Collegiality in Action: Diocesan Chancellor Appointed to Title IV Advisors Group

Collegiality is one of the guiding principles of The Episcopal Church, based on the idea that bishops succeed the apostles collectively, not individually, and that each is responsible not only for a diocese but also for the universal Church. This principle extends to other Episcopal groups and ministries as well. Chancellor Todd Pittenger of The Episcopal Diocese of Central Florida, recently appointed to serve in a select group of Chancellors from around the country who will serve in the role of advisor in select Title IV matters across the Church but outside their own particular dioceses, saw collegiality in action during that group’s initial meeting, held Oct. 8-9 at offices of the Hunter Maclean law firm in Savannah, Georgia.

Title IV, a section of the Church canons (written rules that provide laws for Church governance), details the grounds and process for ecclesiastical discipline that addresses claims of potential misconduct by clergy, whether deacons, priests or bishops, who have by their vows at ordination accepted additional responsibilities and accountabilities for doctrine, discipline, worship and obedience. Per Canon 1, Title IV “encourages healing, repentance, forgiveness, restitution, justice, amendment of life and reconciliation among all involved or affected.”

“It’s a very collaborative and labor-intensive process,” Pittenger said. “There are a lot of folks around the national Church who step up and help other dioceses, and this is just an example of that – a pool of advisors who are already heavily involved in their own dioceses and still willing to help others. The invitation to be a part of this process was certainly an honor.”

The chancellor said those who are part of the Title IV Advisors Group may be recommended by the national Church to assist with certain Title IV matters around the country.

Ms. Mary Kostel, chancellor to the Most Rev. Sean W. Rowe, presiding bishop of The Episcopal Church, organized the meeting, which was co-led by Ms. Nancy Cohen, longtime chancellor of the Episcopal Diocese of El Camino Real, California, now serving as vice chancellor while she trains her replacement; and John Van De Weert, chancellor of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington (Washington, D.C., and surrounding area). The invitees for the meeting were chancellors from 12 dioceses across the U.S.

For each Title IV matter, separate advisors are designated by the diocese to support and assist complainants and clergy respondents for the purpose of providing privileged advice regarding the Title IV process and also being present at Title IV proceedings that involve their complainant or respondent. Their duties do not include giving either pastoral counsel or acting as attorneys.

As to the purpose of the meeting in Savannah, “The leadership wanted us all to have a common place to begin and to build a network,” Pittenger explained.  “Most of us knew each other from from the annual Chancellor’s Network Conference, which also always includes Title IV training.”   The meeting in Savannah built upon this and combined more advanced Title IV instruction with the sharing of collective experience. It also included time for communal meals, fellowship and a tour of the historic Christ Church Savannah, “the mother church of Georgia.”

“It’s a significant responsibility for the Church to run its own affairs and to do so appropriately and in accordance with the canons,” Pittenger said. “It’s impressive that it’s all written down and well thought through, because if that were not the case, you would have a more arbitrary and unpredictable system.  Title IV matters are neither civil nor criminal but ecclesiastical in nature and represent the responsibility of the Church to determine who shall serve as its clergy.”

Dates for potential future meetings have not yet been set, he added, but the group may also confer via remote conference periodically to discuss information of mutual benefit. “The best part of the time together was the benefit of having everyone there and learning from the experience other chancellors had been involved in,” he said. “The people involved were the greatest asset … [and] the national Church has been a tremendous resource.  But it was great that they decided to put this together after recognizing a need and forming a group to fulfill it.”