(RNS) — Archbishop Steve Wood, who leads the Anglican Church in North America, was inhibited, or temporarily suspended from his ministry, on Sunday (Nov. 16), days after more than 140 clergy in the denomination signed an open letter calling for his inhibition. Wood previously announced he was taking a paid, voluntary leave of absence on Nov. 3, following a series of reports in The Washington Post in which a former church employee and another woman accused Wood of unwelcome sexual advances.
Bishop Ray Sutton, who had taken over Wood’s archbishop responsibilities during his leave, also announced he would forfeit those commitments and resign as dean of the province, though he will continue to hold other leadership roles in the denomination. Sutton said he was experiencing a recurrence of serious back issues and appointed Bishop Julian Dobbs, who is bishop of the Anglican Diocese of the Living Word, to replace him as dean of the province. Dobbs was previously appointed dean of provincial affairs to assist Sutton during Wood’s leave.
“Given the unprecedented dynamics of the current moment, I have come to see that it is unwise for me to continue carrying the multiple roles and weighty responsibilities of serving as Dean of the Province, as well as Presiding Bishop of the Reformed Episcopal Church and Bishop Ordinary of the Diocese of Mid-America,” Sutton wrote in a letter on Monday (Nov. 17) to the denomination’s bishops.
Wood, a bishop in South Carolina, was elected last year to lead the ACNA, a small denomination that began in 2009 as a breakaway group of congregations that objected to the Episcopal Church and Anglican Church of Canada’s acceptance of openly LGBTQ+ clergy.
The Washington Post’s Oct. 23 report broke allegations from Claire Buxton, a former children’s ministry director who served with Wood at St. Andrew’s in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, prior to his election as archbishop. Buxton told the Post that Wood gave her more than $3,000 from church funds and, in April 2024, attempted to kiss her in his office. A second woman, who identified herself only as Jane Doe, said Wood pressured her into situations she was “uncomfortable with” and to drink alcohol with him. It’s unclear when these alleged incidents took place.
Wood also faces allegations from several priests of bullying and plagiarism. He has denied all but the most recent allegations of sexual harassment from the unnamed woman, which he declined to comment on, and is submitting to a church process for vetting the claims.
According to an announcement sent to ACNA members Monday morning, Dobbs, in his capacity as dean of the province and with the written consent of five active senior diocesan bishops, on Sunday inhibited Wood from ordained ministry in the ACNA. Per church bylaws, the inhibition will last 60 days and can be extended. The decision is not a reflection of the accused’s guilt or innocence, according to ACNA.
Wood has already been presented with church charges, including alleged violation of ordination vows, conduct giving cause for “scandal or offense” and sexual immorality. Next, an appointed 10-person board of inquiry will assess those charges.
ACNA’s former communications director, Andrew Gross, previously told RNS he heard a “credible report” from sources with “first-hand knowledge” that Wood and Sutton have spoken about a possible “bishop-friendly” Board of Inquiry, the body appointed to investigate claims of misconduct against bishops after a complaint has formally been made. Sutton denied to the Post this conversation took place and later recused himself from the disciplinary proceedings involving Wood. Sutton attempted to address the issue in the bishops’ letter on Monday.
“I previously denied that I took part in a conversation about the appointment of a bishop-friendly Board of Inquiry. My intent was to express that I could not recall such a conversation ever taking place, and I apologize for stating that incorrectly,” Sutton wrote. “My commitment has always been to an objective and independent process of inquiry.”
Earlier this month, a group of four chaplains with ties to ACNA’s chaplaincy jurisdiction released a public statement criticizing Sutton’s appointment as interim archbishop. The chaplains said Sutton played a key role in mishandling their complaints against Bishop Derek Jones, who oversees the Jurisdiction of the Armed Forces and Chaplaincy, which has clashed with church leaders over an investigation into Jones’ behavior. In September, the jurisdiction, which was responsible for endorsing, or credentialing, ACNA’s chaplains, exited the denomination and sued it for trademark infringement and unfair business practices.