The College of Bishops of the Anglican Church in North America gathered in Plano, Texas, September 21-25, 2026, for its fall meeting. Bishop Julian M. Dobbs, Dean of the Province and Interim Ecclesiastical Authority, presided. The bishops met to worship together, discern God’s leading in their Gospel calling, and seek clarity on key matters facing the Church.
Bishop Paul Donison hosted the College at Christ Church Plano, Texas and provided Bible teaching for the week.
An Overview
Elections
Bishop Ryan Reed, who has been serving as Interim Bishop of the Diocese of the Western Gulf Coast, announced that the Great Plains Missionary District will join the Diocese and that the Diocese will elect a new bishop this fall.
In accordance with the processes for episcopal elections, the College of Bishops has given consent to the Very Rev. Canon Dr. Kris McDaniel as a candidate for election as Suffragan Bishop of the Diocese of Churches for the Sake of Others (C4SO). The diocese is now empowered to move forward with the election of this candidate under its own processes. Should Canon McDaniel be elected by C4SO, his election will be brought before the College of Bishops, which will then consider whether to give its consent.
The College also consented to the election of a Bishop Coadjutor for the Diocese of Mid-America (REC).
Holy Orders and Ordination
The College reviewed the history of the Province’s efforts to address the issue of women’s ordination. This review included a recorded interview with Archbishop Emeritus Bob Duncan discussing the decision agreed at the founding of the Province in 2009. Under that settlement, each diocese is free to determine its own practice concerning the ordination of women to the diaconate and the priesthood, and the College remains united that women will not be consecrated to the episcopate. The College also reviewed the 2017 report of the Theological Task Force on Holy Orders and the Victoria Statement adopted unanimously by the College later that year. In the report, the College was asked to take up certain matters, and in the Victoria Statement, the College committed itself to further work. This historical review was significant, considering that more than half of the members of the College were consecrated after 2017. The College has now agreed to consider the matters requested by the Task Force and to take up the commitments it made in 2017.
Custodia Fidei – Faith and Order
The Dean announced the establishment of Custodia Fidei, the guardianship of the faith, a standing body of the College to receive and respond to questions of doctrine, sacramental practice, ecclesial relationships and ministerial order. Its work rests on the chief work given to the College in Article X.1 of the Constitution, the propagation and defense of the Faith and Order of the Church. Under the Archbishop’s oversight, Custodia Fidei will consider the matters requested by the College for their consideration.
Minimum Ordination Standards
The College received an update from the Working Group charged with recommending minimum standards for ordination and examination that could apply to all dioceses and jurisdictions in the ACNA. Its recommendations will be forwarded to a Bishops Committee on Ordination Standards. Minimum ordination standards will help communicate the Province’s commitments and expectations to seminaries preparing clergy for ordination in the ACNA, and will help unite the Province in its core theological, liturgical, and sacramental commitments.
Safeguarding
Deacon Dr. Kelley Munger gave an update on her ongoing work supporting dioceses as they prepare to implement the revised Title IV disciplinary canons, which take effect January 1, 2027. She also reported on the Province’s partnership with Trinity Anglican Seminary and the American Anglican Council to develop training tracks for the safeguarding, investigation, proctor, and tribunal roles set out in the canons.
Bishops have been asked to complete a periodic episcopal audit, which includes a 360-degree review drawing on input from diocesan executive teams, standing committee members, clergy, staff, ministry partners, and, if married, the bishop’s wife.
Mission
The College explored key missional opportunities for the Province, including the launch of Anglican Campus Fellowship, church planting, and leadership pipeline development. The College is also preparing for Mission Council 2027, a gathering focused on church planting and multiplication and leadership development across the ACNA, to be held June 15-17, 2027, at Wellspring Church in Denver, CO.
Bishop Alan Hawkins gave an update on the clergy financial training and resources the Province is providing to help bishops better care for their clergy.
Bishop Eric Menees gave an update on the work of the Catechesis Task Force, which is developing a Catechist’s Handbook. The Children’s Catechism is in the final stages of review by a Bishops Review Panel and is expected to go to press at Anglican House Publishers in April 2027.
The Global Anglican Communion
Speaking as General Secretary of the Global Anglican Communion (GAC), Bishop Donison briefed the College on current relationships and partnerships around the world, including matters involving the GAC and the Global South Fellowship of Anglicans (GSFA). He plans to meet with the ACNA’s international Ministry Partners and Affiliated Ministries to update them on the Province’s global relationships. The ACNA commends all faithful Anglicans around the world who continue to contend for the faith once for all delivered to the saints (Jude 3).
Disciplinary Proceedings
The College announced canonical sentences in two matters.
The College voted unanimously to depose Derek Jones from the Sacred Ministry in response to the decision of the Court for the Trial of a Bishop finding him guilty of four canonical charges related to his conduct toward against chaplains in the Special Jurisdiction of the Armed Forces & Chaplaincy. The College announced that it is “undertaking a process by which chaplains may obtain canonical and pastoral restoration.” Additionally, the College stated, “As part of our collective repentance, we recognize the culture of our College must change and we are seeking to understand how this abuse was allowed to happen.”
The College censured Bishop Chip Edgar of the Anglican Diocese of South Carolina for his engagement in a service with a bishop of The Episcopal Church in August 2026. A censure is a formal reprimand. The College expressed it deep gratitude for Bishop Edgar’s ready repentance and his most Godly example of Christlike humility. The College will develop guidance to bishops, priests, and deacons on engaging with those with whom the ACNA is not in communion.
Report of the Chancellor
The College received a report from the Chancellor of the Province, Mr. Bill Nelson, on legal and canonical matters before the Province and before the Court for the Trial of a Bishop, including the recently concluded trial of Archbishop Steve Wood. The Chancellor briefed the bishops on the status of each matter, the canonical processes that govern them and the steps that remain.
Follow-up from Provincial Council
At Provincial Council in June 2026, the Anglican Dioceses of South Carolina and the Mid-Atlantic reached an agreement with the Court for the Trial of a Bishop to a third-party mediated inquiry into the proceedings of the Court, answering questions related to the Ruch trial transcript.
At its meeting in Plano, the College was informed that, despite good-faith efforts on all sides, the parties were unable to agree on protocols for the panel’s work that would both address the questions raised by the two dioceses and satisfy the Court’s interest in protecting its independence. This effort has therefore concluded.
The creation of this review panel was an independent undertaking of the two dioceses and the Court, and did not involve the Provincial Office.