The full text of Canon XXXVIII on Christian communities in the Anglican Church of Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia.
The General Synod -Te Hīnota Whānui |
28 Oct 2025
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CANON XXXVIII OF THE RECOGNITION OF CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES
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2018
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PURPOSE. The purpose of this Canon is to provide for the recognition of Christian Communities and for the affiliation of Ministry Units with them.
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Purpose
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PART 1: Definition of Christian Communities
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1. Christian Communities that may be recognised by this Church are societies of Christians who voluntarily commit themselves to obedience to their Rule and Constitution
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Definition
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2. The implementation of this Canon must occur in a manner consistent with clause 1 Part D, clause 1 Part E and clause 1 Part F of Te Pouhere/The Constitution, be in accordance with tikanga within each Tikanga and any allocation of resources of the Church to a Christian Community recognised under this Canon must recognise mana whenua.
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Implementation
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PART 2: Requirements for Recognition
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3. To be recognised a Christian Community must:
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(a) have at least six members; (b) be approved by the General Synod / te Hīnota Whānui or, if it is not in session, by the General Synod Standing Committee, at the request of the Christian Community; (c) have a Visitor or Protector, to act as supporter and advocate for the Christian Community within the Church, who must be a Bishop in active Episcopal ministry in this Church and may also have Bishops in active ministry in this Church as Assistants to the Visitor or Protector; (d) have a constitution that provides for:
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Membership
Approval Constitution
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(i) a statement of belief consistent with the beliefs of this Church; (ii) recognition of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and Te Pouhere; (iii) the Visitor or Protector to serve as the arbiter in matters which the members of the Christian community cannot resolve through normal processes; (iv) the ability of members to participate in the governance of the Christian Community;
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(v) the discipline of members; (vi) the ability for members to resign;
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(vii) the legal ownership and administration of the temporal possessions of the Christian Community in the event of its dissolution of its assets in accordance with the law applying to the disposition of the assets of the charities in the jurisdiction in which it is based.
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4. The requirements at clause 3(d)(i) does not prevent the recognition of Christian Communities whose rules or constitutions contain statements of belief or expectations of personal behaviour that are beyond those contained in the Formularies, the Constitution/Te Pouhere and the Canons of the Church provided that they are not inconsistent with the Formularies.
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Requirements
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5. Recognition of a Christian Community under this Canon does not make that Christian Community a Ministry Unit.
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Not a Ministry Unit
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6. The General Synod / Te Hīnota Whānui or, if it is not in session, the General Synod Standing Committee may withdraw the recognition of a Christian Community.
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Withdrawal of Recognition
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7. Any minister who is a member of a Christian Community is still subject to the jurisdiction of this Church and the minister’s licensing Bishop.
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Jurisdiction
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PART 3: Affiliation with Ministry Units
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8. Ministry Units within this Church may affiliate with a Christian Community recognised under this Canon.
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Affiliation
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9. The Constitution of a recognised Christian Community may, but need not, provide for the consequences of the affiliation of a Ministry Unit to the life of that Christian Community.
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Consequences
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10. Affiliation occurs when two thirds of those present and entitled to vote at a general meeting (or equivalent) of the Ministry Unit, convened and conducted in accordance with the rules governing the procedure of such meeting, vote to affiliate.
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Vote to Affiliate
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11. Disaffiliation occurs when a majority of those present and entitled to vote at a general meeting (or equivalent) of the Ministry Unit, convened and conducted in accordance with the rules governing the procedure of such meeting, vote to disaffiliate.
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Vote to Disaffiliate
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12. If a Ministry Unit affiliates with a Christian Community then no person may be appointed as Dean; Vicar or Co-Vicar of a local Ministry and Mission Unit / Minita-a-Rohe; Chaplain / Taiparani; Warden / Kaihautu; Missioner; Deacon / Priest-in-Charge; Local Priest / Deacon / Minita-a-Iwi of that Ministry Unit uless he or she is a member, or otherwise subscribes to the beliefs and discipline, of the Christian Community that the Ministry Unit is affiliated to, except that where the appointment is for an interim period any clergy person may be appointed by agreement with the Ministry Unit.
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Interim period
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13. Clause 12 does not and will not operate to deprive any Ordained Minister of Ecclesiastical Office.
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