Parish Officer Handbook

The Parish Office Handbook is designed to serve as a general source of information for parish officers, including the church wardens, treasurer, the vestry and others in a lay leadership capacity. 

This guide is not intended to replace or supersede the many sources of information which already exist including The Anglican Church Act 2003 (as amended 2017); the Constitution and Canons; and the established regulations, policies and episcopal directives of the Diocese of Fredericton.  The intent is to gather together information about the more common tasks that parish officers encounter and to answer some of the more frequently asked questions.

NEW/REVISED for 2023, 2024: 

• Notes on Meetings of the Parish Corporation (from Chancellor David Bell, 2025)
• Canon Six - Parish Governance
• Regulation 6-3 Cemetery Management (in force November 2023)
• Regulation 7-2 Remuneration and Compensation (December 2024 - occasional service honorarium increase)
• Regulation 7-2 Schedule A Minimum Stipend Scale (2025)
• Regulation 7-3 Housing and Relocation (amended September 2023)
• Parish Advisory Committee Guide (replaces Directive 8.8.1 Parish Appointment Process Protocol)
• Many Episcopal/Bishop's Directives were updated in 2023

Parish Handbook:

• Contents and Introduction 
• Part 1: Our Diocese - Our Parish 
• Part 2: Managing Parish Business 
  • Signing Authority
• Part 3: Selected Legislation, Policy and Directive documents  (contents):
  • The Anglican Church Act, 2003 (unofficial consolidated version as amended 2017) 
  • The Constitution 
  • Canon One - Definitions 
  • Canon Six - Parish Governance
  • Canon Seven - The Clergy
  • Regulation 4-4 Diocesan Safe Church Part 1 and Part 3 
  • Regulation 5-3 Investor Transfers to the DCIF 
  • Regulation 5-4 Payroll Administration
  • Regulation 6-3 Cemetery Management (comes into force November 2023)
  • Regulation 7-1 Purpose, Contacts and Definitions (Remuneration and Benefits)
  • Regulation 7-2 Remuneration and Compensation  
    • Schedule A Minimum Stipend Scale (effective January 2025)
  • Regulation 7-3 Housing and Relocation (amended September 2023)
  • Regulation 7-4 Vacation and Leave of Absence
  • Regulation 7-7 Sick Leave and Disability
  • Regulation 7-8 Continuing Education
  • Regulation 7-9 Health, Wellness and Life Insurance
  • Policy A-1 Applications to the Anglican Foundation - see Policy A-4
  • Policy A-2 Proceeds from the Sale of Residential Properties 
  • Policy A-3 Disposition of Real Property and Demolition of Buildings 
    • Parish Property Disposal Checklist
  • Policy A-4 Obtaining Financial Assistance
    • Request for reduction to Shared Ministry Budget support
    • Consolidated application for diocesan grants and loans and/or for permission to apply to the Anglican Foundation
    • Appendix A - Sample Shared Ministry reduction request
    • Appendix B - Sample Shared Ministry relief recovery plan
    • Appendix C - Sample completed grant and loan application
  • Policy A-5 Archival Records
  • Policy A-6 Outstanding Parish Support
    • Request for reduction to Shared Ministry Budget support
  • Policy A-7 Mandatory Pre-Authorized Debit for Parish Employment Assessment
  • Policy A-8 Minimum Insurance Standards
  • Policy A-9 Purchase of Real Property and New Construction and Renovation 
  • Policy B-2 Responsibilities of a Member of Synod
  • Policy B-3 Misconduct Policy and Procedure
  • Policy B-4 Privacy
  • Policy B-5 Diocesan Training Curacies
  • Policy B-6 Police Record Check
  • Directive 7.1 The Parish Discernment Committee
  • Directive 8.1 The Laity
  • Directive 8.2 The Priest in the Parish
  • Directive 8.3 The Deacon in the Parish
  • Directive 8.8.3 Interim Parish Ministry
  • Directive 8.16 Emergency Preparedness and Response
  • Directive 8.17 Interaction with the Media
  • Parish Advisory Committee Guide (replaces Directive 8.8.1 Parish Appointment Process Protocol)
  • Notes on Conducting the Parish Annual Meeting (from Chancellor David Bell, 2024)
  • Notes on Meetings of the Parish Corporation (from Chancellor David Bell, 2024)