New Every Morning Anglican Fellowship
The Occasional Offices — Canonical Checklist
Job Aid 7 · For the Priest · BCP pp. 267–340
HOLY BAPTISM [BCP pp. 267–299]
• Normally administered at a public service, after the Second Lesson [BCP rubric p. 267]
• Priest administers; deacon assists; layperson may in emergency [JA5]
• Instruct both parents and godparents on the significance and obligations [traditional discipline]
• Record in the Parish Register immediately
• One baptism is unrepeatable; conditional form only if doubt of prior baptism
CONFIRMATION [BCP pp. 296–299]
• BISHOP only may confirm; the priest prepares and presents candidates
• Deliver to the Bishop a list of names at every Confirmation [customary rule]
• No person admitted to Communion until confirmed or ready to be confirmed [BCP rubric p. 75]
• By customary usage a Communicant is a CONFIRMED person; a Member is a baptised person
HOLY MATRIMONY [BCP pp. 300–304]
□ Ascertain state law: minister must be legally authorised to solemnize marriages in his jurisdiction
□ Thirty days' notice: intention must be signified at least 30 days before; banns read on three occasions [customary rule]
□ Canonical impediments: check all nine traditional impediments — consanguinity; bigamy; mental deficiency; impotence; etc.
□ Previous marriages: if either party has been married, the traditional discipline bars solemnization unless the Bishop has granted a decree of nullity
□ Baptism: at least one party should have received Holy Baptism
□ Instruction: instruct the parties on the nature of Holy Matrimony
□ Declaration: parties must read and sign the declaration of lifelong union [customary rule]
□ Two witnesses: other than the officiant
□ Register entry: date, place, names and parents, ages, residence, church status, signatures
□ Right of refusal: traditional discipline provides that any minister may decline to solemnize any marriage without assigning cause
⚠ Under the traditional discipline a civil divorce does NOT dissolve a Christian marriage. A person who remarries after civil divorce thereby "abandons the communion of this Church" unless a Bishop's decree of nullity has been obtained.
BURIAL OF THE DEAD [BCP pp. 324–340]
• Priest normally officiates; deacon may officiate in priest's absence
• Rubric restricts the office in certain cases [BCP p. 324] — consult bishop if uncertain
• Deacon may NOT give absolution at the graveside; may say the Commendatory prayers
• Record in the Parish Register [traditional discipline]
• If dying person desires absolution: summon the priest immediately — do not delay [JA6]
CHURCHING OF WOMEN [BCP pp. 305–307]
• Thanksgiving of a mother after childbirth; normally officiated by the priest
• An ancient and beautiful office; should be offered to all mothers
• Record in parish register at the priest's discretion
PARISH REGISTER — WHAT MUST BE RECORDED
• (1) All Baptisms, Confirmations, Marriages, and Burials
• (2) All divine services — date, place, nature, attendance
• (3) All communicants — how received, how removed, active or inactive status
• (4) A list of families in the parish or mission
⚠ The Parish Register is the property of the parish, not the priest. It must be available to the Bishop on visitation [traditional discipline].
SUPPLY CLERGY AND THE BISHOP AS RECTOR
Three Canonical Situations
Diocesan Mission [traditional discipline] The bishop IS the Rector by canonical definition. He appoints a Priest or Deacon as his VICAR — not a rector; the vicar serves at the bishop's pleasure. The cure of souls belongs to the bishop alone. The Bishop's Committee is advisory to the bishop, not governing.
Vacant Parish [customary rule] When a Parish is without a Rector for any reason, the bishop becomes acting Rector automatically — no appointment needed. He may appoint a priest, deacon, or lay reader to conduct services under his direction. The appointed minister is the bishop's agent. The customary restrictions on deacons and on lay readers continue to apply regardless of the bishop's appointment.
Supply in Occupied Parish [customary discipline] A supply priest in a parish that has a rector requires the resident rector's consent OR the bishop's authority. Neither is a courtesy — both are canonical requirements. The supply priest serves under the resident rector's direction and does not import his own liturgical preferences.
In All Three Cases
• Authority is DELEGATED — the supply minister has no independent cure of souls
• The Bishop's jus liturgicum always applies — supply priest does not import his own customs
• Register entries must be made on behalf of the bishop or rector according to the customary rule
• Supply priest from another diocese: canon law in Continuing Anglican practice typically requires a written licence for more than one occasion
⚠ A deacon appointed by the bishop as supply minister remains canonically a deacon. The bishop's appointment does not expand his order. He may not pronounce Absolution, give the Blessing, or consecrate — regardless of who sent him.
© 2026 · The Reverend P. A. Ternahan, M.A. Hum. · The Continuing Anglican Tradition of the 1928 Book of Common Prayer