Expert: Fr. Chris Larimer - 2/9/2011

Question
1. What the qualifications must a clergy have to appointed the Canon
2. What the special responsibilities of Canon in an Anglican setup

Answer
Kaleb - Sorry for the tardiness. I was out of town and forgot to set the auto responder.

First, what is a canon? A canon is someone who serves as the measure (Greek: KANON) of a task or quality within a diocese. Thus, the diocese (and sometimes the province) sets the rules for who serves as a canon. Canons can be both lay and clergy.

The reason someone is made a canon is that they have certain skills, training, or other qualities that fit them for a particular task that is part of the bishop's diocesan ministry. For instance, the bishop may appoint a professor of theology (lay or cleric) to be the canon theologian for the diocese. Or he may appoint a physician to be a canon for health & social concern. He may appoint a priest with evangelism experience to the be a canon missioner. And he may appoint a lawyer (or a clergyman with a law degree) as a canon lawyer / counselor for handling legal matters.

Again, the requirements will differ from diocese to diocese, and are based on the needs that best fit a person for their task.