The Canons of the Council of Neocaesarea (AD 315)
Canon I
If a minister marries, he should be removed from the order. However, if he commits fornication or adultery, he should be denied fellowship and put to penance.
Canon II
If a woman marries two brothers, she should be removed from fellowship until her death. However, at her death, she may receive penance as mercy as long as she swears to break the marriage if she recovers. If the woman in such a marriage (or the man) die, penance for the survivor will be very difficult.
Canon III
The appointed time for penance is well known for those who fall into many marriages, although their manner of living and their faith may shorten the time of penance.
Canon IV
If any man lusts after a woman and intends to lie with her but it does not happen, it is clear that he has been saved by grace.
Canon V
If a catechumen comes into the church and takes his place in the order of catechumens at the level of a kneeler but then falls into sin, he may progress to the level of hearer as long as he sins no more. But if he sins while he is a hearer, cast him out.
Canon VI
A pregnant woman should be baptized whenever she desires because this does not affect the child she carries. The profession of faith is an individual act.
Canon VII
A minister shall not be a guest at the wedding of people contracting a second marriage. The digamist is worthy of penance, and the minister sanctions the marriage by his presence.
Canon VIII
If the wife of a layman has committed adultery and has been clearly convicted, he cannot enter the ministry. If she commits adultery after his ordination, he must put her away. If he retains her, he can have no part in the ministry entrusted to him.
Canon IX
A minister who has been promoted after having committed a carnal sin and confesses that he sinned before his ordination shall not make the oblation, though he may remain in his other functions on account of his zeal in other respects. The majority have affirmed that ordination blots out other kinds of sins. If he does not confess and cannot be openly convicted, the decision shall depend upon himself.
Canon X
Likewise, if a deacon has fallen into the same sin, let him retain the rank of a minister.
Canon XI
A minister should not be ordained before he is thirty years old. Even though he may be a worthy man in every way, he should wait because our Lord Jesus Christ was baptized and began to teach in his thirtieth year.
Canon XII
If anyone is baptized when he is ill, and his profession of faith was not voluntary, but of necessity (i.e. through fear of death) he cannot be promoted to the clergy, unless because of a subsequent display of zeal and faith or a lack of other candidates.
Canon XIII
Country ministers may not make the oblation in the city church when the bishop or ministers of the city are present, nor may they give the Bread or the Cup with prayer. If, however, they are absent, and the country minister alone is called to pray, he may give them.
Canon XIV
The country bishops, however, are indeed after the pattern of the Seventy and, as fellow-servants and on account of their devotion to the poor, have the honor of making the oblation.
Canon XV
The deacons ought to be seven in number, according to the canon, even if the city is great. Of this the Book of Acts will persuade you.
Revision of NPNF, series 2, vol. 14, pp. 79-86 by SM
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