Expert Legal Counsel for Episcopal Clergy
Experts in representing Episcopal clergy and dioceses in Title IV disciplinary matters and Title III Canon Law proceedings.
Our Legal Services
TITLE IV DEFENSE
We represent Episcopal priests, deacons, and bishops facing allegations of Title IV violations, providing experienced counsel and advocacy at every stage of the ecclesiastical disciplinary process.
TITLE IV INVESTIGATION
We serve as Canonical investigators for Episcopal dioceses, conducting thorough, fair, and confidential investigations into alleged Title IV violations in accordance with the Canons.
TITLE III PASTORAL DISSOLUTION
We advise and represent rectors and bishops in matters involving the dissolution of the pastoral relationship under Title III, with careful attention to both canonical requirements and pastoral concerns.
OTHER CANON LAW SERVICES
We provide counsel to Episcopal dioceses, faith communities, and clergy on a wide range of matters arising under the Canons of the Episcopal Church.
A Note to Clergy Who Have Just Been Named as a Respondent:
If you have just been notified that a Title IV complaint has been filed against you, you are likely feeling shocked, frightened, confused, or overwhelmed. That reaction is entirely understandable.
The Title IV process is unlike anything most clergy have ever encountered. It is not a civil court proceeding. It does not operate under the constitutional or procedural protections that govern the secular justice system. Respondents have limited rights, strict timelines, and little margin for error. Decisions made early in the process—often before a full understanding of the allegations or their implications—can have lasting consequences for your ministry, reputation, livelihood, and well-being.
You should not attempt to navigate this process alone. And you don’t have time to waste.
From the earliest stages of intake and referral through investigation, potential restrictions on ministry, negotiations, and formal proceedings, the Title IV process requires careful, informed, and strategic response. What you say, when you say it, and how you engage with the process matters.
My role is to help you understand where you are in the process, what the Canons require, what options are realistically available, and how best to protect your vocational, personal, and spiritual interests at every step. You deserve clear counsel, steady advocacy, and someone who understands both the law and the Church.
About Lisa Hodges
Lisa P. Hodges brings decades of dedicated experience to the intricate field of Episcopal Canon Law. Her practice is exclusively focused on providing rigorous defense and expert counsel to Episcopal clergy and dioceses navigating Title IV disciplinary matters and Title III proceedings nationwide.
With a profound understanding of ecclesiastical law and the unique pastoral context of the Church, Lisa offers compassionate yet steadfast representation. She is committed to upholding canonical integrity while ensuring due process and fair treatment for all parties involved.
Philosophy:
"My philosophy is rooted in a commitment to justice, transparency, and the faithful application of the Canons. I believe that expert legal guidance, delivered with integrity and empathy, is essential for maintaining the health and witness of the Episcopal Church. I strive to achieve resolutions that respect canonical principles and foster healing within the community."
Title III and Title IV Representation
Title IV of the Canons of the Episcopal Church forms the backbone of the Church’s ecclesiastical disciplinary system. For many members of the clergy, the mere mention of “Title IV” evokes fear, confusion, and deep anxiety—and for good reason. The Title IV process is complex, unfamiliar, and emotionally taxing. It operates outside the civil judicial system, and Respondents are afforded few, if any, of the constitutional or procedural protections that ordinarily exist in secular jurisprudence. For clergy suddenly drawn into the process, the experience can feel isolating, opaque, and profoundly unsettling.
Yet what is at stake could not be more personal. A Title IV matter may place at risk not only a clergy member’s ministry, but also their livelihood, reputation, financial stability, emotional well-being, and spiritual life. The consequences often extend beyond the individual to families, congregations, and entire diocesan communities. Successfully navigating the Title IV process requires not only knowledge of the Canons, but also seasoned judgment, strategic clarity, and steady advocacy.
Disputes between ordained clergy and lay parish leadership—while not governed by Title IV—can be equally consequential. When a pastoral relationship begins to fracture, the prospect of dissolution arises. Pastoral dissolution is governed by Title III of the Canons through a process with which vestries, rectors, and even bishops often have limited experience. Emotions run high, communication can break down, and the uncertainty surrounding a potential dissolution can be overwhelming for all involved.
I help clergy and dioceses navigate these difficult and often frightening moments.
I am an attorney with extensive experience representing clergy and Episcopal dioceses across the United States in Title III pastoral dissolution matters and Title IV disciplinary proceedings. My background is uncommon in this work. Before focusing my practice on Canon law, I spent more than 35 years in litigation, compliance and regulatory matters, and as an employment lawyer, making me uniquely qualified for handling these matters. I am also a committed Episcopalian who has served the Church in a variety of roles and I am fluent in the Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Church.
My practice is devoted to the resolution of Title III and Title IV matters. In pastoral dissolution cases, I represent clergy seeking outcomes that protect their vocational calling while safeguarding their professional, spiritual, emotional, and financial well-being. In Title IV matters, I represent Respondents at every stage of the process—from intake and referral, through investigation, negotiation of accords, challenges to restrictions on ministry, and, when necessary, Conference Panel and Hearing Panel proceedings. I also conduct comprehensive Title IV factual investigations on behalf of dioceses in conformity with Canon IV.11.
My work in this area is national in scope, and my experience is substantial. I am regularly entrusted by clergy, bishops, chancellors, and church counsel, and I am known for principled advocacy, professionalism, and unwavering dedication to my clients’ interests.
No two matters are alike. Some cases call for careful negotiation, collaboration, and pastoral sensitivity; others require firm, disciplined, and zealous advocacy. I am comfortable with both. In every matter I handle, it is a privilege to serve my clients—and the Church itself—by guiding them through challenging canonical terrain toward a just, faithful, and durable resolution.
What Our Clients Say
"If you are clergy in the Episcopal Church, any adjudicatory or Title IV process initiated by your diocese should not be taken lightly or confronted alone. You should immediately seek the assistance of legal counsel well-versed in Canon Law.
Lisa Hodges is that attorney.
The full force of the Church is leveraged against you during this process. Friendly relationships you have enjoyed with your bishop in the past often evaporate overnight. As clergy, our natural and learned pastoral personalities tend to work against us under these circumstances. While labeled a “pastoral process,” it will not feel that way.
Unfortunately, collective experience has shown that Bishops are often more interested in protecting “the corporation” than in serving as your pastoral leader—and Church canons support this.
No one prepares you for what lies ahead.
Before saying or doing anything, seek the professional legal guidance of Attorney Lisa Hodges.
Lisa is steeped in the Episcopal tradition, and will offer both the pastoral and legal advice only an attorney experienced specifically in Canon Law and the Title IV process can provide. Do not proceed before you contact Lisa Hodges."
- Episcopal Priest