Letter 5

From: Council of Orleans (synodal letter) To: Frankish church Date: ~511 AD Context: The first major Frankish church council, called by Clovis himself — establishing the structures of the Frankish Catholic church after his conversion. The synod assembled at Orleans, by the favor of God and at the invitation of our most glorious son King Clovis, to all the churches of the Frankish kingdom. We have met, deliberated, and reached agreement on the following matters of church order and discipline, which we transmit for observance throughout the kingdom. On the ordination of clergy: no man shall be ordained to any order of the church who has not received the approval of the bishop of his diocese. Secular patrons — however powerful — shall not impose clergy on churches against the will of the local bishop. The church's internal governance of its own orders must remain in the church's hands. On church property: lands and buildings given to the church by kings or by private donors are henceforth the permanent property of the church, to be administered by the bishop of the diocese for the benefit of the poor and the support of clergy. These properties may not be recovered by heirs of donors who subsequently regret their generosity. On the protection of those seeking sanctuary: anyone who takes refuge in a church building shall be protected from arrest for serious crimes during a period of negotiation. The bishop shall negotiate with secular authorities about the terms under which the person may be surrendered or released. This protection is not unlimited, but it is real. On the clergy who served under Arian Visigothic authority: those who did so out of necessity and not from conviction shall be received back into full Catholic communion after appropriate examination. Given at Orleans, in the reign of the most glorious King Clovis. The assembled bishops.