Guidelines



GUIDELINES FOR THE FORMATION OF THE ELECTORAL ROLL
Christ Church, Accokeek
September 2002


We are at a point of new beginning in Christ Church.  We need to reaffirm our identity as a congregation and clarify our expectation about how we are going to make decisions together.  Foundational to the decision-making process is the definition of who the voting members of the parish are. Baptismal membership is established simply by baptism and enrollment in the parish register. Voting membership involves further qualifications.

The Vestry has approved the following four norms as guidelines. These are based on the definition of a "communicant in good standing" as found in the national canons of the Episcopal Church (Title I Canon 17):

  • 1. Have you been Confirmed, or Received, in the Episcopal Church? That is, have you made an adult reaffirmation of your baptismal promises with prayer and the laying on of hands by a bishop of the Episcopal Church)?  Book of Common Prayer, pp. 302-305; 413-419
  • 2.  Are you committed to Christ's ministry of reconciliation and service in St. John's Parish?
  • 3.  Have you been "faithful in corporate worship" in Christ Church, receiving communion usually at least once a month during the past year?
  • 4.  Have you been "faithful in giving" financially to the support of the parish during the past six months in proportion to your financial resources?
     

Related Parish By-Laws:
Sec. 1 Members Entitled to Vote at the Meetings of the Parish
All voters shall be: (i) members of the Church in good standing (as defined in Canon I. 17 Secs. 1 and 3 of the General Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church [GC 2000  edition]); (ii) at least 18 years of age, when not prohibited by public law;  (iii) financial contributors of record to the Parish for six months preceding the Annual Meeting; and (iv) enrolled as a qualified voter for not less than one month prior to the meeting.
Sec. 9. Vestry Members to Judge Elections:
The Vestry shall be the judge of the election of Vestry members, and of the qualifications of voters, and the qualifications of the parishioners proposed to be elected Vestry members.