Archbishop Steve Wood announced tonight that he is both taking a temporary leave of absence as Archbishop of the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) and as diocesan Bishop of the Carolinas. In a separate letter to the congregation of St. Andrew’s Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, Wood and his wife Jacqui wrote of his decision to retire as rector of the parish.
Wood has served as rector of St. Andrew’s for the past 25 years, overseeing its growth into one of the ten largest parishes in the Episcopal Church and later in the ACNA. Selected as archbishop by the conservative denomination’s College of Bishops on June 22, 2024, Wood was installed the following October in a service marked by pageantry and prayers at a South Carolina megachurch.
The Anglican Archbishop was the focus of a front page Washington Post article in October detailing allegations brought against him in a complaint by laity and clergy prior to his time as archbishop. The complaint, the merits of which are to be evaluated by a hearing panel before being made as formal canonical charges (known as a presentment) included the claim by a former church staffer that Wood attempted to kiss her and made direct cash gifts to her totaling $3,500 from a rector’s mercy fund. Complainants also allege bullying of staff and misuse of funds for the purchase of a pickup truck.
If found to be true, the allegations are widely acknowledged to be disqualifying. Wood has directly and forcefully sought to refute the claim of sexual abuse. [See author’s note below]
“I unequivocally, categorically, and emphatically deny in their entirety the accusations made against me by Ms. Claire Buxton, who was employed at St. Andrew’s,” Wood wrote to his congregation on October 24.
A press release made available tonight by the provincial office states that Wood “decided to take a voluntary leave of absence pending the resolution of proceedings to address recent allegations brought against him.”
“While the investigation proceeds, Archbishop Wood will step aside from all official duties and responsibilities to avoid any distraction from the Church’s mission and to uphold the integrity of this process,” the statement reads.
Reformed Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Ray Sutton, who serves as Dean of the Province, will assume all canonical responsibilities and duties as Archbishop. He will be assisted by Bishop Julian Dobbs, who has been appointed Dean of Provincial Affairs.
Sutton separately released a letter addressed to members of the church and clergy explaining his role and the role of Dobbs in the season ahead.
“On Saturday, the ACNA Executive Committee approved a resolution to grant Archbishop Wood a paid leave of absence until the proceedings against him reach a conclusion. At that point, the Province will determine the most appropriate course of action,” Sutton wrote.
On October 28 ACNA Executive Director Deborah Tepley released a letter seeking to address the processes of the ACNA and disciplinary procedures for allegations of misconduct.
“As soon as a complaint is validated as a presentment, a Board of Inquiry is appointed and convened to investigate the accusations and determine whether reasonable grounds exist to proceed to trial,” Tepley wrote. “In the recent complaints concerning Archbishop Wood, the Archbishop has recused himself from any role in appointing the Board of Inquiry.”
The letter goes on to explain that Sutton, then serving as Dean of the Provence, oversees that process.
In recent months the ACNA has faced at least four separate instances of alleged misconduct by bishops, including the sudden departure from the denomination in September of Bishop Derek Jones as Bishop of the Armed Forces and Chaplaincy. Jones sought to unilaterally remove the Special Jurisdiction of Armed Forces and Chaplaincy from the ACNA after a series of complaints alleging abuse of ecclesiastical power was brought against him. The ACNA endorses more than 300 chaplains, 187 of which serve as active duty members of the U.S. military. In the past month, most appear to have remained with the denomination and not followed Jones.
Additionally, the trial of Bishop Stewart Ruch, regarding the mishandling of sexual abuse allegations by clergy and lay leaders within his diocese, concluded in October. A verdict by the ACNA Court for the Trial of a Bishop is expected in December. If Ruch is found to be guilty on any of the charges, sentencing will be handled by the College of Bishops.
Author’s Note [11/4/2025]: A longtime reader notes that Wood has sought to refute the claim of sexual abuse, but has not addressed those allegations concerning financial impropriety, bullying and plagiarism, other than to write that “I believe the charges against me lack merit.”
More from IRD:
Anglican Churn & Protestant Impatience
Anglican Chaplains Face Choice as Bishop Departs
What are the Largest Anglican Dioceses and Parishes?
Comment by Nick on November 3, 2025 at 10:08 pm
Sutton needs to clean house.
Stop bishops from also being rectors or incumbents of a parish.
Consolidate affinity dioceses and drop the ridiculous names. Each state doesn’t need its own diocese and certainly can’t support one but if the ACNA is one church then they need geographic dioceses.
Stop moving the ACNA office every time the primate change. Eliminate the executive director’s job. Have a chief of staff if you need one but not someone whose job title infers they run the ACNA with executive authority.
Increase transparency.
Comment by Parishioner on November 4, 2025 at 5:09 pm
Reeks of guilt, hubris, and megalomania. So cringe when a haughty man tries to perpetuate lies by attempting to discredit a woman he tried to abuse.
But God is not mocked.
Not that I should, but it’s going to be satisfying to jeer him in person when the allegations inevitably turn out to be true. Nothing triggers arrogant men like Wood when they’re openly insulted in public. LOL.