(RNS) — Archbishop Steve Wood, who heads the Anglican Church in North America, is taking a voluntary leave of absence in the wake of allegations of sexual harassment, bullying and plagiarism. Those allegations will be investigated by a 10-person Board of Inquiry, made up of ACNA clergy and laypeople, that will assess whether there are reasonable grounds to initiate a church trial.
In a statement Monday evening (Nov. 3) to the denomination, Wood denied the allegations against him.
“While I grieve that anyone experiences harm in the Church, as I have noted to my parish, I believe the charges against me lack merit, and I categorically and emphatically deny the particular accusation of attempted physical contact made against me by a former St. Andrew’s employee,” Wood said in a public letter Monday to the denomination.
Wood also announced his retirement as rector of St. Andrew’s Parish in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina (which he described as previously planned), and said he would be taking a leave of absence from his duties as bishop of the Diocese of the Carolinas.
On Oct. 23, The Washington Post published a report detailing allegations from a former children’s ministry director who served with Wood at St. Andrew’s. Claire Buxton, the former director, told the Post that Wood gave her more than $3,000 from church funds and, in April 2024, attempted to kiss her in his office. Priests have also accused Wood of plagiarizing sermons and bullying staff members. All of the allegations against Wood are for activities that would have preceded his election as archbishop last year.
“I was in shock,” Buxton told the …