Provincial Council & Assembly 2026

A report from Bishop Dan on the recent ACNA Provincial gatherings.

Dear Diocesan Family,

Thank you for your prayers for the ACNA College of Bishops and Provincial Council, which met in Tulsa, Oklahoma, June 15-19, and for the special ACNA Provincial Assembly, which met via Zoom on Thursday, June 25th.

The annual Provincial Council gatherings of bishops, clergy, and lay representatives from all 28 dioceses in our province are important occasions for Bible teaching, prayer, setting a common course for mission, highlighting Gospel ministry initiatives, approving the provincial budget, electing the ACNA Executive Committee, and making changes to the ACNA canons. They express in a tangible way the unity of the Anglican Church through our common commitment to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to His mission in North America.

The Province did an excellent job of providing updates throughout these gatherings and live-streaming many of the sessions.

• A concise summary of the Provincial Council meeting is available here.

• If you are not already subscribed to the ACNA mailing list, I encourage you to do so here.

I came away from this year’s gatherings deeply encouraged. There was a strong sense of humility, respect, and care toward one another in each of these settings. This was particularly evident in the gracious way delegates related to one another during debates and while expressing differing viewpoints. There was a genuine openness to one another, active listening, and wise counsel.

I was also inspired by the renewed commitment to God’s mission highlighted through various workshops, testimonies, and ministry initiatives. These included:

• Always Forward: Church planting work across the continent.

• Church Revitalization: Efforts led by Canon Mark Eldredge.

• Campus Ministry: A new province-wide university campus initiative.

• Leadership Development: For both lay and ordained leaders.

• Matthew 25 Ministries: Care for the vulnerable and marginalized.

• New Wineskins: International mission work.

• Clergy Care: Initiatives supporting the health of our leaders.

In a year in which our Province experienced considerable turmoil through three ecclesiastical court cases, it was especially encouraging to see that the ACNA remains firmly on a healthy, Gospel-centred course. That health was reflected both in strong financial giving to the Province this year and in Sunday attendance growth across our congregations. You can view a helpful profile of mission within the congregations of our Province here:ACNA Mission Index 2026

Three Key Updates for Our Diocese

There were three matters of particular interest to our own Diocese decided by the Provincial Council this year:

1. Title IV Canon Revisions

Extensive Title IV revisions to the ACNA canons concerning the disciplinary process for bishops in cases of misconduct were approved by Provincial Council and ratified by the Provincial Assembly with a very strong and thankful majority. These changes reflect a more biblical approach to church discipline because they make it easier to bring wrongdoing to light, reduce adversarial and litigious processes, and provide greater opportunities for mediation, repentance, and restoration.

This was the result of a three-year process of open consultation throughout the Province, involving excellent work and many long hours by the Governance Task Force under the leadership of Canon Andrew Rowell. These changes will also shape the disciplinary canons for clergy within our own Diocese, which we have been developing and hope to share with our clergy and lay leaders in the coming months.

2. Provincial Leadership Election

Our own Canon Howard Edwards was elected to the Executive Committee of the ACNA. This committee serves a role similar to our Diocesan Council, carrying out much of the governance work of the Province between annual gatherings. His election ensures our Diocese has strong representation within the Province. Joan Deeks has served faithfully on this committee in previous years, and it is very encouraging to have another of our delegates bring his gifts and wisdom to this important work.

3. Launch of the Anglican Campus Fellowship

A new initiative called the Anglican Campus Fellowship was launched during our time in Tulsa. Through this initiative, Anglican churches near university and college campuses will be encouraged and equipped to disciple students and develop future Christian leaders.

The Rev. Julian Erb, who has a wonderful ministry serving as chaplain at Trinity Western University in Langley, British Columbia, attended the launch in Tulsa along with Canon Howard and me. This is a strategic and worthwhile initiative for the Gospel mission of our Diocese, and Julian will be providing leadership for it in the future.



I came away from our Tulsa meetings very hopeful and confident that the work of the Gospel is flourishing and will go forward faithfully in the dioceses of the ACNA. Please pray that God will continue to use our own diocese, alongside our Province, to bring the precious gift of Jesus’ transforming Gospel into the lives of people through our churches, by the power of the Holy Spirit at work in us.



Yours faithfully,

+Dan

The Right Reverend Dan Gifford
Diocesan Bishop