Anglican Church in North America sets trial for former Archbishop Stephen Wood

By Ryan Foley, Christian Post Reporter Monday, June 22, 2026

The Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) has set a trial date for its former archbishop, marking a major development in a case that has shaken the denomination and prompted broader reforms to its disciplinary system.

In a statement released Saturday, the ACNA's Court for the Trial of a Bishop announced that suspended Archbishop Stephen Wood will stand trial beginning Oct. 26. Wood, who previously served as archbishop of the ACNA and bishop of the Diocese of the Carolinas, faces charges stemming from allegations of sexual misconduct and abuse of ecclesiastical authority.

The denomination said the trial date was authorized in a Notice of Trial Reset signed Friday by Court President Ryan Reed and Presiding Officer Katherine Grosskopf.

The announcement comes six months after the ACNA's Board of Inquiry recommended charges against Wood, including "Violation of Ordination Vows," "Conduct giving just cause for scandal or offense, including the abuse of ecclesiastical power" and "Sexual immorality."

Wood was suspended from his post last November following the publication of an October 2025 report in The Washington Post alleging that he engaged in misconduct when serving as rector of St. Andrew’s Anglican Church in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. 

According to WaPo, Wood allegedly tried to kiss Claire Buxton, a divorced mother of three who formerly served as the children’s ministry director at St. Andrew’s, when she was in his office in April 2024. He is also accused of touching Buxton’s head and giving her thousands of dollars in payments from congregation funds ahead of his attempts to make advances on her. The allegations against Wood prompted four presbyters and seven laity to file a complaint against the church leader. 

The announcement of Wood’s trial date was one of many developments to come out of the meeting of the ACNA’s Provincial Council in Tulsa, Oklahoma, last week. “The most substantial action came with the approval of the revised Title IV disciplinary canons, the culmination of almost three years of review, consultation, and development,” the ACNA stated. 

“I am so grateful for the diligent engagement by our delegates and the tremendous work of our Governance Task Force and its Chair, Rev. Canon Andrew Rowell, for all of their thoughtful preparation and work that brought us to this historic and vital moment,” said ACNA Bishop Julian Dobbs, who is leading the province in Wood’s absence. 

 “The approval of these revisions is the result of nearly three years of intense listening, consultation, and hard work across the province centered on a commitment to establishing clear rules, known in advance, and out in the open for everyone to see in order to restore trust in a faithful disciplinary system.” 

“The revisions address several longstanding challenges within the current disciplinary framework and establish clearer procedures for reporting misconduct, conducting investigations, providing pastoral care, and adjudicating cases,” the ACNA clarified. “These reforms will strengthen confidence in the Church’s ability to address misconduct faithfully, fairly, and consistently while safeguarding all parties involved.”

The Provincial Council also approved amendments to Title I intended to provide "greater clarity and continuity in provincial leadership during times of incapacity, transition, or vacancy."

According to the ACNA, the amendments establish procedures for situations in which an archbishop is unable to fulfill his duties, create a process for medical evaluation and appeal, and clarify the transfer of authority to an interim ecclesiastical authority.

Both the Title I and Title IV revisions will go before the full Provincial Assembly for ratification on June 25.

A new Anglican Diocese of the Mid-South was admitted into the ACNA. Its territory will include Arkansas, Mississippi, Missouri, eastern Tennessee and parts of eastern Texas, with a bishop expected to be appointed in the spring of 2027.