The Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) is currently grappling with serious allegations against its leader, Archbishop Stephen Wood. These allegations, if validated, could lead to significant repercussions within the church community.
Allegations Surface Against Archbishop Wood
A complaint has been filed accusing Archbishop Stephen Wood of sexual misconduct and abuse of power. According to a report from The Washington Post, the allegations date back to April of the previous year when Wood was still a rector at St. Andrew’s Anglican Church and bishop of the Anglican Diocese of the Carolinas.
Claire Buxton, a former children’s ministry director at St. Andrew’s Church, claims that Wood gave her significant sums of money from church funds and later tried to kiss her in his office. “I was in shock,” Buxton shared with The Washington Post. “It’s just bizarre to me how far we — the Anglican Church in North America and its leadership — have gotten away from basic morals and principles.”
Formal Complaint and Investigation
The allegations have prompted action from within the church. On Monday, a group of four ACNA presbyters and seven laity members filed a formal presentment against Wood. This could potentially lead to a church trial, pending the validation of the complaint.
Archbishop Wood, in his defense, stated through Anglican Ink, “I do not believe these complaints have merit.” He expressed confidence in the canonical process to uncover the truth.
Should the complaint be found valid, Bishop Ray Sutton, the dean of the ACNA College of Bishops, will convene a board to decide on further actions.
The senior warden of St. Andrew’s Anglican Church, Mike Hughes, addressed the situation in a statement, stressing that the church’s leadership cannot comment on the allegations at this time. He emphasized the personal and painful nature of the process for all involved.
Related Developments
This case follows another significant event for ACNA, as the church recently concluded the trial of Bishop Stewart Ruch III of the Diocese of the Upper Midwest, who faced accusations of mishandling abuse cases. A decision in Ruch’s case is anticipated by mid-December.
Founded in 2009, ACNA consists of more than 1,000 member churches and over 130,000 members, established by former Episcopalians and Anglicans concerned about the doctrinal paths of their original denominations.
This article was originally written by www.christianpost.com
