Qualifications & Honours
To maintain confidence in clergy qualifications, the Anglican Independent Communion enforces the following rules:
Clergy may only use degree titles if:
- The degree (earned or honorary) is from a British or Australian university under Royal Charter or statute law.
- It is issued by the Archbishop of Canterbury under Cranmer’s Act (1535) and the Education Reform Act.
- It is from a foreign university legally authorised to grant degrees.
- It is an honorary degree issued by the Metropolitan Archbishop of the Anglican Independent Communion Worldwide or a Primate of another church with recognised Apostolic Succession, subject to the Metropolitan Archbishop’s approval. Honorary degrees must be prefixed with ‘Hon’ (e.g., HonDCL).
No other degrees or titles may be used in Communion contexts. Religious degrees from unrecognised online institutions, particularly in the US, are not valid.
Recognised professional post-nominals (e.g., MRCVS, CBiol MIBiol, MCIT, MBCS) may be used. If uncertain, clergy should seek guidance from the Metropolitan Chancellor.
Clergy may also be associated with legitimate international Chivalric Orders (e.g., Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Order of St. Cornelius) and other ministry or military honours. Their recognition is subject to local custom and approval by the Presiding Bishop/Archbishop.