New Title IV Canons for Ecclesiastical Discipline

“By virtue of Baptism, all members of the Church are called to holiness of life and accountability to one another. The Church and each Diocese shall support their members in their life in Christ and seek to resolve conflicts by promoting healing, repentance, forgiveness, restitution, justice, amendment of life, and reconciliation among all involved or affected. This Title applies to Members of the Clergy, who have by their vows at ordination accepted additional responsibilities and accountabilities for doctrine, discipline, worship and obedience.” -- Canon 1 of Title IV

The General Convention of the Episcopal Church in 2009 revised the canons dealing with clergy discipline, known as Title IV. These changes served to make the process of clergy discipline less legalistic and judicial. The new Title IV Canons now more closely reflect the processes used by the medical and social work professions. The process is one that seeks to be more pastoral for all involved and to “seek to resolve conflicts by promoting healing, repentance, forgiveness, restitution, amendment of life, and reconciliation among all involved or affected.”

The revised process is less limiting and allows for more fluidity with greater flexibility and variety of options for arriving at a resolution.

The new canons went into effect on July 1, 2011.

Any report of material and substantial misconduct will be assigned to an Intake Officer. To report an offense, please call the office of the bishop, 757-213-3381.

Title IV Canons are available here.

CLICK HERE for the Title IV review presented at Spring Clergy Day, May 8, 2012