The Provincial Assembly of the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) ratified three significant canonical reforms (“canons” are, in this context, the laws of the church) last week. The American Anglican Council (AAC) was honored to have worked on these canonical amendments, for they help establish the kind of godly, transparent governance we will need in order to meet the significant challenges facing the church in the years ahead. As Director of Anglican Governance Ministries for the AAC and Chair of the Governance Task Force of the ACNA, I experienced this year’s first-ever virtual Assembly as a high-stakes affair. But I rejoice that all three reforms passed by significant majorities, even while concerns about all three proposals were heard with listening ears and will be part of the continued work of a church that’s reformed and always reforming.

First, a word about the distinctions between the Provincial Council and the Provincial Assembly, which can admittedly be confusing to those new to the ACNA’s unique polity. Our Provincial Council meets every year. Each diocese is represented equally, with each sending its diocesan bishop, one member of its clergy (a priest or a deacon), and two lay persons. Council meets for worship, fellowship, and to consider legislative proposals to amend the canons of the ACNA. Any amendments approved by majority vote then move on to our Provincial Assembly for possible ratification.

Provincial Assembly meets less frequently than Council, though at least once every five years. At Provincial Assembly, each diocese is represented proportionately, meaning that larger dioceses (based on average Sunday attendance) have a larger voice. Usually timed with the need to begin another five-year term for our archbishop, Assembly meets for worship, mission, and to consider ratifying (or not) the changes approved by every Provincial Council since the last meeting of Assembly. This year’s Assembly was, for the first time in our history, a virtual meeting, called by the Executive Committee of the ACNA because of the need to place pending canonical changes before the Assembly for consideration.

Second, a note about process. By the time proposed canonical amendments reach the floor of Council or Assembly, they have already gone through a lengthy process of transparent public comment and refinement, as can be seen in the graphic below.

Even after this year-long public refinement process, there is still floor discussion and debate at every Provincial Council and every Provincial Assembly. Contrary to recent articles criticizing the ACNA for somehow stifling debate through this year-long deliberative process by which it proposes canonical amendments, good drafting occurs in a public manner that allows debate to focus on the core of a matter rather than wrestling over every jot and tittle of a canon’s language in the midst of Council or Assembly.

While “wordsmithing from the floor” has generally been avoided in both bodies, it’s only because “wordsmithing in a long, transparent public process” already occurred, leading to the refined language of the amendments before the bodies that now vote on them (Council) and ratify them (Assembly). Debate, counterproposals, and candid conversations about the purpose and impact of amendments all occur, for time is intentionally carved out at both Council and Assembly for each body to exercise its legislative responsibilities.

Now to the three amendments.

The first amendment presented for ratification generated the liveliest debate at this year’s virtual Assembly. It took the customary means by which canonical amendments are considered (as laid out in the chart above) and made that process part of our canons. The Governance Task Force will now become the Provincial Constitution and Canons Committee (the PC3, as opposed to the PCCC, which sounded a bit too much like the former Soviet Union in reverse—not the look for which we were going!). Concerns were raised that the PC3 was taking legislative authority away from Council and Assembly, but the very act of debating the merits of the proposed change, together with the involvement of many members of Council in shaping its language, demonstrated that no body other than Council can actually change our canons and only Assembly can ratify those changes. The canon passed by a healthy margin, with 78% in favor of the change.

The second amendment presented for ratification was the wholesale revision of the ACNA’s Title IV disciplinary canons. I have written about these needed changes here. Now, after three years of hard work, a year-long period of public review and comment, and robust conversation, debate, and overwhelming support at Provincial Council, we rejoice that Provincial Assembly ratified these changes with 97% of voting delegates in favor. These new disciplinary canons become effective January 1, 2027, and a much more detailed, transparent, and equitable means of seeking the truth when allegations arise will replace the sparse and confusing disciplinary system currently in place.

The third amendment presented for ratification clarified how the authority of the archbishop of the ACNA will pass to the Dean of the Province and, if necessary, to a newly created Assistant Dean of the Province, if ever the current archbishop is unable to serve for any reason. The role played by Bp. Julian Dobbs as Provincial Dean during these unprecedented days in which our current archbishop is inhibited was confirmed in the language of this amendment. These changes to our canons were passed overwhelmingly by Council and ratified with 99% support by Assembly.

At every point of Provincial Council and Provincial Assembly this year, the ACNA demonstrated its growing maturity. Real debate and discussion ensued over language that had been reviewed and commented upon by voices from every corner of the Province. The American Anglican Council is honored to have had a part in the heart of these matters, helping to provide the canonical structures and processes that enable Council and Assembly to do their legislative work well and free up the church to be on mission with the good news of Jesus Christ.