The announcement said Fr. Robinson had been removed from the roles of ordained clergy under the terms of Canon 10.8, entitled “Relinquishment or renunciation of the ministry by a priest or deacon”.
Canon 10.8 is not a disciplinary canon, and its use by the ACC in the Robinson case affirms the views of his supporters that his departure from the ACC was not due to any misconduct or moral turpitude.
It states that: “After being satisfied that the Priest or Deacon so declaring is not amenable for any canonical offence and that his renunciation of the Ministry is not occasioned by any of the foregoing conduct or irregularity, but is voluntary and for causes assigned or known that do not affect his moral character, that Bishop Ordinary with the advice and consent of his Council of Advice, or the Metropolitan in the absence of that Bishop Ordinary, with the advice and consent of the Council of Advice of that Diocese or other Jurisdiction, may pronounce in their presence that such renunciation is accepted and that the declaring Priest or Deacon is thereby deposed and released from obligations of the Ministerial Office, and that he is deprived of all exercise of the gifts and spiritual authority as a Minister of God’s Word and Sacraments conferred on him by his Ordination. The Bishop or Metropolitan shall also declare in pronouncing and recording such action that it was for causes which do not affect the man’s moral character, and shall, if requested, certify to this effect to the person so removed and deposed from the ministry.”
Fr. Robinson and his parish is presently in talks with the Rt. Rev. Robert Giffin of the Anglican Province of America about entering that ecclesial body.