Church Discipline and Legal Guidance

1. The Chancellor, with support from the Diocesan Registrar when needed, serves as the legal advisor to the College of Bishops and Judge of the Chancellor’s Court.
2. The Archbishop is responsible for clergy discipline but usually delegates this to the Chancellor. The Registrar acts as Clerk of the Court.
3. If a bishop, priest, deacon, or deaconess engages in scandalous behaviour, the Archbishop will provide pastoral care. If the behaviour persists, the Archbishop may publicly disassociate the Church from the individual and suspend a cleric’s licence.
4. If the individual repents and makes appropriate reparations, the Archbishop may restore their standing and, for clerics, their licence.
5. Clergy disputes unresolved through mutual reconciliation are referred to a bishop. If necessary, the matter may be escalated to the Chancellor, who may provide written or in-person judgments, including on civil law matters.
6. Chancellor’s Court hearings are public, and parties may have legal representation at their own expense.
7. The right to appear before the Court is granted to solicitors, barristers, and Fellows of the Institute of Legal Executives. Other advocacy applications may be considered.
8. Misconduct complaints against clergy can be filed by a parish (with at least five signatures) or a bishop. Complaints against bishops require the Archbishop’s countersignature.
9. The Court appoints an independent prosecutor from eligible advocates who is not a member of the Church.
10. The Chancellor may find a cleric ‘Guilty’ or ‘Not Guilty’. Upon a guilty verdict, penalties range from admonishment to deprivation of Orders. Sanctions beyond admonishment require the Archbishop’s written approval within 14 days.
11. A convicted cleric may appeal to the Archbishop within 21 days. The Archbishop may uphold, modify, or overturn the Chancellor’s decision.
12. A cleric seeking to rejoin the Church after resignation must undergo a hearing before the Chancellor, who will make recommendations to the Archbishop and relevant Committee. No bishop may provide oversight until the Archbishop directs otherwise.