More Than Rules: Reviewing the Constitution and Canons of the Diocese

When delegates to the Episcopal Diocese of Central Florida‘s 58th annual Diocesan Convention gather this November, they will be asked to consider a proposed amendment to the diocesan Constitution. Behind that proposal is the ongoing work of the Committee on Constitution and Canons, which is taking a thoughtful look at the governing documents that help order the shared life and ministry of the diocese.

The Rt. Rev. Dr. Justin S. Holcomb charged the committee, chaired by the Very Rev. Matthew Perreault, dean of the Northwest Deanery and rector of St. Thomas, Eustis, with undertaking a comprehensive review of the Constitution and Canons. Rather than approaching the work all at once, the committee is taking a measured approach that will extend through the 2027 Diocesan Convention and include opportunities for consultation along the way.

Shaping Our Governance

“The Constitution and Canons are more than just administrative rulings,” Perreault said. “They give shape to the diocese as a whole and every parish within it.”

The Constitution and Canons establish the framework through which clergy and laity carry out the shared governance of the diocese. They address everything from representation at Diocesan Convention and the selection of diocesan leaders to the annual budget and assessments paid by congregations.

The committee itself receives its mandate from Canon XXVI. When amendments to the Constitution or Canons are proposed, the committee reviews them for form and considers how they fit within the existing diocesan governing documents and theology of the church. The committee may then make recommendations or present amendments for consideration, although decisions about proposed changes rest with the Diocesan Convention.

In addition to Perreault, the Committee on Constitution and Canons includes the Rev. Carlos Cabrera (Grace, Ocala), Heidi White (All Saints’, Lakeland) and the Rev. Dr. Robert Moses (Christ the King, Lakeland). The committee is assisted by the Rev. Canon Dr. Dan Smith, canon to the ordinary and the Hon. Todd Pittenger, diocesan chancellor.

This November, delegates can expect the committee to bring forward one substantive constitutional amendment. The proposal is intended to provide greater clarity around the respective roles and responsibilities of the Diocesan Board and Diocesan Convention.

That proposal represents one step in a longer process. The committee plans to continue its broader review of the diocesan canons over the coming year, with the goal of completing that work in time for the November 2027 Convention. Perreault emphasized that the timeline is intentional, allowing the committee to undertake a comprehensive review and provide time for public consultation once a draft is ready for distribution.

Reflecting Our Theology

Perreault brings extensive experience in church governance and a particular interest in canon law to his role as chair. Since 2024, he has been pursuing a degree that he will complete with a thesis examining canon law, episcopal authority and the way canon law is received in the Anglican tradition. His experience with church governance has spanned the Anglican Church of Canada, the Church of England and The Episcopal Church.

For him, the intersection of governance and theology is an important part of the committee’s work.

“Our canons reflect our theology,” Perreault said. “As a matter of integrity, we want to have canons that are clear and thoughtfully articulate the truths we believe about Christ and how we as a diocese are called to reflect him to the world.”

As delegates prepare for Nov. 7, the proposed amendment offers an opportunity not only to consider the structures through which the diocese carries out its work, but also to participate in the shared governance that helps support its mission and ministry. As the committee continues its work into 2027, its careful process is intended to ensure that the Constitution and Canons continue to serve the diocese faithfully in the years ahead.