Photo by Dariusz Sankowski on Unsplash

Since 2008, the American Anglican Council (AAC) has provided council on good and godly governance within the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA). When I was Chair of the Governance Task Force (GTF) and with our AAC resources, we developed a process for all members of the Church to contribute to the canonical amendment process we have every year. For the last three to four years, the Governance Task Force published a first draft of canonical amendments for review by the whole Church. This followed the submission of comments by both the College of Bishops and the Executive Committee. In response to the first draft for open comments by everyone, lay and clergy, the GTF responded to each emailed comment and carefully weighed each suggestion. These suggestions shaped the second draft of the GTF proposed canonical amendments, and that second draft was released to the AAC Anglican Legal Society, some 220 members (bishops, clergy, and practicing attorneys throughout the province) interested in canon law. The second draft was also sent to all known delegates to Provincial Council and Assembly–bishops, clergy, and laity–for their comments and suggestions, and of course, their suggestions shaped the final draft of proposed canonical amendments, delivered to Provincial Council and Provincial Assembly at least two weeks before they met. Though I am no longer the Chair of the GTF or serving on it, this process continues to this day. 

The reason I share this with you is a response to the article published on VirtueOnline regarding the 2024 GTF proposed amendments. We are grateful to David Virtue for highlighting the need for transparency and opportunities to comment because we welcome maximum participation within the conciliar governance we have in the ACNA. The article is helpful in raising some of the questions that need to be asked. (Please note, the screenshot used as a feature image in the VirtueOnline article is from June 2023 when I was still leading and serving on the GTF.) Our readers should know that there are many practicing attorneys on the GTF who carefully review all drafts of the proposed amendments, and that hard work is needed now, especially with church discipline, a critical topic within the province. 

In light of this, we want to encourage our readers, in case they missed it, to review the video and PDF report of the 2024 ACNA Governance Task Force and its proposed amendments by the Very Rev. Andrew Rowell, a Trustee of the AAC and now Vice-chair of the ACNA Governance Task Force. I commend his report to you and, especially, the proposed amendment of Title I Canon V regarding diocesan minimums for responding to complaints. I believe this canon honors the need for such provincial standards and the principle of subsidiarity which gives autonomy to dioceses to shape those processes that best fit their context. It’s been my pleasure to share with the Very Rev. Canon Andrew and others, through our canon law classes, the principles of Anglican conciliarism which are honored in the first draft of the GTF 2024 Report. Our prayers are that all of our readers, and indeed all members of the ACNA, will read this first draft of the Governance Task Force carefully and respond with any questions, comments, or suggestions as the Lord leads you.

Due to the importance of church discipline, and the needs for both transparency, fairness, and justice for all, the AAC is pleased to announce that on Thursday, April 18, we will be hosting a webinar for bishops, chancellors, and diocesan complaint response teams with Theresa Sidebotham of the Telios Law Firm. Theresa and Telios have led practitioners in best practices for churches responding to complaints, investigations, and processes in ways that are transparent and fair to both victims and those accused. The seminar will address responding initially to an allegation: how to respond appropriately, meet legal standards, care well for those who may be victims, keep everyone safe, and provide a fair process for those who are accused. Then, it will review when investigations are needed, whether they should be internal or external, and what standards should be put in place. It will also cover ongoing care for everyone involved during the investigative process. Lastly, it will cover appropriate wrap-up: needed decisions, possible discipline, needed communications, and follow-up care. 

We encourage our readers to contact your bishops and diocesan chancellors to make sure they’re aware of this helpful webinar which will enable all dioceses in the ACNA to respond to complaints of misconduct and abuse by clergy and lay leaders in the Church in ways that are good, godly, fair, and just. More information about this seminar can be found on our Anglican Legal Society website.