CANON 43: OF THE PROVINCIAL STANDING COMMITTEE

Amended Provincial Synod 2021

1.   Functions

The functions of the Provincial Standing Committee shall be to:
(a)   perform such tasks as may be committed to it by Provincial Synod for the furtherance of the Church’s mission, well being and unity;
(b)   take action on such matters as may require attention, from time to time, between sessions of Synod;
(c)   advise the Metropolitan in regard to such matters as the Metropolitan may refer to it, or the Committee may desire to bring to the notice of the Metropolitan;
(d)   deal with such matters as may be referred to it by the Metropolitan or by the Synod of Bishops, including subjects of Anglican and ecumenical concern;
(e)   assist in the direction of and co-ordinate the work of publications, mission, religious education, justice and reconciliation, youth, spirituality, the environment, communications and other matters in which this Church may be engaged, and to establish appropriate structures, where necessary, for these or other purposes;
(f)   administer the Common Provincial Fund between sessions of Provincial Synod, and
(g)   report to each session of Provincial Synod on its work since the preceding session of Synod, and to make such recommendations as it may think fit.

2.  Meetings

The Committee shall meet once a year except in years when a session of Provincial Synod occurs. Additional meetings may be called at the Metropolitan’s discretion. Notice of meetings shall be given 120 days before the date of the meeting.

3(a)(i)   Composition, Alternative Representatives, Period of office representatives

The Provincial Standing Committee shall consist of the Metropolitan (who shall chair the Committee), the diocesan bishops (or in any case a commissary chosen by the bishop to attend in the Bishop’s stead, who may be a suffragan in the diocese) and one clerical and one lay representative of each diocese, elected together with alternates by the Synod of each Diocese by their respective orders; also all bishops suffragan, who shall have the right to speak but not to vote. Such representatives shall hold office until the session of Diocesan Synod following the ordinary session of the Provincial Synod and shall be eligible for re-election.

3(a)(ii)  Diaconate Representation

The Metropolitan shall, after due consideration, nominate two representatives of the permanent diaconate to Provincial Standing Committee who shall have been representatives thereof at the previous session of Provincial Synod (or who are permanent deacons in any diocese of the Province should there have been no such representatives at the said previous session of Provincial Synod). These nominated representatives shall have all the rights and privileges of elected representatives, including the power to vote.

3(a)(iii)  Mother’s Union and Anglican Women’s Fellowship

3. (a) (iii) The Mothers’ Union and the Anglican Women’s Fellowship shall each be entitled to send one representative to Provincial Standing Committee. Each such representative shall be a confirmed communicant over the age of 18 years and an office-bearer of the provincial executive in the organisation concerned and must ordinarily reside in one of the dioceses of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa. Each such representative shall have all the rights and privileges of elected representatives, including the right to speak but not to vote.

3(a)(iv)  Youth Representatives

The Metropolitan shall nominate two youth representatives to Provincial Standing Committee who shall be confirmed communicants over the age of 18 and office-bearers of provincial youth organisations or structures recognised by the Church of this Province in terms of section 2(b) of Canon 1. The nominated youth representatives shall have all the rights and privileges of elected representatives, including the power to vote.

(v)  The Metropolitan shall nominate one environmental representative to the Provincial Standing Committee who shall be a confirmed communicant over the ages of 18 years and office-bearers of the ACSA Environmental Network. The nominated representative shall have the rights and privileges of elected representatives, including the right to speak and to vote

3(b)  Casual Vacancies

A casual vacancy in the representatives or alternates of a diocese shall be filled by an election at a Diocesan Synod held between Provincial Synods or, failing such Diocesan Synod, by the Diocesan Council or such other body as is entitled to transact business in the diocese between sessions of the Synod. The person or persons thus elected shall hold office until the session of Diocesan Synod following the next ordinary session of the Provincial Synod, and shall be eligible for re-election.

3(c) Additional representatives

Each diocese may nominate its diocesan secretary or administrator as an additional representative to the Committee, if that person is not one of the representatives referred to in subsection (a) of this section, provided that in such cases the diocese is to be responsible for the costs of attendance at Committee of its additional representative, and provided further that the diocese advises the Provincial Executive Officer of its nomination within 14 days of receipt of the Metropolitan’s notice calling the meeting in terms of section 2 of this canon. In addition, the Metropolitan may also nominate additional representatives up to a maximum of 15 in number (subject to accommodation being available) to provide for the representation of such interests or groups as in his or her opinion may not otherwise be represented, either adequately or at all. These additional representatives shall have all the rights and privileges of elected representatives, save only that they shall have power to speak but not to vote.

3(d)  Nominated Representatives

In the case of a diocese which has no Diocesan Synod the bishop of the diocese shall have full power and authority to nominate representatives, and such nominated representatives shall have all the rights and privileges of elected representatives.

3(e) Qualifications of Representatives

The qualifications for elected and nominated representatives shall be that for representatives at the Provincial Synod.

3(f) Secretary

The Provincial Executive Officer shall be the secretary of the Committee and shall have power to speak but not to vote.

3(g)  Provincial Officers

The Provincial Treasurer, the Assistant Provincial Treasurer and the Provincial Registrar or one of the Deputy Registrars  and the Provincial Chancellor or one of the Deputy Chancellors shall attend with power to speak but not to vote unless duly elected as a member of the Committee.

3(h)  Programme Convenors/Facilitator

The Committee shall provide for areas of provincial ministry referred to in section 1(e) of this canon to be represented by those persons set out in the schedule referred to in Canon 44.1(d). Such persons shall have the right to speak but not vote.

4.  Quorum

The quorum shall consist of three diocesan bishops and seven diocesan representatives.

5.  Chairperson

In the absence of the Metropolitan the Committee shall elect its own chairperson. At any time during the proceedings of the Committee, the Metropolitan may delegate the chair to some other member of the Committee on such conditions as the Metropolitan deems fit. Such delegation may not be for periods of longer than one day, unless the Committee consents otherwise.

6.  Bye-Laws

The Committee shall have full power and authority to make and amend such rules, regulations and bye-laws for the conduct of its meetings and for the composition, functions and conduct of business of any board or committee appointed in terms of section l(e) of this canon.

7.   Reports

As soon as may be after the close of each meeting of the Committee a digest of the proceedings shall be issued to all members of the Committee and be made available for the general information of the Church in electronic format.