Steve Wood, Archbishop of the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA), is facing a historic church trial starting on Monday, marking the first time the young denomination has tried a sitting archbishop. He faces three serious charges: violation of ordination vows, abuse of church power, and sexual immorality. Julian Dobbs, who has assumed the archbishop’s duties, acknowledged the challenging season in an email to the denomination, emphasizing that their unity and faith are being tested.
The allegations against Wood surfaced publicly in late 2025 following a report by The Washington Post. Claire Buxton, a former children’s ministry director under Wood at St. Andrew’s Church in South Carolina, accused him of professional misconduct, financial overreach using church funds, and attempting to kiss her in his office in April 2024. A formal presentment submitted by former colleagues in October 2025 also included allegations of workplace bullying, sermon plagiarism, and a conspiracy by top leaders to rig the church investigation process. While Wood has denied most allegations, he initially took a voluntary leave of absence before being formally inhibited from ministry in November 2025.
The closed-door trial, held in Charleston, is scheduled to run through mid-September with potential extensions. If the court finds Wood not guilty, the matter concludes; a guilty verdict allows for an appeal. This case is part of a broader wave of leadership controversies within the ACNA, which has recently faced disciplinary actions and legal disputes involving other bishops, including Todd Atkinson and Derek Jones. Despite these internal struggles and ongoing scrutiny of its handling of misconduct, denominational leaders report recent membership growth and have approved revised protocols designed to improve transparency in future disciplinary cases.
