1. The Convention will begin with the Holy Eucharist. Following the Eucharist the Convention will be called to order by the VII Bishop of the Diocese of Kentucky.
2. The Secretary of Convention will report the numbers of pre-registered Clerical and Lay Deputies and the names of the five Youth Electors chosen by the Youth Representatives.
3. Voting Deputies and all Youth Representatives will be seated in a reserved section, separated from Alternates, visitors, the press, etc.
4. No electronic devices, such as cell phones, pagers, Blackberrys etc. except those used by the Convention Committee, will be allowed on the Convention floor by Clerical and Lay Deputies or visitors.
5. These Special Rules of Order (adopted at the 2010 Diocesan Convention) will prevail. Robert’s Rules of Order will govern parliamentary procedure. No other business shall be in order and no further motions or points of privilege will be recognized from the floor. The need for further motions or points of privilege may be communicated personally to the Chair at an appropriate interval between ballots and the Chair will recognize them in accordance with his discretion as to appropriateness.
6. A simple majority of those designated to be Lay Deputies will constitute a quorum in the Lay order and a simple majority of the clergy canonically resident will constitute a quorum in the Clerical Order. Once a quorum has been constituted it cannot be dissolved.
7. Should an emergency require a registered Lay Deputy to absent him or herself once the Convention has begun, a certified Alternate from that Congregation may be seated at the discretion of the Secretary of the Convention after consultation with the Chair.
8. The Search/Nominating Committee shall have first priority to the Convention floor for the purpose of making a statement in support of each of the Committee’s nominees and one person who signed the petition for a supplemental nominee shall follow for the purpose of making a statement in support of each supplemental nominee. These statements will be limited to one five-minute statement per nominee. Once the initial statements in support of all nominees have concluded, no new nominations shall be made.
9. A period of silence for prayer and waiting upon the Holy Spirit will precede each ballot.
10. During each series of three successive ballots everyone (Deputies and visitors) is expected to remain seated. There will be a 30-minute break following the announcement of the results of every third ballot.
11. An atmosphere of reverence throughout the Convention is encouraged while in the church, although it is understood that there maybe some discussion following each ballot. Hymnody is appropriate between ballots.
12. The results of each ballot will be announced to the Convention by the Secretary and will be posted in a manner visible to all Deputies, showing the results of successive ballots.
13. At the conclusion of a series of three ballots, close to 12:30 p.m., the Chair may declare a two-hour recess.
14. Following the lunch recess, should a series of three successive ballots show no appreciable change in the mind of the Convention, and if the first ballot after the 30 minute break confirms that an impasse has been reached, the Chair will declare a recess until a date within one month, when the Convention will be reconvened.
15. If at the end of five hours after the reconvening of the Electing Convention a Bishop has not been elected, the Standing Committee shall meet and vote either to proceed with further balloting or to declare that the election is at an end, the nominations vacated, the Electing Convention shall be adjourned and the Search/Nominating Committee dissolved and the Search Process terminated. If the election is ended, a new search process shall then be instituted by the Standing Committee.
16. When there is a majority in both the Clerical and Lay Orders, the Chair will give an opportunity to the Convention for a final vote of acclamation in which the entire Convention will be able to express its unity and solidarity in support of the Bishop-elect.
17. If, however, between election and consecration, material omissions or misstatements are discovered in the resume or informational forms completed by the Bishop-elect, the Standing Committee may, in its discretion ask the Bishop to refrain from requesting the Presiding Bishop to schedule a consecration and declare the election void.
18. Following the election, three Certificates of Election will be signed at tables at the front of the Cathedral by all voting Deputies. 19. When all Deputies have signed the three Certificates of Election, the Bishop will adjourn the Convention with the singing of the Doxology and a Benediction.
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