The Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) Archbishop Steven Wood has received a 60-day suspension from all ministry duties after more than 140 of his fellow clergy signed an open letter calling for his ‘inhibition’, and after senior active diocesan bishops signed off on it.
The Rt. Reverend Julian M. Dobbs, the Dean of the Province, shared in a release.
While an Inhibition is a suspension from the exercise of ordained ministry in the Anglican Church in North America, this action does not determine guilt or innocence, nor does it pre-judge any allegation or any future proceeding. The canons provide for the imposition of an Inhibition when it is determined to be in the best interests of the Church to do so (Canon IV.9.1).
Wood has been under fire after his former children’s ministry director at St. Andrew’s Church, Claire Buxon, accused him of sexual impropriety, and after a second woman came forward claiming she too was sexually harassed.
He has strongly denied the claims, and previously decided to “take a voluntary leave of absence pending the resolution of proceedings to address recent allegations brought against him.”
