Prolocutor
Encyclopedia
A prolocutor is one who speaks for others (Lat. pro, for, and loqui, to speak); specifically the chairman of the lower house of convocation
in the two provinces of the Church of England
, who presides in that house and acts as representative and spokesman in the upper house. He is elected by the lower house, subject to the approval of the metropolitan
.
, the prolocutor of the General Synod acts as the deputy to the Primate
. As such, he or she ranks as the second executive officer of the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada
. The current prolocutor is Robert Falby, who also serves as Chancellor of the Diocese of Toronto. Elected as Deputy Prolocutor, in June 2007, he became Prolocutor when the Rev. Dr. Stephen Andrews was elected Bishop of Algoma, and became ineligible for the office of Prolocutor. Falby was re-elected as Prolocutor in June 2010.
Each of the four Ecclesiastical Provinces also has a Prolocutor, who serves a similar function, as a deputy to the Metropolitan (Archbishop) of the Province.
The office of Prolocutor has its origins in the bi-cameral Provincial and General Synods. The relevant Archbishop (Primate or Metropolitan) acted as President of the Upper House (Bishops), and the Prolocutor was the elected President of the Lower House (Clergy and Laity). These Synods are no longer fully bi-cameral, but the office of Prolocutor is retained with different functions. The antecedents of the Canadian office are in the Convocations of the Church of England, in which the Lower House comprises clergy, laity not being members of Convocations. Only clergy and laity, not bishops, may serve as Prolocutor.
Convocation
A Convocation is a group of people formally assembled for a special purpose.- University use :....
in the two provinces of the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
, who presides in that house and acts as representative and spokesman in the upper house. He is elected by the lower house, subject to the approval of the metropolitan
Metropolitan bishop
In Christian churches with episcopal polity, the rank of metropolitan bishop, or simply metropolitan, pertains to the diocesan bishop or archbishop of a metropolis; that is, the chief city of a historical Roman province, ecclesiastical province, or regional capital.Before the establishment of...
.
Usage in the Anglican Church of Canada
In the Anglican Church of CanadaAnglican Church of Canada
The Anglican Church of Canada is the Province of the Anglican Communion in Canada. The official French name is l'Église Anglicane du Canada. The ACC is the third largest church in Canada after the Roman Catholic Church and the United Church of Canada, consisting of 800,000 registered members...
, the prolocutor of the General Synod acts as the deputy to the Primate
Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada
The Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada is elected by the General Synod of the Church from among a list of five bishops nominated by the House of Bishops...
. As such, he or she ranks as the second executive officer of the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada
General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada
The General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada is the chief governing and legislative body of the Anglican Church of Canada , the sole Canadian representative of the Anglican Communion...
. The current prolocutor is Robert Falby, who also serves as Chancellor of the Diocese of Toronto. Elected as Deputy Prolocutor, in June 2007, he became Prolocutor when the Rev. Dr. Stephen Andrews was elected Bishop of Algoma, and became ineligible for the office of Prolocutor. Falby was re-elected as Prolocutor in June 2010.
Each of the four Ecclesiastical Provinces also has a Prolocutor, who serves a similar function, as a deputy to the Metropolitan (Archbishop) of the Province.
The office of Prolocutor has its origins in the bi-cameral Provincial and General Synods. The relevant Archbishop (Primate or Metropolitan) acted as President of the Upper House (Bishops), and the Prolocutor was the elected President of the Lower House (Clergy and Laity). These Synods are no longer fully bi-cameral, but the office of Prolocutor is retained with different functions. The antecedents of the Canadian office are in the Convocations of the Church of England, in which the Lower House comprises clergy, laity not being members of Convocations. Only clergy and laity, not bishops, may serve as Prolocutor.