Anglican Church Archbishop accused of sexual misconduct : NPR

[ad_1] <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5040x2835+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fad%2F1e%2Fbb364f944eb393636dbb5ccc2282%2Fsteve-wood.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5040x2835+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fad%2F1e%2Fbb364f944eb393636dbb5ccc2282%2Fsteve-wood.jpg" class="img" alt="A screenshot of Archbishop Steve Wood wearing a blue shirt, white clerical collar and black blazer." fetchpriority="high"/> Archbishop Steve Wooden, who heads the Anglican Church of North America, faces allegations of sexual harassment, bullying and plagiarism, in keeping with an explosive report launched by The Washington Publish. A screenshot of Archbishop Steve Wooden from an Instagram video posted by the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA)./ACNA disguise caption

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A screenshot of Archbishop Steve Wooden from an Instagram video posted by the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA)./ACNA Archbishop Steve Wooden, who heads the Anglican Church of North America, faces allegations of sexual harassment, bullying and plagiarism, in keeping with an explosive report launched by The Washington Publish on Thursday (Oct. 23). The record of costs, signed by not less than 10 people testifying to the allegations, is the most recent in a string of crises to rock the small, conservative denomination.

Claire Buxton, a former kids's ministry director at St. Andrew's Church in Mount Nice, South Carolina, the place Wooden serves as rector, informed the Publish that Wooden tried to kiss her in his workplace in April 2024, simply earlier than he was elected to interchange Archbishop Foley Seaside as head of the denomination. Buxton claims that earlier than the incident, Wooden gave her greater than $3,000 from church funds and that church staff had commented on Wooden's "extreme reward and fondness" for her. Clergymen have additionally accused Wooden of plagiarizing sermons and bullying employees members earlier than changing into archbishop.

The presentment, as a proper grievance is understood within the church, was submitted on Monday to Wooden and different bishops.

"I don't consider these allegations have any benefit," mentioned Wooden, who additionally continues to function bishop of the Diocese of the Carolinas, in an announcement to Faith Information Service. "I place my religion and belief within the course of outlined in our canons to carry readability and reality in these issues and respectfully decline to remark additional presently."

The fees included within the presentment embody alleged violation of ordination vows, conduct giving trigger for "scandal or offense," and sexual immorality.

"I used to be in shock," Buxton informed the Publish. "It is simply weird to me how far we — the Anglican Church in North America and its management — have gotten away from fundamental morals and rules."

The Publish reported {that a} rector in Wooden's diocese wrote a letter to Wooden in 2019, questioning his ethical authority to function bishop. He accused Wooden of preaching sermons he did not write, publicly cursing at colleagues, and utilizing a $60,000 truck offered by the diocese for church visits — then left Wooden's diocese quickly after.

Buxton informed The Publish that Wooden started performing inappropriately together with her in fall 2021, repeatedly showering her with cash, calling her "Claire Bear" and providing to ship her to a luxurious resort. Buxton mentioned she was fearful that Wooden would try to begin a bodily relationship together with her.

When she confronted him in April 2024, Wooden reportedly informed her, "You know the way particular you're to me. You are my favourite particular person on the planet." When she obtained as much as depart, the Publish reported, he put his "hand in opposition to the again of her head and attempting to kiss her."

By September 2025, lower than a yr into Wooden's tenure as archbishop, a bunch of Wooden's former colleagues — many now clergymen — had drafted a presentment and acquired signatures from not less than 10 clergy and laypeople from the denomination, as required by church bylaws.

The Publish reported that after the presentment was submitted, denominational officers requested those that signed the presentment re-sign it, and attest to the reality of the allegations "underneath penalties of perjury." One of many presentment's authors informed the Publish the group backing the presentment declined to conform, saying it was not required by church bylaws.

The Anglican Church of North America was based in 2009 after some 700 church buildings break up from the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Church in Canada over numerous disagreements, together with the acceptance of girls clergymen, LGBTQ+ affirmation and the rewritten Guide of Widespread Prayer.

In July 2021, a mom went public with allegations that Mark Rivera, a onetime lay chief at Christ Our Gentle Anglican Church in Huge Rock, Illinois, had sexually abused her 9-year-old daughter. A minimum of 9 different individuals have additionally shared grooming or sexual misconduct allegations Rivera, who has since been convicted of felony sexual assault and felony little one sexual assault.

Greater than 10 clergy and different lay leaders within the Higher Midwest diocese have been accused of misconduct because of this and its bishop, Stewart Ruch stood trial in a continuing that concluded Oct 15 — however not earlier than two prosecutors had resigned amid claims of procedural misconduct. The church court docket's order is anticipated on or earlier than Dec. 16.

In the meantime, the denomination has been shaken by dustups involving different bishops. One ACNA bishop was defrocked in 2020 attributable to his pornography use; in 2024, one other bishop, Todd Atkinson, was ousted for inappropriate relationships with ladies.

In September, Bishop Derek Jones, who oversaw a jurisdiction that endorsed ACNA's chaplains, introduced his departure from the denomination after the archbishop moved to analyze a number of misconduct allegations in opposition to him. The jurisdiction claimed the proposed investigation violated church bylaws, and has moved to exit the denomination, trying to take its chaplains with it. The jurisdiction additionally sued the denomination for trademark infringement and unfair enterprise practices.

Since he was elected final summer time, Wooden has named transparency as one in all his priorities and has issued common, direct communications with ACNA members. In March 2025 he employed a director of safeguarding and canonical affairs as some extent particular person for the denomination's efforts to guard weak individuals from abuse and hurt.

In a July, that director performed a key position at a City Corridor, the place ACNA leaders detailed a proposed overhaul of the denomination's clergy misconduct and abuse protocols. The rewrite goals to make clear the method, making it simpler to submit complaints in opposition to bishops whereas additionally introducing "off-ramps" in order that not each grievance turns into an investigation. Following a number of cycles of public suggestions, the proposed modifications are meant to be voted on subsequent yr. If adopted the revisions would go into impact in January 2027.

On the City Corridor, Wooden reiterated the significance of misconduct protocols. "Self-discipline within the church is likely one of the most vital issues that we may give our consideration to, our minds to," he mentioned.