1. The officers of the Congregation shall be a Master, a Vice-Master, a Secretary, and a Treasurer, who shall be elected by ballot for a five-year term at the General Chapter. The Master and the Vice-Master shall be priests, the Secretary and Treasurer may be either priest or deacon. At the end of the first five years in office, the Master and the Vice-Master of the Congregation may be re-elected to serve a second five year term without right of succession. If the Master for any reason feels it necessary to replace the Secretary or Treasurer or Secretary/Treasurer, he shall call for an election at the next General Chapter, and in the interim may appoint an incumbent. A two-thirds vote of the Companions present in General Chapter shall be necessary to elect to any office. In order to avoid any difficulty as to conflict of jurisdiction, none of these offices shall be held by a Bishop.
2. The Master shall preside in all Chapters of the Congregation; he shall appoint all committees; he may, at his discretion, set forth prayers to be used for special objects of intercession, and may give notice of special intentions for which the Holy Sacrifice ought to be offered; he may, at his discretion, call special Chapters upon a call of one-third of all the members; he may, for grave cause, dispense members from the obligation of attending a Chapter or the annual Retreat; he shall notify those who are elected to membership in the Congregation, and upon their promising to keep the Rule, admit them into the number of the Companions of the Holy Savior; he shall be bound to make himself acquainted with all the members of the Congregation, so that he may have knowledge of the peculiar gifts of each one; at the General Chapter he shall make a report upon the progress and work of the Congregation; and shall perform all other duties which by these Constitutions are incumbent upon him.
3. The Vice-Master, in case of the absence or inability of the Master, shall preside in his place, and shall discharge such other duties as the Master may assign to him. In case of the death or resignation of the Master, he shall fulfill all the Master's duties until a Master shall be elected for the unexpired term, which shall be done at the next succeeding Chapter.
4. It shall be the duty of the Secretary to keep careful minutes of the proceedings of the Congregation when in Chapter, and in Conference, and to send to the members all such notices as may be issued by the Master.
5. It shall be the duty
of the Treasurer to receive all money which may be contributed to the Congregation
for current expenses; to disburse the same upon an order from the Master directing
him so to do; and to render an account at the General Chapter of the Congregation
of all money so received and expended.
6. The Episcopal Visitor for the Congregation shall be elected by the Chapter
with a simple majority. His term shall be five years in duration and he may
be re-elected. Any bishop of ECUSA is eligible for election. The Visitor's
duties are defined by canon law and also include custodianship of the Rule,
and arbitration of disputes not resolvable by Chapter. He is to be a spiritual
guide and pastor to the Companions. The Visitor may receive life vows at the
invitation of the Father Master and Chapter.
7. And since the Congregation may be entrusted with some of this world's goods to be used in good works for the advancement of the kingdom of God, it is necessary that we should make provision for the safe-keeping of the same. And, therefore, the property of the Congregation shall be vested in four trustees, and shall be held under the name, style, and title of "The Trustees of the Congregation of the Companions of the Holy Savior.
8. The aforesaid officers, namely, the Master, the Vice-Master, the Secretary, and Treasurer, shall be the Trustees of the property of the Congregation. But no failure to elect these officers shall affect the continuity of the body of Trustees, but those in office shall continue as trustees until their successors are chosen.
9. In case of a vacancy occurring in the body of these Trustees, the remaining Trustee or Trustees, shall fill the same by appointment; the person or persons so appointed to remain in office until a successor or successors are duly elected by the Chapter of the Congregation.
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