(RNS) — Clergy in the Anglican Church in North America are calling for the denomination’s archbishop, Steve Wood, to be inhibited, or temporarily suspended from ministry, in the wake of allegations of sexual harassment, bullying and plagiarism against him.
The archbishop announced his paid, voluntary leave of absence Nov. 3, following a series of reports in The Washington Post in which a former church employee and another woman accused Wood of unwelcome advances.
“Given the seriousness of the charges against our Archbishop (sexual harassment and abuse of power), we believe that a voluntary leave of absence is insufficient. Canonically, a voluntary leave of absence allows the Archbishop to return to office when he sees fit,” the letter says. “Instead, we suggest that the Archbishop be inhibited until the conclusion of the trial that will determine his guilt or innocence.”
As of Friday afternoon (Nov. 14), more than 80 clergy in the denomination had signed an open letter calling for the inhibition.
A spokesperson from the denomination told Religion News Service that Wood’s leave of absence is “understood to be a voluntary inhibition from ministry for a designated period of time.” They added that Wood, the denomination’s executive committee and the denomination’s bishops agreed the leave of absence would extend until the investigation into the allegations against Wood has concluded.
On Thursday, Bishop Chip Edgar of the ACNA Diocese of South Carolina published a letter calling those who brought the charges against Wood “credible and trustworth …