Documents
Background Check Request Form
Use this form to request a background check on a volunteer or employee of your congregation, group, or ministry. Background checks are required for all employees and volunteers within the Diocese who work with children, youth, or vulnerable populations; additionally, vestry member, lay leaders, and others who have unsupervised access to funds, facilities, or financial records are required to have a background check.
Resolutions passed by the 2019 Diocesan Convention
Delegates to the 2019 Diocesan Convention passed several resolutions. After hearing an address from Bishop Eugene Sutton of Maryland about racial reconciliation and reparations, delegates passed the following resolution: Creation of a Diocesan Commission on Racial Justice and Reparations Resolved, that this 37th Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth, in response to Bishop Eugene Sutton’s address, heed his call to action by creating a Diocesan Commission on Racial Justice and Reparation to explore the history of racial injustice…
2021 Canons
DOWNLOAD THE 2021 CANONS THE AMENDED AND RESTATED CANONS OF THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN NORTH TEXAS Adopted in Diocesan Conventions 1982-2021. This document became effective at the end of Convention November 13, 2021. PREVIOUS VERSION: 2018 Canons (no longer the most current) 2017 Canons (no longer the most current)
2021 Constitution
DOWNLOAD THE 2021 CONSTITUTION Amended and Restated, Adopted in Diocesan Conventions 1982-2021. NOTE: Some amendments to the Constitution will have a second reading at the 2022 Diocesan Convention. The current document became effective at the end of Convention, November 13, 2021. Previous version: 2018 Constitution (no longer in effect) 2015 Constitution (no longer in effect)
2017 Canons
Download the 2017 Canons Amendments to the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth Canons were approved by the 2017 Diocesan Convention. This document became effective at the end of Convention November 11, 2017. PREVIOUS VERSION: 2016 – pagination correction to the Canons (no longer the most current)
Conflict of interest disclosure form
NOTE: Only those who are serving in diocesan offices/ roles need to fill this form out. (for example, clergy, employees, or members of diocesan committees, etc.) Please review The Episcopal Church of North Texas’ Conflict of Interest Policy and then sign the disclosure form below. If you prefer, you can print and sign a paper copy of the form: Conflict of Interest Disclosure Form – PDF
Photo Release Form
Please electronically sign the photo release form if you’ll be attending a diocesan event where your photo or your child’s photo may be taken. If you prefer, you can print and sign a paper copy (send it to us or bring it with you to the registration table).
Safeguarding policy updated to allow primary certification online
The members of the Executive Council voted at their September meeting to update the Safeguarding policy related to preventing sexual exploitation of children and adults. View or download the revised policy Previously, those taking Safeguarding courses were required to take the first two courses in person and could update others online. Now, participants can take courses online initially if they would like – it’s no longer required to take an in-person course first. Visit the Safe Church Training page on the…
2016 Canons (pagination correction)
Download the 2016 Diocesan Canons What was changed? This update fixes a pagination problem (inaccurate page numbers in the table of contents) and corrects a typo in canon I.2.2
2015 Canons
Download the 2015 Canons of the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth The amended and restated Canons of the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth were adopted at the 2015 Diocesan Convention. They became effective at the end of Convention November 14, 2015. Previous version: 2014 Canons (no longer in effect)
2015 Constitution
DOWNLOAD THE 2015 CONSTITUTION The amended and restated Constitution of the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth was approved on a first reading at the 2014 Diocesan Convention and approved on a second reading at the 2015 Diocesan Convention. The current document became effective at the end of Convention November 14, 2015. Previous version: 2013 Constitution (no longer in effect)
Forms related to Discernment and Ordination
Click on the tab “Docs, Forms” to see a list of documents and forms related to the process of discernment about ordination. If the text in a cell is underlined, you can click to open that document. If the text is not underlined, the document is not yet linked. Click here to open this chart in a separate window. Some documents are in pdf format. Most will open in a Google Docs viewer; from the Google Docs viewer, click “File” and “Download…
You’re invited to an open forum on Canon revisions at Trinity on July 16
Do you have questions or comments about proposed changes and additions to the canons of the diocese? Come to an open forum at 6:30 pm on Thursday, July 16 in the parish hall of Trinity Episcopal Church. The forum, moderated by the Rev. Courtland Moore, is anticipated to last no longer than two hours. Members of the Constitution and Canons committee will be present to hear your thoughts and answer questions on the canon revision process. People from across the diocese have been sending…
Committee receiving input on Canons rewrite process
People around the diocese have begun submitting comments in the process of revising the diocesan canons, both through an online survey and by email to the Constitution and Canons committee. “I am pleased we are receiving comments and input from so many in the diocese. This is what our Constitution and Canons Committee wants: your input.” – The Rt. Rev. Rayford High The comment period on this first draft will be open through July 17. This first comment period – and the second…
Committee seeks comments on proposed canons
The 2012 Diocesan Convention directed the Committee on Constitution and Canons to undertake a multi-year project designed to analyze and overhaul the Constitution and Canons for the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth. The committee reviewed governing documents and practices from other dioceses and gathered ideas and recommendations from individuals and groups across the diocese. Based on this information, the committee presented and the 2014 Diocesan Convention approved an amended and restated constitution and several amended canons. Since then, the committee…
2014 Canons
Download the final form of the 2014 Canons of the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth. There is also a redline copy available, showing the strikethroughs and additions that were made.