Episcopal Church at CornellStructure and Governance
ECC is officially a Diocesan College Chapel. Our chaplain is appointed by the Bishop of the Diocese of Central New York, and serves at the pleasure of the Bishop.
Diocesan College Chapel
At the 2000 Diocesan Convention of Central New York, Canon V, Section 2 was amended to establish a specific type of Diocesan Chapel suitable for college chaplaincies and ministries. The legislation provides for the first time the right of chaplaincies such as ECC to designate a student lay representative to Diocesan Convention, "which representative shall be a full member of Convention and shall have full privileges of the floor and vote".
Canon V, Section 2: Diocesan Chapels
(a) Any group of Episcopalians, whether theretofore comprising an incorporated parish, an unincorporated parish, other association or college chaplaincy or ministry, shall upon their request and certification by the Bishop and designation as such by the Convention of the Diocese become either a Diocesan Chapel or a Diocesan College Chapel.
(b) Each Diocesan Chapel shall be under the supervision of the Bishop and, subject to the approval of the Bishop, may adopt such procedures for the conduct of its affairs as it may desire. It shall not be a parish in union with the Convention or subject to the provisions of the Canons or other prescriptions with respect to parishes. Each Diocesan Chapel shall have the right, by whatever procedural means it may choose, to designate one lay representative to the Convention of the Diocese, which representative, although not a member of the Convention, shall have the privilege of the floor. Each Diocesan Chapel shall submit an Annual Report of such content and manner as the Bishop may prescribe.
(c) A Diocesan College Chapel may be established on the Campus of a University or College situated within the Diocese for the expressed purpose of ministry and chaplaincy to the students, faculty and staff of that University or College. A majority of its Vestry or other Representative Body must be composed of persons who are adult members of the Episcopal Church as defined in Title I Canon 17, 1 (a) of the Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Church and if a majority of its Vestry or other Representative Body is composed of adult members of the Episcopal Church as described above, at least one of whom serves as one of the Wardens, Chair or other leader of the Representative Body, the Diocesan College Chapel shall have the following privileges:
1. Each Diocesan College Chapel shall have the right, by whatever procedure it may choose, to designate one adult student Lay Representative to the Convention of the Diocese, which representative shall be a full member of Convention and shall have full privileges of the floor and vote.
2. Each Diocesan College Chapel shall qualify under Title III, Canon 4 of the Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Church as a congregation for the purpose of sponsoring members of the congregation for Holy Orders.
Episcopal Chaplain to Cornell University
Our Chaplain, The Reverend Clark West, has regular office hours in Anabel Taylor Hall and is eager to meet new and returning students, parents and guardians of students, faculty, staff, residents of Ithaca, and visitors to the area. You can contact him directly at crw86@cornell.edu, or at the ECC office, 607.255.4219. You can read some of Clark's sermons at his website.