergo the
full membership applications procedure as part of a discerning and
healing process. This is not meant to be threatening or retributive
in any way but is meant to provide a simple mechanism for open and
frank discussion by both the Order and the re-applicant.
6)
An advocate may be chosen to represent a re-applicant if they wish
to have the support of another member of the Order. This is
appropriate as a reflection of our faith just as Christ is our
advocate before God.
7)
Acceptance or re-acceptance, as with any application, is by no means
a foregone conclusion but it will be subject to the seeking of the
will of God and be undertaken in a spirit of Christian love and forgiveness.
8)
A second or further resignation may however be considered as
irrevocable unless there are special or extenuating circumstances. No
general ruling can be given as to how this shall be applied other
than any resignation, whether tendered or accepted, should be
carefully considered and measured against the discerned will of God,
and not made or accepted in haste or anger.
9)
A sabbatical may be offered or requested (or at the discretion of
the Executive Bishop be instructed in a spirit of Christian love) as
an appropriate alternative to resignation to allow time for proper
consideration and reflection.
10)
The Executive Bishop may assume a resignation has been tendered by a
member by implication if they have not reasonably responded to
communication, cannot provide evidence of continued ministry or have
not contributed to or participated in the Order's affairs over a
continuous period of time. Members affected by this clause will be
informed and will have reasonable time to respond to protect their
continued membership of the Order. However, the Executive Bishop
retains the right in such circumstances to terminate, re-assign or
request re-application for membership in the best interests of the
Order and its ministry.
11)
In all things, forgiveness must be pre-eminent in the actions of all
involved but it must be remembered that even after forgiveness has
taken place we all have to live with the consequences of our own
actions and the responses of others to those actions, whatever they
are. We have collective responsibility for all that happens within
the Order, whether we have been directly involved or not, and our
responses should fulfil the words, ‘Love never fails’. (1
Corinthians 13). |
