After the conviction of Mark Rivera, the former Anglican lay minister for child sexual assault, the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) has revised its misconduct reporting protocols.

The updates, announced following a meeting in June in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, aim to bolster safeguarding measures and clarify reporting procedures within the bylaws.

These changes were motivated by criticism over how the Upper Midwest Diocese handled Rivera's case, leading to a comprehensive review of ACNA's bylaws, particularly Title IV, which deals with church discipline. The review process highlighted the need for dioceses to take on greater responsibility in misconduct reporting and safeguarding, with new bylaws mandating minimum requirements for dioceses to implement by the end of 2025.

According to Christianity Today, despite these steps forward, there are concerns about potential gaps that might allow church leaders to avoid accountability. However, the denomination emphasises care and transparency for both victims and accused individuals in its newly revised protocols.

With these canonical changes set to take effect in September, further discussions on Title IV revisions are anticipated. Archbishop Foley Beach suggested a special session might be convened to address broader changes, indicating ACNA's ongoing dedication to improving its response to misconduct and safeguarding within the church.