Title IV Review Process and Schedule

Title IV is the section of the ACNA Constitution and Canons that outlines the disciplinary canons of the Church. They describe and govern how instances of misconduct and abuse are handled to uphold safety, justice, and accountability across the Province. Efforts to review and revise these canons are currently underway to clarify the process and scope of the Church’s response to misconduct. As with any proposed changes to its canon law, the Province is soliciting public input and review.

If you would like to submit feedback on the proposed changes to Title IV, please click “Submit Feedback.”

If you have specific questions that you would like answered about this process or the proposed changes, please click “Submit a Question.”

After starting his term, Archbishop Wood announced an initiative to review and consider amendments to the existing Title IV, which is the section of the ACNA Constitution and Canons that outlines the disciplinary canons of the church. Specifically, Title IV governs how instances of misconduct and abuse are handled to uphold safety, justice, and accountability across the Province.

Anytime changes are considered to the Church’s canon law, the Province solicits public input and review. This months long provincial review schedule kicked off on July 29 with the Title IV Rollout & Orientation,a 2-hour virtual public meeting where the first draft of proposed changes to Title IV was introduced. 

A final proposal for Title IV revisions will be completed in mid-spring 2026, followed by a meeting of the Provincial Council (tentatively set for June 2026) for review and approval.

Harm done in the church is always wrong and deeply grievous. The church should never be a source of pain.  Collectively, we particularly grieve and lament the hurt, trauma, and harm these circumstances have caused for those in our Anglican community.

If you or someone in your care has experienced sexual or physical abuse by a bishop, clergy person, deacon, lay leader, or volunteer, immediately call 911 and make a report directly to local law enforcement or child protective services if the abuse involves a minor. After reporting the abuse to local authorities or child protective services, please notify your local diocesan contact so they are aware of how to care for persons involved and take appropriate action to respond.

If you have experienced any other form of misconduct by a clergy person, deacon, lay leader, or volunteer, immediately report such conduct to the appropriate diocesan contact. Visit the ACNA’s Safeguarding page for detailed instructions about how to file a report of misconduct. All reports are kept in strict confidence.

Likewise, if you are a member of the clergy or a lay leader who would like to receive additional training, education, or resources about how to protect children and adults in your congregational community, please visit the ACNA’s Safeguarding page for a suite of resources. You may also reach out directly to our Director of Safeguarding and Canonical Affairs, Dr. Tiffany Butler, at tbutler@acna.org to discuss a plan to suit the specific needs of your community.