ACNA’s catechism has this to say about the Ninth Commandment:
What is bearing false witness against your neighbor?
It is to willfully communicate a falsehood about my neighbor, either in legal or in other matters, in order to misrepresent them.
Why does God forbid such false witness?
Because it defames and wounds my neighbor, erodes my love of truth, disobeys my Lord Jesus, and aligns me with Satan, the father of lies.1
In the Fall of 2025 several ACNA bishops spread lies about several people who had submitted a presentment against Archbishop Wood. It is possible that some or all of them spread these lies thinking they were the truth. Examples include:
23 Oct 25 Bishop Phil Ashey:
The complainants shared this document with an investigative reporter at The Washington Post prior to submitting it to the ACNA or to the College of Bishops, and The Post is now carrying the story as are other news outlets.
23 Oct 25 Bishop Ray Sutton:
Additionally, while there may be valid, factual and compelling information to rebut or respond to the assertions made in the Post article, to do so through the media would compromise the protocols outlined in our Canons, which govern how the Church investigates and adjudicates allegations of misconduct. It is up to the Board of Inquiry and, if deemed necessary, the Court for the Trial of a Bishop, to make such determinations, not the news media. I encourage all of us to stand by our shared conviction that the most adequate forum for the Church to pursue justice and fairness for both the accused and the accuser is the system of jurisprudence which is codified in our Canons.
Second, the Washington Post suggests that the ACNA is trying to block the submission of the presentment against Archbishop Wood. This is absolutely without merit.
26 Oct 25 Bishop Julian Dobbs:
Very difficult situation for everyone involved. Um, it’s unfortunate and regrettable that it’s played itself out in the media. Um, I think it’s, I think it’s demonstrably unnecessary and inappropriate that those making the allegations against the Archbishop first went to the Washington Post before they went to the Archbishop. I don’t see anything in scripture that would suggest that’s the way you should go about these things. In fact, quite the opposite. And it’s very unfortunate.
3 Nov 25 Archbishop Wood:
I am acutely aware of the challenges our Church is facing as a consequence of accusations made against me first to The Washington Post and, subsequently, through the Church’s established channels for reporting misconduct.
17 Nov 25 Bishop Chris Warner:
The complainants ultimately chose a different route and shared their experiences with The Washington Post.
The fact is that Claire Buxton first approached clergy about Steve Wood on 26 June 2024, over a year before the Post story was out and the presentment was circulating at least as early as 19 September 2024. I’m sure the plagiarism and bullying complaints were known long ago too. With that in mind and with all the talk from clergy about “painful discussions” and reform, where are the apologies for spreading lies about Buxton and the clergy who filed this presentment? The accusations about going to the Post first were made in public: in newsletters, announcements, Q and A sessions at churches, etc. The repentance should be equally public. The damage is already done in terms of trust for Buxton and others being smashed. “If they hadn’t gone to the Post first…” Will the bishops start to undo the damage, or just keep all of their painful discussions in house?
- Questions 340 and 341. ↩︎
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