Chapter Meeting Day 1

The results of the Chapter Meeting of Congregational, independent Episcopal Churches seeking reform, and Reformed Anglican Churches are as follows.

27 Congregational Churches
19 Episcopal Churches
10 United Churches of Christ
5 Reformed Anglican
Have accepted invitation to form the Puritan Church in America

We offer full communion with all Congregational Churches outside the NACCC, with the Free Episcopal, Reformed Anglican, Anglican Orthodox, and Catholic Episcopal Church in America.

Do form the Puritan Church in America.  Accepted today are the nine bishops who shall preside over their diocese and shall be consecrated in a ceremony on Palm Sunday in First Congregational Church in Barnstable. Massachusetts.  The national office shall be located in Washington DC at Potomac Congregational Church.  It shall be principal church of the church and an elder bishop shall be elected from among the nine presiding bishops for a period of a two year term.  The first head of the Bishops Council shall be Bishop Morimoto with his home seat in San Francisco, California.   

Province II shall be the province with care of new European churches.  Province III shall be the province with care of new African churches, Province VIII shall be the province with care of new Asian churches, and province IX shall be the province with care for Latin American and Carribean churches.

The leadership of the national board shall be:
Bishops Council (The nine bishops)
Council of Clergy Education and Ordination (one ordained minister from each province)
Council of Deacons (one deacon from each province)
General Council (2 elected members from each province over seeing finances and administration)
Council of Missions and Evangelization (coordination between the Bishops, Clergy, and Deacon councils)

Local leadership shall be 
Bishop
Administration Board
Education and History Board
Parish Coordination
All posts shall be by appointment of the bishop with approval by a majority of parishes in the diocese.

Each parish shall appoint at least a Board of Administration that shall be responsible for appointing clergy, approving deacons, financial disbursement, and approving parish outreach.

Bishops are to be seen as elder ministers who help and encourage clergy in their diocese.  A bishop shall be at least 45 years of age, an ordained minister, have at least 7 years of total active ministry, and be a man of good standing in their profession and in their community.  Bishops shall be single or married and have NOT BEEN DIVORCED, as scriptures warrant.  No openly homosexual man may be considered for bishop.

Clergy shall consist of men who have attained at least 30 hours of education in an accredited college or university.  Undergone approved education in ministry and Christian Theology in an accredited seminary or seminary college.  Or 45 credit hours in a college seminary.  Be at least 25 years old and a Christian for at least 3 years.  Or have the approval of the Council of Clergy and Ordination by a simple majority of approval.  Clergy shall be single or married, and have not been divorced as scripture warrants.  All appointments of clergy shall have approval of the bishop and the Board of Administration of receiving parish.  No openly homosexual man may be considered for ordination.

Deacons shall be men or women who are nominated by their local parish clergy, approved by the bishop and Administration Board of their diocese.  Deacons shall be married or single and have been a Christian for at least 3 years.  No openly homosexuals can be considered.  Deacons shall have the approval of the pastor and Board of the receiving parish.