The Anglican Church in North America is deep in crisis, as its top bishop faces disturbing allegations of misconduct while confidence in church leadership crumbles, as The Washington Post reports.

Stephen Wood, elected archbishop just over a year ago, is now under formal ecclesiastical review following accusations of sexual misconduct and abuse of power, while a separate trial involving senior Bishop Stewart Ruch III further underscores growing concern over systemic failures within the denomination.

The ACNA, a conservative offshoot of the Episcopal Church established in 2009, has operated as a traditionalist refuge for believers disillusioned by progressive theology. But the integrity of its hierarchy is now under fire, and this time, it’s coming from within.

Archbishop Wood Faces Rare Church Charges

Wood, 62, who leads over 1,000 congregations across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, has become the first archbishop in ACNA history to be presented with formal canonical charges. The presentment stems from allegations brought by Claire Buxton, his former children’s ministry director at St. Andrew’s Church in South Carolina.

Buxton alleges a troubling series of interactions that began as early as 2021, culminating in an April 2024 meeting where she says Wood attempted to kiss her and made unwanted physical advances. Her resignation came swiftly after Wood’s ascension to archbishop in June of that year.

She further contends that a pattern of uninvited financial gifts totaling $3,500 over more than a year—including cash in envelopes and payments from church funds—served to manipulate or influence her under the guise of pastoral care.

Leadership Credibility Questioned By Clergy

This isn’t the first time Wood’s leadership has been challenged. In 2019, the Rev. Hamilton Smith accused him of bullying staff, misuse of church resources—such as a $60,000 diocesan truck—and of parroting sermons written by others.

“I do not feel you have the moral authority required to hold the office of Bishop,” Smith wrote before leading his congregation out of Wood’s Carolinas diocese. Even then, questions swirled about misplaced priorities and unchecked power among ACNA’s highest ranks.

Yet despite these longstanding concerns, it was only after Buxton detailed her experiences—paired with six supporting affidavits—that a group of clergy initiated formal charges early this year. The denomination’s requirement that all 11 signatories re-sign under penalty of perjury has been criticized by clergy as an intimidation tactic.

Parallel Trial Deepens Churchwide Leadership Crisis

Meanwhile, Bishop Stewart Ruch III has faced scrutiny of his own in a closed-door ecclesiastical trial for permitting individuals with sordid histories—some involving violence or sexual misconduct—into ministry roles.

The trial, nearing conclusion after a messy process involving prosecutor resignations and infighting, has riled even the most devout. For a denomination built in response to perceived moral drift, the irony is profound.

Rev. Rob Sturdy summed it up: “We have out-of-control men with absolute power and leaders who refuse to hold them accountable.” That sentiment is echoing in parishes nationwide, including among those once fiercest in their loyalty to ACNA leadership.

Accuser’s Claims Reveal Pattern Of Power Misuse

Buxton’s testimony paints a portrait not just of a one-time misjudgment, but of an extended period of perceived manipulation. She alleges that Wood lavished her with praise, unsolicited fund disbursements from church accounts, and even floated the idea of sending her to a luxury resort while assuring her, “You can get spa treatments... whatever you want.”

She stated plainly that his actions made her so uncomfortable, she avoided being alone with him—even on a missionary trip abroad in June 2024. “I was devastated when he became archbishop,” she said. “It was the responsibility of the bishops to vet him, and they failed at it, horribly.”

Wood has denied any wrongdoing, stating, “I do not believe these allegations have any merit. I place my faith and trust in the process outlined in our canons.”

Safeguarding Talk Doesn’t Match the Track Record

Compounding the damage is Wood’s own recent sermonizing on safeguarding and church accountability, which now strikes many as painfully ironic. “It’s why you’re going to hear a lot about safeguarding from me this year,” he told the denomination in a 2025 address.

Unsurprisingly, critics aren’t buying it. Rev. Austin Becton, who was admonished and later resigned after a controversial social media post, noted: “These are not simply lapses in judgment. They are symptoms of a structure designed... to protect itself at all costs.”

Even former communications director Andrew Gross acknowledged, “This is a crisis without precedent” for the ACNA, which typically touts itself as a bulwark against moral compromise in Christianity.

Denomination Faces Pivotal Moment Ahead

As the denomination waits for rulings on both Wood’s presentment and Ruch’s trial, many lay members are left wondering what kind of integrity still exists at the top. With one bishop defrocked for texting a married woman thousands of times and another removed due to pornography-linked misconduct, trust in ACNA’s leadership has taken multiple hits.

Wood’s current roles as bishop of the Carolinas and rector of his local church raise further questions about conflict of interest, especially as he retains significant influence over judicial appointments in church trials. Though he’s expected to recuse himself, the structure itself tilts heavily in favor of insiders policing themselves.

Painful as this reckoning may be, faithful members are asking the right questions, now loudly and publicly. As Rev. George Conger put it, “Can we now say that the ACNA has integrity at the very top anymore?”