Title IV and Reporting Misconduct

Title IV of The Episcopal Church’s canons, or governing rules, sets out standards of conduct for all ordained people in the church and provides a process for addressing allegations of misconduct. The Episcopal Church also provides resources for addressing conflicts within communities, as well as training to prevent and identify misconduct.

Safe Church, Safe Communities Training

The Episcopal Church has resources and training for preventing, identifying, and reporting misuses of power. Safe Church, Safe Communities training is available through Praesidium Academy.

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Situations of conflict in the church

As in all groups of people, conflict arises between individuals and among communities of The Episcopal Church. This includes both lay and ordained people. If your parish or community is experiencing conflict and you need assistance navigating through it, contact your diocesan staff for available resources.

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How to report misconduct

Misconduct by priests and deacons

These complaints are addressed at the diocesan level. Complaints against priests or deacons must be directed to the intake officer of the diocese where the misconduct occurred or where the priest or deacon is canonically resident. Find the relevant Episcopal diocese here.

Misconduct by bishops

The Rev. Barbara Kempf serves as intake officer for complaints against bishops. She is the primary contact for receiving allegations of misconduct by bishops and serves as a member of the Title IV reference panel for bishops. Report misconduct by a bishop.

Frequently asked questions about reporting clergy misconduct

Many people have questions about whether and how to report suspected clergy misconduct and what happens once a report has been made. Please read these frequently asked questions.

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What to expect once you have reported suspected misconduct—or someone has made a report of clergy misconduct against you

What happens once you have reported suspected misconduct or, if you are clergy, once someone has reported suspected misconduct against you?

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Process for Title IV matters involving bishops

Report misconduct

Report misconduct by a bishop to the intake officer for bishops, the Rev. Barbara Kempf (Canon IV.6.2).

Initial inquiry by intake officer

Intake officer acknowledges receipt of report and conducts an initial inquiry in the matter, which may include talking to reporting party or others for additional information (Canon IV.6.4). The intake officer will ask reporting party whether they would like to be identified as a “complainant’ in the matter (Canon IV.2).

Deciding to be a complainant provides rights in the process. A complainant’s identity will be disclosed to the bishop alleged to have committed misconduct (Canon IV.6.4-10).

Initial decision by intake officer

Once the initial inquiry is complete, the intake officer determines whether to recommend dismissal of the matter or to send the matter on to the reference panel (Canon IV.6.5-7).

In reaching this decision, the intake officer considers the following questions:

If the allegations are true, is there an offense? (Canon IV.6.5). (The offenses are described in Canons IV.3 and IV.4.)
Would the alleged offense be material and substantial or of clear and weighty importance to the ministry of the church? (Canon IV.3.3).

Decision by intake officer to dismiss the matter

If the intake officer recommends dismissal of the matter and the presiding bishop does not object, the intake officer notifies complainant of that decision and the reasons for it; the bishop alleged to have committed misconduct receives the same notice (Canon IV.6.5).

Complainant has 30 days to appeal the dismissal to the president of the Disciplinary Board for Bishops, and an advisor is assigned to help complainant with the appeal (Canon IV.6.5).  

If the president of the disciplinary board disagrees with the decision to dismiss, the matter is referred to the reference panel (see below) (Canon IV.6.6).

If the president of the disciplinary board agrees with the decision to dismiss, the matter is concluded (Canon IV.6.6).

Decision by intake officer to send the matter to the reference panel

If the intake officer sends the matter to the reference panel, the intake officer notifies the complainant and the bishop alleged to have committed misconduct. The notice will state the nature of the alleged offense and identify any complainants (Canon IV.6.7).

The reference panel receives a confidential intake report summarizing the initial inquiry (Canon IV.6.7). The church attorney receives the report as well (Canon IV.6.4).

The reference panel reviews the intake report and decides what should happen next (Canon IV.6.8).

The members of the reference panel are the presiding bishop, the president of the disciplinary board for bishops, and the intake officer for bishops (Canon IV.2 “Reference Panel” and Canon IV.17.2.c). 

The church attorney is appointed by the disciplinary board for bishops and represents the interests of the church in the matter (Canon IV.2 “Church Attorney” and Canon IV.17.d.2).

Reference panel options

The reference panel may choose the following next steps for a matter:

Decide that the matter needs no further process under Title IV and the matter is concluded with appropriate pastoral response (Canon IV.6.8(a)).
Send the matter to a skilled conciliator to seek a resolution among the complainant, respondent, and other affected parties (Canon IV.6.8(b) and Canon IV.10)).
Ask the presiding bishop to arrange a facilitated conversation among complainants, injured persons, and the subject member of the clergy, with the goal of reaching a restorative covenant among them that resolves the matters raised (Canon IV.8.6).
Send the matter to an investigator, who produces an investigative report for the reference panel (Canon IV.6.8(c) and Canon IV.11)).
Send the matter to a conference panel made up of members of the Disciplinary Board for Bishops to conduct an informal hearing and determine whether to produce a recommended order resolving the matter, dismiss the matter, refer the matter to conciliation, or send it to a hearing panel (Canon IV.6.8(d) and Canon IV.12). 
Ask the presiding bishop to seek an accord, or agreement for discipline, with the bishop alleged to have committed misconduct (Canon IV.6.8(e) and Canon IV.9).

If the reference panel sends the matter to an investigator, after receiving the investigative report, the reference panel may then choose any of the options listed above for next steps, or, in addition, may refer to a hearing panel made up of members of the Disciplinary Board for Bishops to conduct a formal hearing and produce a binding decision resolving the matter (Canon IV.11.3(e) and Canon IV.13). An appeal may be taken from that decision to the court of review for bishops (Canon IV.17.8).

A church attorney appointed by the Disciplinary Board for Bishops will represent the church if a matter goes to a conference panel and the hearing panel.

Temporary measures while the matter is pending

While a Title IV matter against a bishop is pending, the presiding bishop may take temporary action to address the situation by restricting part of the subject bishop’s ministry, placing the bishop on administrative leave, or issuing a pastoral direction to the bishop (Canon IV.7).

Pastoral response

As part of any matter where a report of misconduct is received, the presiding bishop makes available an appropriate pastoral response. The presiding bishop has appointed staff members to assist in assessing pastoral needs and making pastoral support available.

Philosophy and goals of Title IV

Title IV provides a process by which the church determines who shall serve as members of its clergy (Canon IV.19.1).

At its best, the Title IV process seeks resolution of conflict by promoting healing, repentance, forgiveness, restitution, justice, amendment of life, and reconciliation (Canon IV.1).