Clergy Conduct and Title IV

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“Title IV” of the Episcopal Church Canons details the grounds and process for ecclesiastical discipline. It is a church-wide structure to address claims that bishops, priests, or deacons may have engaged in conduct constituting an offense under the Canons. It encourages accountability, justice, reconciliation, restoration and pastoral responses. For anyone suspecting clergy misconduct, helpful information is below.

If you have an experience to share about a clergy person violating standards of conduct, we are prepared to listen and respond. Please contact one of our intake officers.

If you have an experience in an Episcopal church that does not involve the conduct of a clergy person, but you would like a safe space to share your story, please contact your priest, or the diocesan office at 603-224-1914.

Diocesan Intake Officers: 

If you have a concern about the behavior of a clergy person in the Episcopal Church of New Hampshire, you may reach out to either of the two Diocesan Intake Officers by phone or email. They will respond sensitively, listen deeply, provide information about the Title IV process, and create a written report.

The Rev. Sinclair Ender

Email: FatherSinclair@gmail.com
Phone: 603-553-9254
The Rev. Sinclair Ender serves as Rector of Christ Church in North Conway. He is a Lieutenant, Chaplain Corps, U. S. Navy (retired).

The Rev. Canon Linda Grenz

Email: transition@diovermont.org
Phone: 413-221-0571
The Rev. Canon Linda Grenz served as Canon to the Ordinary in the Episcopal Church of Rhode Island under her retirement. She now serves as Transition Ministry Consultant for the Diocese of Vermont and for the Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe.

Joint Title IV Disciplinary Board

The dioceses of Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine have a Joint Title IV Disciplinary Board, the members of which are listed here.

For more information about Title IV, visit titleiv.org

Clergy standards of conduct according to the Episcopal Church Canons:

Members of the clergy should:

  • Maintain confidentiality

  • Safeguard property and funds of the church

  • Conform to the canons of the Episcopal Church and the rubrics of The Book of Common Prayer

  • Abide by ordination vows

  • Obtain consent of the bishop before engaging in secular employment

  • Obtain consent of the bishop to be absent from the diocese for more than two years

Members of the clergy should not:

  • Engage in sexual misconduct (includes sexual behavior with:  a member of the congregation; employee; volunteer; person in high school; person under 18 years of age; person legally incompetent; someone with whom the clergy has ever had a pastoral relationship)

  • Hold or teach any doctrine contrary to that held by the Episcopal Church

  • Commit criminal acts

  • Engage in dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation

  • Habitually neglect public worship, Holy Communion

  • Engage in any conduct unbecoming a member of the clergy

Please note: Members of the clergy are required to report to an intake officer anything that may constitute an offense and to cooperate with the clergy disciplinary process.