Reporting Clergy Misconduct (Title IV)

Title IV is the section of the Episcopal Church’s Canons that addresses the grounds and processes for “ecclesiastical discipline,” a canonical process adopted by the Church to encourage accountability, reconciliation, and pastoral response when a Member of its Clergy (Deacons, Priests, or Bishops) are accused of misconduct. Learn more about Title IV.

Any incident of clergy misconduct may be reported verbally or in writing to any one of the following intake officers:

The Canon (Episcopal Church Law) setting forth the standards of clergy conduct can be found below or in The Episcopal Church Archives:

TITLE IV. Canon 4: Of Standards of Conduct

1. respect and preserve confidences of others except that pastoral, legal or moral obligations of ministry may require disclosure of those confidences other than Privileged Communications;
2. conform to the Rubrics of the Book of Common Prayer;
3. abide by the promises and vows made when ordained;
4. abide by the requirements of any applicable Accord or Order; any applicable Pastoral Direction, restriction on ministry, or placement on Administrative Leave issued under Canon IV.7; or Restorative Covenant entered into under Canon IV.8.6;
5. safeguard the property and funds of the Church and Community;
6. report to the Intake Officer all matters which may constitute an Offense as defined in Canon IV.2 meeting the standards of Canon IV.3.3, except for matters disclosed to the Member of Clergy as confessor within the Rite of Reconciliation of a Penitent;
7. exercise his or her ministry in accordance with applicable provisions of the Constitution and Canons of the Church and of the Diocese, ecclesiastical licensure or commission and Community rule or bylaws;
8. refrain from:
   1. any act of Sexual Misconduct;
   2. holding and teaching publicly or privately, and advisedly, any Doctrine contrary to that held by the Church;
   3. engaging in any secular employment, calling or business without the consent of the Bishop of the Diocese in which the Member of the Clergy is canonically resident;
   4. being absent from the Diocese in which the Member of the Clergy is canonically resident, except as provided in Canon III.9.3.e for more than two years without the consent of the Bishop Diocesan;
   5. any criminal act that reflects adversely on the Member of the Clergy’s honesty, trustworthiness or fitness as a minister of the Church;
   6. conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation;
   7. habitual neglect of the exercise of the ministerial office without good cause;
   8. habitual neglect of public worship, and of the Holy Communion, according to the order and use of the Church; and
   9. any Conduct Unbecoming a Member of the Clergy.

The capitalized terms are defined in Canon IV.2 of the Canons of the Episcopal church.