Abtilis

Canon 37

Overview

This canon assigns the stewardship of church property to the bishop, who must distribute it fairly among clergy and the needy according to established rules, without personal favoritism.

1Abṭelis, 37. All the property of the church and all that is in it shall be in the hand of the bishop. Let him guard it and keep it, for he is faithful and worthy, and he shall distribute it among the priests according to their need and as God commanded, that the priests may be in their dwelling and in their rank with justice. Some of them shall take two parts, some three parts, and some one part, as we have ordered in the book of division. Let this not be done by his will or his consent, nor shall he give it to his friends or servants who consent, but he shall distribute it with justice according to their need, to the priests and to the deacons according to their increase, and to the widows according to their strength. But if the needy come, let them give to them a share according to their strength, and not increase the share for himself, for he who is in it is for the priests, and he shall not increase the share for himself.