The Anglican Church in North America is advertising for the position of a new director of Safeguarding and Canonical Affairs, according to posting made to its website on January 17, 2026. A spokesman for the ACNA stated the present director of safeguarding was leaving her post. Tiffany Butler “felt increasingly called to pursue a career in research, education, and to explore a calling to monastic orders.”
The ACNA spokesman added: “We anticipate filling the role before she departs.”
The director of safeguarding had been under fire for her handling of the controversies surrounding Bishops Derek Jones and Stewart Ruch, and Archbishop Steve Wood. Supporters of Ms. Butler tell Anglican.Ink she was not properly resourced by the ACNA and her work did not have the support of the church’s top leaders – leading to frustration from victim advocates and from current and former ACNA staff.
Dr. Butler was appointed Director of Safeguarding and Canonical Affairs in March 2025, joining the ACNA staff from World Concern, where she served for six years and an Ethics and Compliance Specialist. Dr. Butler earned a PhD in Ethics and Practical Theology from the University of Edinburgh’s School of Divinity. Her thesis examined the intersection of migration, ecclesiologies, and canon law. She was also awarded an MDiv from Fuller Theological Seminary with an emphasis in Just Peacemaking.
Dr. Butler has been a member of the ACNA and her local parish of Holy Trinity Edmonds (Diocese of Cascadia) in Washington State since 2018 and served as a lay member of the Cascadia Diocesan Council and a lay representative at GAFCON 2023.