A131 Amend Canon IV.14.5 - Clarity About Accords

Resolved, the House of ________________ concurring,

That Canon IV.14.5 be amended as follows:

Sec. 5. The Bishop Diocesan shall have twenty (20) days from the date on which the Accord is entered in which to advise in writing the Respondent, the Respondent’s Advisor, the Respondent’s counsel, if any, the Complainant, the Complainant’s Advisor, the Church Attorney and the Conciliator or the president of the Conference Panel or Hearing Panel whether the Bishop Diocesan will pronounce the Sentence or accept the other terms of the Accord as recommended. The Bishop Diocesan shall advise that he or she will (a) pronounce the Sentence as recommended, or (b) pronounce a lesser Sentence than that recommended and/or, (c) reduce the burden on the Respondent of any of the other terms of the Accord. If a Sentence of Admonition, Suspension or Deposition is imposed, tThe Bishop Diocesan shall pronounce Sentence not sooner than twenty (20) days following the date on which the Accord is entered and not later than forty (40) days following such date. The Bishop Diocesan’s pronouncement of a lesser Sentence than that recommended or other modification shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remainder of the Accord. In the case of an Accord under Canon IV.9, the Bishop Diocesan shall pronounce Sentence not sooner than the day after the date the Accord becomes effective and irrevocable.