June 20, 2026 Tulsa, Oklahoma — The Provincial Council of the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) concluded its annual meeting this week in Tulsa, taking several significant actions that will shape the life and mission of the Province. It subsequently received an administrative schedule update from the Court for the Trial of a Bishop.

Court Adjusts Trial Schedule for Archbishop Wood

On June 19, 2026, the Court for the Trial of a Bishop officially issued a Notice of Trial Reset in the matter of The Most Rev. Stephen D. Wood, Archbishop of the ACNA and Bishop of the Diocese of the Carolinas. To better fulfill its goal of providing a full and fair adjudication of the allegations in this matter, the Court has reset the trial date to begin on October 26, 2026. The administrative notice was signed and finalized by The Right Rev. Ryan Reed, President of the Court, and Katherine R. Grosskopf, Presiding Officer. No further comment was provided.

This announcement comes on the heels of a historic and mission-focused Provincial Council, which gathered at Cornerstone Tulsa from June 17-19, 2026. The Provincial Council, which serves as the governing body of the Church with authority to approve canonical amendments and establish programs and budgets, completed several major actions during this year’s session.

Canons Revised to Address Discipline and Leadership Continuity

The most substantial action came with the approval of the revised Title IV disciplinary canons, the culmination of almost three years of review, consultation, and development. “I am so grateful for the diligent engagement by our delegates and the tremendous work of our Governance Task Force and its Chair, Rev. Canon Andrew Rowell, for all of their thoughtful preparation and work that brought us to this historic and vital moment,” said Bishop Julian Dobbs, Dean of the Province. “The approval of these revisions is the result of nearly three years of intense listening, consultation, and hard work across the province centered on a commitment to establishing clear rules, known in advance, and out in the open for everyone to see in order to restore trust in a faithful disciplinary system.”

The revisions address several longstanding challenges within the current disciplinary framework and establish clearer procedures for reporting misconduct, conducting investigations, providing pastoral care, and adjudicating cases. These reforms will strengthen confidence in the Church’s ability to address misconduct faithfully, fairly, and consistently while safeguarding all parties involved.

As part of the proceedings, an additional floor agenda item supported by ten delegate signatures proposed replacing the approved Title IV text with an alternative version. This amendment sought to mandate the appointment of an advocate for any clergy member accused of misconduct, mirroring the existing provision that allows advocates for those reporting misconduct. While the item generated valuable discussion, it ultimately failed to pass. Following the vote, Rev. Canon Andrew Rowell noted that the Governance Task Force will make the consideration of an advocate or counsel for the accused a priority for the coming year.

Additional Changes Address Interim Ecclesiastical Authority

Council also approved amendments to Title I designed to provide greater clarity and continuity in provincial leadership during times of incapacity, transition, or vacancy. In part, the amendments establish procedures for addressing situations in which an Archbishop is unable to fulfill his duties, create a process for medical evaluation and appeal, and clarify the transfer of authority to an Interim Ecclesiastical Authority. The amendments to Title I and Title IV approved by the Council will go to Provincial Assembly for consideration and ratification on June 25.

Resolutions Withdrawn in Favor of Dialogue

The Provincial Council was prepared to consider two Resolutions submitted by the Anglican Diocese of South Carolina and the Anglican Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic calling for the release of the transcript of the proceedings of the Court for the Trial of a Bishop in the trial of Bishop Stewart Ruch III as well as the report commissioned by the Executive Committee into the Province’s handling of the Ruch matter.

However, the two dioceses withdrew these resolutions and instead agreed to participate in a dialogue with the Court, mediated by four diocesan chancellors, including the chancellors of the Anglican Dioceses of South Carolina and the Mid-Atlantic, intended to address questions raised by both the two dioceses and the court regarding the appropriateness of the actions of all parties involved. Canon Andrew Rowell, Chair of the Governance Task Force, will also participate in this dialogue. The participants agreed that a report on the proceedings will be made available to the Standing Committees of all the dioceses.

The Province also acknowledged that the findings and recommendations of the Lathrop Review will be made available to any diocesan Standing Committee upon request. The dioceses and the Province also acknowledged that the withdrawn resolutions may be reintroduced at a subsequent Provincial Council.

Provincial Council Approves FY27 Budget, Elections, and New Diocese

The Council approved the FY27 provincial budget by voice vote. It also elected the following members to serve terms on the Council’s Executive Committee, which exercises governance authority when the Council is not in session:

● Mr. Ben Sturgeon (Anglican Diocese of the Living Word) and Dr. Jerald Walz (Diocese of Christ our Hope) will serve as lay members for three-year terms.

● Mr. John E. Benson (Anglican Diocese of South Carolina) will serve as a lay member for the remaining two years of a vacant position.

● The Rev. Canon Howard Edwards (Anglican Diocese of Canada) and Chaplain (Col.) Will Harrison, US Army (Special Jurisdiction for the Armed Forces and Chaplaincy) will serve three-year terms representing the clergy.

New Diocese of the Mid-South Approved

The Provincial Council voted to admit the Anglican Diocese of the Mid-South into the ACNA. Covering Arkansas, Missouri, Mississippi, eastern Tennessee, and parts of eastern Texas, the new diocese expects to consecrate its first bishop in 2027. Until then, leadership and transition plans will be developed alongside provincial authorities.

Church Planting and Mission to Be Focus of New 2027 Mission Council

The ACNA’s inaugural 2025 Mission Index was released ahead of Provincial Council to highlight data from the province’s annual congregational report. This year‘s data highlighted 38% attendance growth since 2022 and opportunities to grow in mission, outreach, and engagement, noting that 48% of all ACNA churches have an average Sunday Attendance (ASA) of fewer than 50 people. Looking toward the future, Provincial leaders announced plans for a new Mission Council to be held June 15-17, 2027, following next year’s Provincial Council at Wellspring Church in Englewood, Colorado, June 14-15, 2027. The gathering will bring together missional leaders in the Church at every stage of development – fellows, residents, church planters, senior rectors, bishops, ministry partners, and lay leaders – to discern the next era of Anglican church planting, revitalization, and missionary expansion in North America. The Mission Council is intended to provide space for shared worship and Spirit-led prayer, and to foster strategic collaboration, identify emerging opportunities for gospel witness, and encourage renewed commitment to planting healthy, multiplying congregations.