January 2026 Intensive – January 19-23, 2026
In-person course in Long Beach, CA
What are the biblical, theological, historical and juridical principles that have shaped, and continue to shape, the way Anglicans in North America govern themselves at every level of the church? What are the events, values and canonical sources that shaped the formation of the Anglican Church in North America? This course will offer a critical appraisal of the constitution and canons of the Anglican Church in North America, its dioceses, and congregations in light of these biblical, theological and juridical principles – principles that also shape the governance of the churches in the Anglican Communion. Participants will gain an understanding of the conciliar way of decision making that characterizes the churches of the Anglican Communion, and how this conciliar way has been adapted and continues to be adapted to governance within the Anglican Church in North America. This information will be helpful for those in ordained and lay leadership who want deeper understanding of Anglican polity and governance at every level of the church, for those who practice or are involved in the administration of church law as well as for those interested in pursuing studies in canon law.
Bishop Phil Ashey is the President of the AAC and Bishop of the Diocese of Western Anglicans. Phil grew up in a Christian family, a “priest’s kid” and gave his life to Christ in 1968. A graduate of Stanford and Loyola Law School, he served as a Deputy DA in Orange County California. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1988, and spent twenty years leading Episcopal and Anglican congregations of all sizes in California, Virginia and Pittsburgh—thirteen as a rector and church planter, and seven as a Senior Associate. Phil’s focus and passion is to develop Biblically faithful leaders at all levels of the church—both here in North America and across the Anglican Communion. In 2015 he received his LLM in Canon Law from Cardiff University (Wales UK) and now serves as Special Counsel to the Archbishop, Advisor to the GAFCON Primates, and leads Lawyers Networks in both ACNA and Gafcon. He is also the author of Anglican Conciliarism: The Church Meeting to Decide Together (2017, Anglican House)
Phil Ashey, Anglican Conciliarism: The Church Meeting to Decide Together, 2017. 978-0997921199 (link)
Paul Valliere, Conciliarism: A History of Decision Making in the Church, 2012.
Pre-read Chapters
If this is your first credit class at Trinity, or you are not taking the course as part of a degree, please complete the non-matriculated application. A bachelor’s degree is required to obtain credit.
To register to audit a Master’s Level course, please complete an