1. The Federation is for priests ordained in accordance with the historic orthodox practice of the universal Church and in communion with the See of Canterbury who have undertaken to live in accordance with catholic doctrine and practice. It exists:
- for mutual support in propagating, maintaining and defending such doctrine and practice.
- for the deepening of the spiritual life of members
- to encourage participation by members in the synodical deliberations of the Church so that catholic tradition is commended and maintained.
- for the corporate study of the faith so that members may be assisted to live in obedience to the authority of our Lord.
Members are explicitly committed to:
- Belief in the Apostolic Faith as Anglicans have received it. This faith is expressed in the Scriptures, Creeds, Sacraments and Ministry.
- A rule of Priestly Life to include:
- The recitation of the divine office
- The practice of mental prayer
- The frequent offering of the Eucharist with due preparation and thanksgiving
- Self-examination and use of the sacrament of absolution.
- The study, both privately and corporately, of holy scripture and the faith.
- Commending the catholic faith by teaching and example
- Intercession for the members of FCP, both during the offering of the Eucharist and, when possible, when visiting the Blessed Sacrament.
Subject to the terms of membership each Diocesan Association shall have its own bye-laws and arrange its own meetings. Such meetings shall afford opportunity for each member to take part, at least three times a year, in corporate study of the catholic faith, on a diocesan or local level
2. The Federation shall consist of a union of Diocesan Associations composed of priests uniting together for common action on the basis of the terms of member-ship.
3. A Federal Council shall be formed to meet at least once a year consisting of the following
- representatives elected by each Diocesan Association annually and notified to the Secretary General (each Diocesan Association shall be entitled to one representative for the first 40 members, a second if up to 80 members, and a third for membership in excess of SO). A Diocesan Association may appoint a substitute with full voting rights if a representative is unable to attend the Council.
- the elected officers (who may also be Diocesan representatives)
- a representative of such other catholic societies as agreed by the Executive Committee shall be invited. Not more than five additional members may be co-opted by the Federal Council for two years from the date of co-option. Federal Council shall receive the report of the Executive Committee, conduct elections as necessary, adopt the annual accounts, receive resolutions from Diocesan Associations, and conduct such other business as it shall approve. The Chairman of the Federation shall take the chair at meetings of the Executive Committee, or in his absence, the Vice Chairman. In the absence of both the Committee shall elect a chairman from among its own number. The Executive Committee shall conduct the business of the Federation between Federal Councils and consider matters remitted to it by Diocesan Associations.
4. The officers of the Federal Council shall be as follows:
An episcopal (or other) President Chairman Vice-chairman Secretary General Treasurer Provincial Secretaries as appropriate Other officers as necessary Officers shall be elected by the Federal Council for a period of two years, but shall be eligible for reelection. The Federal Council shall appoint an honorary auditor annually. The Executive Committee shall endeavour ro appoint officers for posts where the Federal Council was unable to elect, subject to confirmation at the next meeting of the Federal Council. Federal Council may appoint honorary vice-presidents without term and may also cancel such appointments.
5. There shall be an Executive Committee which shall consist of:
- the elected officers of the Federation;
- a representative appointed by the Church Union;
- 8 members of Federal Council elected for two years each in such a way that four members refire each year. Retiring members shall be eligible for re-election but shall not serve more than six years consecutively.
If a casual vacancy arises among the elected members of the Executive Committee, the person elected shall serve for the remainder of the term of office and shall be subsequently deemed to have served for two years under the six-year rule above.
The Executive Committee shall have power to co-opt not more than three mem-bers. The Chairman of the Federation shall take the chair at meetings of the Executive Committee, or in his absence the Vice-Chairman. In the absence of both the Committee shall elect a chairman from among its own number. The Executive Committee shall conduct the business of the Federation between Federal Councils and consider matters remitted to it by Diocesan Associations.
6. A Diocesan Association shall have power to deal with any case referred to it by any member, in small matters to decide them, and in more important matters (especially those affecting the welfare of the Church as a whole) to remit them to the Executive Committee of the Federal Council.
7 . All cases involving any one of the terms of membership as slated above shall be referred to the Diocesan Association. Members of the Diocesan Association who have so referred cases shall accept the decision of the Executive Committee, or of the Federal Council, or shall resign their membership. If any member finds himself unable to accept the decision of his Diocesan Association he may either appeal to the Executive Committee of the Council or resign his membership. In all cases of appeal from the decisions of a Diocesan Association, such Associations shall be invited to send a representative to all meetings held to consider the appeal.
8 . Subject to maintaining the terms of membership, each Diocesan Association shall frame its own bye-laws and arrange its own meetings. The Executive Committee shall have the power to take such action as it deems necessary to initiate or restore a Diocesan Association in such dioceses or areas where there is need.
9. On all points requiring legal advice the Executive Committee shall obtain such advice from the Church Union.
10. Each member of the Diocesan Association shall pay to the Federation of Catholic Priests and the Church Union the annual joint subscription of such amount as shall be approved from time to time by Federal Council. Members of the Federation of Catholic Priests who opt to be omitted from the Scheme of Integration with the Church Union shall pay an annual subscription to the Federation of Catholic Priests of such amount as shall be approved from time to time by Federal Council.
11. The travelling expenses of members of the Executive shall be Each Diocesan Association shall be paid to pay to the travelling fund a sum to be determined by the Federal Council and the travelling expenses of one delegate from each Diocesan Association shall be paid.
12. The property of the Federation shall be vested in three trustees to be appointed by the Federal Council each time the election for officers is held.
13. Priests in Dioceses without Associations shall be allowed to be affiliate to such Diocesan Association? as they find most convenient.
14. No change in the Constitutionof the Federation shall be considered except at the request of a Diocesan Association through an appointed representative or at the request of the Executive Committee. In either case detailed notice shall be given at an annual meeting of the Federal Council that a proposal or proposals will be moved at the following annual meeting and a copy of such proposal or proposals shall be sent to the Secretary of each Diocesan Association not less than three months before the said following meeting.