CANON VIII

Congregational Registers and Reports

Section 1. Every Congregation shall maintain a register in which the member of the clergy in charge of the Congregation, or, if there be none, one of the wardens, shall cause to be recorded: a. Any baptism administered in the Congregation, including the name and date of birth of each person baptized; and, if a child, the names of the child’s parents and sponsors. b. Any celebration and blessing of a marriage and any blessing of a civil marriage performed in the Congregation, including the date, names and addresses of the persons being married or whose civil marriage is being blessed, and the names and addresses of the witnesses to the marriage. c. Any funeral or memorial service conducted in the Congregation or for a member of the Congregation, including the date and place of the service and, if known, the date and place of the burial. d. The person performing each of the offices or services listed above shall sign the register entry recording the event.

Section 2. Every Congregation shall maintain a record of the following, which may be maintained in electronic form: a. All services held in the Congregation, which record shall show the date, time, place, and kind of service held, the number of persons present, and the name or names of those officiating or preaching at the service. b. A list of all communicants in the Congregation.

Section 3. No later than March 1 of each year, the Congregation shall file an annual report with the Diocese that is signed by the member of the clergy in charge, if any, the secretary of the congregational council, the Senior Warden, the Junior Warden, and the treasurer of the Congregation. The Congregation’s annual report to the Diocese shall include the information as indicated below: a. a copy of the parochial report filed pursuant to Title I.6 of the Canons of the Episcopal Church, as amended; and b. a statement as to whether the premiums for the preceding fiscal year to the Church Pension Fund on account of the clergy of the Congregation have been fully paid; and c. a list of the persons selected to serve on the congregational council for the following year, indicating the names of the persons selected to serve as Senior Warden, Junior Warden, secretary, treasurer or member of the congregational council, together with a list of the persons selected to serve as Lay Delegates and Alternate Delegates to the Convention; and d. a statement as to whether the diocesan apportionment(s) for the preceding calendar year have been fully paid; and e. a statement as to the amount of insurance coverage the Congregation has on its real and personal property, and the name of the insurance carrier; and

Canon VIII, Section 3.e. (Continued)

f. any other information requested by the Bishop, Diocesan Council or Standing Committee, if the information is requested on or before January 15th of the year the annual report to the Diocese is to be filed, and g. if available, the annual audit for the previous year required by Diocesan Canon XIV; and h. for the purpose of enabling the Diocese to provide appropriate assistance to Congregations, an explanation of any problems, irregularities or delays the Congregation has experienced in complying with its canonical obligations.

Section 4. A Congregation has the affirmative duty of notifying the Diocese of any problems, irregularities or delays the Congregation is experiencing that are not of a temporary nature, including, but not limited to, any time the Congregation, for a period of three (3) consecutive months: a. is unable to meet its financial obligations, including provision for its clergy or other ministers or employees, or payment to the Church Pension Fund; or b. is unable to pay its apportionment to the diocese; or c. has a mid-cycle turnover in leadership of more than forty percent (40%) of the persons serving on the congregational council of the Congregation; or d. is unable to complete an audit that complies with the requirements of Diocesan Canon XIV