A Legal Battle Brews: Chaplains Group Sues Anglican Church in North America
In a surprising turn of events, the Jurisdiction of the Armed Forces and Chaplaincy (JAFC) has initiated legal proceedings against the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA). The lawsuit, filed in the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina, Charleston Division, focuses on a contentious leadership dispute and the group’s efforts to sever ties with the denomination.
The JAFC claims in its complaint that last month ACNA attempted an unsuccessful corporate takeover by trying to “suspend Plaintiff’s corporate president” and take over their duties. The complaint further alleges that ACNA misused JAFC’s registered marks and falsely claimed endorsement authority, damaging JAFC’s reputation among its chaplains.
“ACNA’s aggressively hostile public relations campaign has significantly harmed Plaintiff’s good reputation,” the complaint asserts. Further, it states that ACNA’s actions led to “approximately half of Plaintiff’s chaplains, and at least two-thirds of Plaintiff’s affiliated missions, chapels and parishes, to end their affiliation with Plaintiff.”
Allegations against ACNA include commercial misrepresentation, false advertising, corporate identity misappropriation, interference with contracts, registered trademark infringement, slander, and infringement of the South Carolina Unfair Trade Practices Act.
Last month, David van Esselstyn, Chairman of JAFC, sent a letter to ACNA Archbishop Steven Wood, announcing their decision to terminate their affiliation. While the letter was brief and did not specify reasons, a JAFC spokesperson told The Christian Post that it stemmed from perceived mistreatment of JAFC Bishop Derek Jones.
According to an FAQ shared with CP by JAFC, Jones faced a “targeted attack” from Wood, allegedly due to Jones’s criticisms of the Archbishop’s office. Wood, however, in a letter, cited “credible complaints regarding Bishop Derek Jones, alleging abuse of ecclesiastical power” as the issue’s origin, although he clarified that these did not involve physical, sexual misconduct, or doctrinal concerns.
Wood’s letter revealed that he asked Jones to cooperate with an investigation under ACNA’s disciplinary procedures, but Jones reportedly refused. Contrarily, a JAFC spokesperson stated that Jones initially cooperated until the investigation was deemed “unlawful and intentionally violated the ACNA’s canons.”
Despite JAFC’s intention to disaffiliate, ACNA has yet to acknowledge the separation and has instead appointed new leadership for the jurisdiction.
This article was originally written by www.christianpost.com
