New Every Morning Anglican Fellowship
The Occasional Offices — Canonical Checklist
Job Aid 7 · For the Priest · BCP pp. 267–340 · Canons 12, 25
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 [Canon 25.02(1)]
• Record in the Parish Register immediately [Canon 25.01(1)]
• 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 [Canon 25.03(1)]
• No person admitted to Communion until confirmed or ready to be confirmed [BCP rubric p. 75]
• A Communicant is a CONFIRMED person [Canon 11.02]; a Member is a baptised person [Canon 11.01]
HOLY MATRIMONY [BCP pp. 300–304 · Canon 12]
□ Ascertain state law: minister must be legally authorised to solemnize marriages in his jurisdiction [Canon 12.03(1)]
□ Thirty days' notice: intention must be signified at least 30 days before; banns read on three occasions [Canon 12.03(e)]
□ Canonical impediments: check all nine impediments listed in Canon 12.03(2) — consanguinity; bigamy; mental deficiency; impotence; etc.
□ Previous marriages: if either party has been married: Canon 12.02 bars solemnization unless Bishop has granted nullity [Canon 12.06–12.08]
□ Baptism: at least one party should have received Holy Baptism [Canon 12.03(c)]
□ Instruction: instruct the parties on the nature of Holy Matrimony [Canon 12.03(d)]
□ Declaration: parties must read and sign the declaration of lifelong union [Canon 12.03, Section 3]
□ Two witnesses: other than the officiant [Canon 12.03(f)]
□ Register entry: date, place, names and parents, ages, residence, church status, signatures [Canon 12.03(g)]
□ Right of refusal: Canon 12.04: any minister may decline to solemnize any marriage without assigning cause
⚠ Canon 12.05: 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 nullity (Canon 12.06) 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 [Canon 25.01(1)]
• 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 [Canon 25.01]
• (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 [Canon 26.02].
SUPPLY CLERGY AND THE BISHOP AS RECTOR [Canons 9.12, 9.16, 25.04, 25.05]
Three Canonical Situations
Diocesan Mission [Canon 9.12] 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 [Canon 9.16] 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. Canonical restrictions on deacons (Canon 24) and lay readers (Canon 21) continue to apply regardless of the bishop's appointment.
Supply in Occupied Parish [Canon 25.04] 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
• Bishop's jus liturgicum (Canon 10.04) always applies — supply priest does not import his own customs
• Register entries must be made under Canon 25.01 on behalf of the bishop or rector
• Supply priest from another diocese: Canon 25.05 — written licence required 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