The Anglican Church of North America (ACNA) is facing a significant scandal as its top leader, Archbishop Stephen Wood, is accused of multiple serious offenses, including sexual misconduct, abuse of authority, and plagiarism.
A formal report, known as a presentment, has brought to light claims that Archbishop Wood, aged 62, attempted to kiss a female staff member, engaged in plagiarism with his sermons, and exhibited bullying behavior towards church staff before his ascension to his current role.
The ACNA has confirmed to the Daily Mail that they are investigating a complaint regarding Archbishop Wood’s conduct during his tenure as Bishop of the Diocese of the Carolinas, a position he held before being appointed Archbishop in June 2024.
Established in 2009, the ACNA was formed by former Episcopal Church members who opposed the Episcopal Church’s progressive stance on LGBTQ+ inclusion and other modern issues.
The ACNA adheres to traditional Christian teachings based on the Bible and observes customary religious holidays such as Christmas and Easter.
Now, more than a decade after its founding, the church is embroiled in controversy as these serious allegations emerge against its highest-ranking official.
Claire Buxton, 42, has spoken out about her experience working as the children’s ministry director at St. Andrew’s Church in South Carolina while Wood was the rector.
Buxton detailed her experience in one of six affidavits submitted in the presentment, reviewed by the Washington Post, alleging Wood’s behavior.
She also claimed in an interview with the Post that last spring that Wood tried to kiss her in his office.
Archbishop Stephen Wood, 62, has been hit with allegations of sexual misconduct, bullying his employees, and plagiarizing his sermons
Wood is the senior official of the Anglican Church in North America. The ACNA broke off from the Episcopal Church in 2009 (Pictured: St. Philip’s Church in Charleston, South Carolina) (file photo)
Wood is the subject of a recent presentment, which is a formal report that details offenses by leaders in the church
‘He put his hand on the back of my head and tried to turn it up towards him while he slowly brought his face towards my face to kiss me,’ Buxton told the outlet.
She said she avoided the kiss by dropping her head and gave him a side hug instead before running out of the office.
Although she said that the alleged kiss occurred in 2024, Buxton insisted that Wood’s inappropriate behavior began years before.
She told the Post that in October 2021 he hugged her at a celebration ceremony, and his hand slowly slid down her back.
Buxton said she told her parents about the awkward encounter, admitting that it felt ‘sensual’ and that she speculated he was attracted to her.
Her parents brushed it off, so she continued her work as the children’s ministry director.
However, a year later, Wood allegedly divulged inappropriate information to Buxton in his office.
He allegedly told her that he fired a church staffer because she ‘slept with everyone.’ That same year, Wood began giving Buxton mysterious checks from a church account.
The ACNA is a form of Christianity similar to the Episcopal Church, but is more conservative and opposes homosexuality (Pictured: Holy Trinity Church in Raleigh, North Carolina) (file photo)
Claire Buxton, 42, wrote in an affidavit that Wood acted inappropriately with her when she was employed as the children’s ministry director at St. Andrew’s Church in South Carolina
Wood assured Buxton that it wasn’t from him and was a reward for doing her job well, but she believed otherwise.
In July 2023, Buxton said Wood informed her he wanted to send her to a nearby luxury resort.
‘With all his growing attention and affection, I was really terrified that if I went, he might come,’ she wrote in the affidavit, as seen by the outlet.
Buxton admitted to the Post that she needed the checks and was uncomfortable rejecting Wood’s financial gestures.
The behavior came to a head when he allegedly attempted to kiss her. The encounter came after she confronted him about a mission trip to the Bahamas.
Buxton had feared that he would initiate a physical relationship with her on the trip, even though his wife was planning on attending.
Nothing physical transpired, but she said that he repeatedly made her uncomfortable, citing an encounter where he put a forkful of food in her face and asked her to eat it.
Two months after the alleged attempted kiss, Wood was elected as archbishop – sending shock waves to his former employees.
Buxton alleged that Wood attempted to kiss her, gave her mysterious ‘bonus’ checks, and called her ‘Claire Bear’
The report included multiple affidavits detailing Wood’s alleged behavior as a religious leader
‘It’s just bizarre to me how far we — the Anglican Church in North America and its leadership — have gotten away from basic morals and principles,’ Buxton told the Post.
Numerous other members of the Anglican Church expressed concern with Wood’s behavior, including Reverend Hamilton Smith, the rector of St. Thomas’ Church in South Carolina.
In a letter obtained by the Post, Smith told Wood: ‘I do not feel you have moral authority required to hold the office of Bishop.’
Smith said he believed Wood plagiarized his sermons, shamed colleagues, and accepted a $60,000 truck provided by the diocese.
‘You have told me numerous times that you are a sinner who had “a really bad year/a horrible season” in which you did things you now regret. While I rejoice in this self understanding, grace and forgiveness have limits,’ Smith wrote in the letter.
Reverend Rob Sturdy, another priest who submitted an affidavit, wrote that Wood frequently boasted about a woman from another church whom he could’ve had a relationship with if he pursued it.
High-ranking members of the ACNA wrote affidavits attesting to Wood’s alleged misconduct
Wood said in a statement that he didn’t believe the allegations against him had any merit and trusted the church’s process
‘We have out-of-control men with absolute power and leaders who refuse to hold them accountable,’ Sturdy said in an interview with the Post.
Mike Hughes, the Senior Warden at St Andrew’s Church, wrote a letter to the community alerting them of the Post article before it was published.
‘In accordance with Canonical Law, as soon as the complaint is validated as a presentment, Bishop Ray Sutton, Dean of the ACNA’s College of Bishops, will convene a Board of Enquiry to consider whether it warrants further action,’ the letter wrote.
Hughes added that he ‘commended’ all those involved, including Wood, his family, and the complainants.
Wood said in a statement that he didn’t believe the allegations against him had any merit.
‘I place my faith and trust in the process outlined in our canons to bring clarity and truth in these matters and respectfully decline to comment further at this time,’ he added.
The ACNA said in a statement that a Board of Inquiry will be appointed to determine whether the presentment will go to trial, adding that Wood has recused himself from the responsibility to appoint the board’s members.
‘The ACNA takes seriously any credible allegation made against a bishop, priest, deacon, lay leader, or volunteer serving in the ACNA, and we will not hesitate to take action when action is warranted,’ the statement added.
