Incarnation Anglican Church in Williamsburg, VA has experienced a series of crises, one result of which is a request for a formal inquiry into Bishop Chris Warner’s conduct under Title III, Canon 8 to determine whether his actions constitute canonical violations, abuse of authority, or neglect of episcopal duty.
X account “@DOMA_Misconduct” has provided many documents that outline the recent history of this conflict. Extrapolating from these documents, I came up with the following timeline.
Timeline: Incarnation Anglican Church Conflict
2020–2023
- Aug 9, 2020: Rev. Drew Thomas is instituted as Vicar by Bishop John Guernsey.
- Sept 2023 or Jan 2024: Rev. Thomas departs. Date unclear.
2023
- Spring 2023: Fr. Justin Murff becomes Interim Rector during a leadership crisis.
2024
- Dec 27, 2024: It is suddenly announced that Fr. Murff will depart within a month, with no replacement lined up. It is revealed he had been quietly demoted from Interim Rector to Priest-in-Charge earlier in the year.
2025
- Jan 17, 2025: At Bishop Warner’s and Canon Mary Hays’s direction, Incarnation Anglican Church is informed there will be no interim rector for the next 4 months. Guest preachers will serve.
- Jan 31, 2025: Archdeacon Murff concludes his service as Priest-in-Charge.
- Feb 2, 2025: Canon Tuck Bartholomew begins leading services twice a month; Canon Jim Beavers also assists.
- Feb 9, 2025: Canon Mary Hays celebrates the Eucharist—the first female priest to do so at Incarnation Anglican Church. Attendance drops and small groups are paused.
- Apr 20, 2025: Bishop Warner visits IAC, insists on gender parity for the vestry and doctrinal openness to female celebrants.
- Apr 27, 2025: Vestry election is disrupted. A DOMA deacon calls it “a battle between the women and the men.”
- Apr 28, 2025: Bishop Warner calls an emergency congregational meeting for April 30.
- Apr 30, 2025: Bishop Warner holds the meeting, rebukes the vestry, praises election disruptors, and accuses the vestry of plotting to leave DOMA.
- May 3, 2025: Bishop Warner sends a letter confirming the vestry election was valid but bars the vestry from meeting until his interim rector arrives.
- May 7, 2025: Tom Hample is announced as interim rector. He previously worked under Bishop Warner.
- May 28, 2025: The vestry sends a formal misconduct report to Archbishop Steve Wood and DOMA’s standing committee. Eight charges are outlined.
- Jun 5, 2025: Bishop Warner replies to the parish. Confirms Tom Hample’s appointment and expresses disappointment with the vestry.
- Jun 10, 2025: DOMA’s standing committee responds to the vestry’s plea by urging them to attend the next parish meeting. No substantive action is taken. Entire vestry resigns.
- Jun 11, 2025: Bishop Warner and DOMA appoint a “transitional vestry.” They confirm they will not investigate the misconduct claims.
- Jun 14, 2025: Former vestry member William Eastman emails the parish, sharing the misconduct report and urging transparency.
- Jun 19, 2025: Interim rector publicly shares the names of vestry signatories and accuses them of sin for bypassing Matthew 18.
- Jul 6, 2025: DOMA Whistleblower tweets: “Spiritual abuse is taken lightly, and investigations into misconduct only exist to be weaponized.”
Here is the text of the vestry’s letter to the Archbishop, with their request for a formal inquiry:
Incarnation Anglican Church
Williamsburg, VA
27 May 2025
To:
The Most Rev. Stephen D. Wood, Archbishop
The Anglican Church in North America
440 Whilden Street
Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464
Dear Archbishop Wood,
Grace and peace to you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We, the duly elected Vestry of Incarnation Anglican Church, write with heavy hearts and solemn conviction to request immediate relief from the conduct of the Rt. Rev. Christopher S. Warner, Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic. Our parish has experienced significant dysfunction, pastoral harm, and decline in attendance and financial health as a result of Bishop Warner’s repeated departures from the canonical, spiritual, and relational standards required of a bishop in the Church.
The matters outlined herein reflect multiple grievous contraventions of canonical duty, pastoral responsibility, and episcopal integrity under 1 Peter 5:2–3; Titus 1:7–9; 1 Timothy 3; and Title III, Canon 8 of the Canons of the Anglican Church in North America that have gravely impaired the spiritual health, flourishing, governance, and unity of our congregation:
- Neglect of Pastoral Oversight and Support:
Through repeated and deleterious interventions by Canon for Clergy & Congregation Care Mary Hays, Bishop Warner neglected to address ongoing parish leadership conflicts and subterfuges fomented by the Senior Warden, undermined the Priest-in-Charge’s legitimate authority to maintain church order, and permitted unfounded insinuations of disciplinary charges to proceed against a priest under his care, thereby allowing the Church’s mission in the Gospel to stagnate and falter.- Manipulating and Undermining the Rector Search:
Bishop Warner and Canon Hays directed a delay in the formation of a search committee, withheld interim pastoral support for four months, repeatedly insisted that the next rector be installed within an expedited six-month timeframe, and imposed substantial financial burdens by mandating costly arrangements for a part-time out-of-state interim rector with prior personal ties, in a scheme to unilaterally pressure the Vestry and search committee into advancing the Bishop’s preferred candidates.- Imposition of Ideological Requirements Against Parish Discernment:
Bishop Warner sought to enforce a doctrinal stipulation in the parish profile that the next rector must be willing to receive Holy Communion from a female priest, contrary to the unanimous discernment of the Vestry and rector search committee—fully aware that this would divide the congregation and alienate a substantial number of members from the body of the church.- Public Maligning of Clergy Formerly Under His Pastoral Oversight:
The Bishop maligned, knowingly mischaracterized, and instructed Vestry members to disparage a priest formerly under his care in public congregational settings, failing in his episcopal role as pastor.
- Participation in a Campaign of Spiritual Harassment to Undermine Ecclesial Order:
Bishop Warner enabled, encouraged, and actively participated in a pressure campaign of spiritual harassment orchestrated with Ms. [REDACTED], parish staff, and volunteer Deacon [REDACTED], directed at Vestry Members to intimidate, improperly influence, and obstruct a Vestry election which was later determined to be lawful by the bishop’s own chancellor.- Failure to Enforce Accountability for Public Disruption of a Lawful Vestry Election:
Despite the premeditated and public disruption of a lawful Vestry election by the spouse of Ms. [REDACTED] and the husband of the Director of Children’s Ministries, Bishop Warner failed to hold these individuals accountable or adequately call them to repentance. Instead, he publicly commended Ms. [REDACTED] before the entire congregation, signaling approval for their conduct and emboldening further disorder.- Public Undermining of Vestry Members Without Attempts at Reconciliation:
Bishop Warner publicly maligned Vestry Members by disclosing and misrepresenting selective contents of private and preliminary communications before the entire congregation without first seeking the Vestry Members’ private clarification or consent. He thereby irreparably compromised the trust necessary for the Vestry to engage with him directly in good faith.- Weaponization of Ecclesiastical Authority to Usurp Vestry Governance:
Bishop Warner coerced a Member of the Vestry through ecclesiastical directives and spiritual pressure to unilaterally enter contractual and financial obligations with his preferred candidate for interim rector, thereby circumventing the Vestry’s canonical authority over temporal matters and violating the collaborative governance model essential to Anglican church order.In light of these grave concerns, we respectfully request immediate relief under the appropriate canons of the Anglican Church in North America and Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic. Specifically, we seek:
- A formal inquiry into Bishop Warner’s conduct under Title III, Canon 8 to determine whether his actions constitute canonical violations, abuse of authority, or neglect of episcopal duty.
- The emergency appointment of a trusted interim rector, selected by the Vestry, to stabilize the congregation, restore trust, and resume an open rector search. Since Bishop Warner’s April 30 intervention, ASA has declined to less than 50% of parish membership and roughly $70,000, or 25%, of annualized pledged giving has been lost. The congregation can no longer meet its financial obligations at current giving levels.
We submit this request out of sincere desire to restore health, trust, and proper order to the Church, and after numerous failed attempts to resolve concerns privately with Bishop Warner. We seek accountability and healing, and entrust this process to your prayerful discernment.
Please confirm receipt of this letter and advise us of the next appropriate steps. We are prepared to provide full documentation and testimony as needed.
Sincerely,
The Vestry
Incarnation Anglican Church
Williamsburg, VA
The tweets (do we still call them tweets?) and some of the correspondence follow:
Dec 27: It is suddenly announced that IAC’s priest, widely respected by the congregation, will be departing within a month with no planned replacement. It is also revealed that he was quietly demoted earlier in the year from interim rector to priest in charge.
Incarnation will experience another new season in 2025. After serving our congregation for the past 18 months, Archdeacon Murff’s time as the Priest-in-Charge will come to a conclusion at the end of January. We were blessed that [REDACTED] was willing to loan him to us and help get through a difficult period that began in the spring of 2023.
If you were not at Incarnation at that time, our Rector left suddenly, and we needed a replacement not only in the pulpit but also a spiritual leader. Archdeacon Murff served as our Interim Rector through the end of that year, and then joined us as Priest-in-Charge at the beginning of this year. During this time he continued his responsibilities to the Province as the Archbishop’s Canon for the [REDACTED].
Jan 17: An email from IAC's Parish Administrator announces that, at the direction of Bp. Warner and Cn. Mary Hays, IAC will forgo pastoral support for the next 4 months. Guest preachers from his diocesan staff including Cn. Hays herself will lead services, with no interim rector.
Incarnation Family,
This week our diocese sent Canon Mary Hays (DOMA’s Canon for Clergy and Congregational Care) to meet with the Vestry and Staff to help plan our transition. Mary informed us that Bishop Chris Warner has arranged for Canon Tuck Bartholomew to lead our services twice a month beginning on February 2nd. Canon Tuck lives in Charlottesville and is the Canon for Mission and Ministry in our diocese. The other Sundays will be covered by Canon Jim Beavers (Canon for Ordinations in DOMA). We are incredibly blessed and grateful for the support and leadership that both of these men will bring to Incarnation.
Additionally, we are excited to announce that Bishop Chris will lead our Easter service this year. Any Sundays that are not covered, Canon Mary Hays or Deacon [REDACTED] will help fill in as needed. Abbot [REDACTED] also lives nearby and may be called to lead as well.
Feb 9: Canon Mary Hays visits IAC and leads the Sunday service. This is the first time a female priest has celebrated the Eucharist at IAC. Parish attendance declines significantly amid growing unease over innovations to liturgical standards. Small groups are placed on hold.
Apr 20: Bp. Warner visits IAC a week before the vestry election. Around this time, he insists the vestry add another female vestry member and that the parish profile require the next rector to be willing to receive communion from a female priest.
What guidance has our Bishop offered?
Currently, one of our Bishop’s top priorities is achieving gender parity on the Vestry. He has asked that we create a new Vestry seat to add an additional female Vestry Member. Because we received this guidance after we had already announced the time and location of the election, the Vestry will consider creating a female-only Vestry seat at our next Vestry meeting in May.
Apr 27: The vestry election is disrupted by individuals associated with Bp. Warner, who challenge the legitimacy of the process, berate vestry members, and attempt to impede the vote. A DOMA deacon is overheard describing the election as "a battle between the women and the men."
Apr 28: The next day, an IAC staff member sends a message from Bishop Warner to the parish calling for "an emergency congregational meeting" on Apr 30. He attributes the unrest not to the election disruption but to "systemic anxiety" within the parish’s leadership.
Dear People of Incarnation Williamsburg,
Grace and peace to you in Christ our Lord. It was a joy to be with you on Easter to celebrate the Feast of the Resurrection and to baptize and confirm/receive.
It has come to my attention that Incarnation is experiencing significant tension, interpersonal conflict and systemic anxiety within the congregation and among its leadership. While it is unlikely the casual attender would be aware of this, the nature of this conflict is serious enough that I have decided to call an emergency congregational meeting at 7pm this Wednesday, April 30th at the Hellenic Center. I’m sorry for the short notice — I know everyone’s schedules are full — but it’s very important that we gather to address some critical matters together. If you are committed to the church and concerned about a healthy future, I strongly recommend that you attend.
It is my intention that we make space for honest conversation. I truly believe the Lord will meet us as we seek His grace and wisdom together.
Thank you for your understanding and your flexibility. I’m looking forward to being with you all very soon.
In Christ’s love,
+Chris
The Rt. Rev. Chris Warner
Bishop, Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic
Apr 30: At the parish meeting, Bp. Warner offers no rebuke for the instigators. He blames the vestry, questions their legitimacy, maligns former parish priests, praises the spouse of one of the instigators, & accuses the vestry of plotting an illicit transfer to another diocese.
May 3: In a letter to the parish, Bp. Warner continues to undermine the vestry's legitimacy. He reveals that vestry members were re-elected but accuses them of disloyalty, barring them from meeting until his handpicked interim rector arrives. "His contract is now signed."
Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic
Anglican Church in North America
May 3, 2025
Dear Brothers and Sisters of Incarnation Anglican Church,
I want to thank those of you who joined me for the emergency congregational meeting on Wednesday. It was an important first step toward healing the confusion, division, and secrecy that have affected this wonderful community. IAC is a young congregation, still growing into the rhythms and practices of our Anglican tradition and polity, and you have experienced leadership transitions over the last five years, which have contributed to some of the challenges that came to light on Sunday. These things do happen in churches, and when they do, we are called to reorient ourselves to Jesus Christ—His love, His truth, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
It was good to be with you, to begin unpacking the backstory and timeline of your church, and to name the challenges you now face. Conflict is often uncomfortable, but when engaged through the lens of our life in Christ—with direct communication, repentance, and faith—it can become an opportunity for growth and renewal. Wednesday’s meeting was a hopeful and necessary beginning in that direction.
I also want to report on the results of last Sunday’s election of Vestry members. While there were some irregularities in how the meeting was conducted and in the delay in counting the vote, and there was also tension and uncharitable actions on the part of multiple people, it is my judgment, after consultation with the Diocesan Chancellor, that the meeting and the vote were valid. Your bylaws state that a Vestry member must receive a simple majority of the members present at the congregational meeting. While there are more than 80 members at Incarnation, only 33 were present, which means a minimum of 17 votes to be elected. All four individuals received more than the minimum votes and are therefore duly elected (yes votes ranged 25–27). That said, there are important issues that must be addressed to ensure that the Vestry functions in a way that aligns with the bylaws of Incarnation, and the Canons of the Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic and the ACNA. Therefore, I do not want the Vestry to meet formally or informally until after the Rev. [REDACTED] begins his ministry as Interim Rector and calls the Vestry together. His contract is now signed and his first Sunday will be May 11. Once in place, he will guide the Vestry in bringing its membership and election procedures into conformity with the proper norms.
Finally, I must share that the Vestry’s relationship with me, your Bishop, is currently impaired. As Anglicans we know that Christ is the Head of the Church. The Archbishop of the ACNA, the Most Reverend Steve Wood, is first among equals within the College of Bishops. The Bishop of a Diocese (in DOMA, it’s me) is the spiritual authority, under Christ and within the College of Bishops, over the churches and clergy of his Diocese.
Mistrust and division have taken root. Two Vestry members resigned in frustration following Sunday’s chaotic meeting. Another has offered resignation. Some have struggled to honor Fr. Justin’s resignation, even though his designated ecclesial authority as Priest-in-Charge was formally removed as of the end of January. Others have initiated conversations with a Bishop through a priest from another Diocese about departing DOMA. These actions are deeply concerning and out of step with Anglican polity and the agreements under which Incarnation, DOMA, and the ACNA operate. I have spoken with Bishops Breedlove, Hawkins, and Jones. We are united that Incarnation is a church of the Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic under my authority as the rightfully elected Diocesan Bishop and no conversation about changing dioceses can begin or occur apart from my consent per the Canons of the ACNA.
Compounding this, only one member of the Vestry attended the emergency congregational meeting I called to help the congregation speak truth to one another and to begin the healing process—further straining trust between the Vestry and Diocesan leadership. These matters will be addressed in due course, and I remain hopeful that trust can be restored. This will be more fruitful once the Interim Rector is in place and able to lead alongside me.
Please know that I care for you deeply and that you are continually in my prayers, as well as in the prayers of Canons Jim, Mary, and Tuck—all of whom have served you this year and came to show their support for you at the emergency meeting this week.
There is a good and godly future ahead for IAC. This will come as we seek the Lord together. In the meantime, pray. Hold fast to what is good. Practice the love you have for one another by resisting gossip and speaking the truth in love. Repent to those whom you’ve hurt.
With love for you in Christ,
✝ Chris S. Warner
The Rt. Rev. Chris S. Warner
The Rt. Rev. Christopher S. Warner, Bishop
May 7: The new interim rector is announced in the parish newsletter. He has an extensive history of having worked under Bp. Warner, having served 9 years as his assistant at St. Christopher Conference Center in Charleston, SC. He will travel back and forth between IAC and SC.
May 28: The vestry sends a letter to the archbishop and DOMA's standing committee signed unanimously by the vestry & search committee, outlining 8 charges of episcopal misconduct and spiritual abuse by Bp. Warner. The letter is personally received by Archbishop Steve Wood.
Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic
Anglican Church in North America
June 5, 2025
To the Vestry and People of Incarnation Anglican Church (IAC)
Incarnation Anglican Church
4900 Mooretown Rd
Williamsburg, VA 23188
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
I write to you, as your Bishop, mindful of the challenges that Incarnation has experienced in recent months—a time marked by uncertainty and disruption. In such moments, we are called anew to seek the presence of Christ among us: the One who calms the storm, heals the brokenhearted, and calls His Church to unity in love and truth. At present, there is tension between members of the church, between the vestry and the staff, and between the vestry and my office.
Recently, and in accord with my responsibility and prerogative as Bishop, I called an emergency meeting of the congregation on April 30, following the disrupted vestry election that occurred on April 27. My goal was to foster discussion, to be open about the tensions that had developed, and to do so in the context of community. I called the meeting because I was baffled by the notification I received that two vestry members had resigned, and one of them did so via a text message to me.
Of the remaining vestry members, regrettably, only the Junior Warden attended that gathering. During that event, the parishioners present participated in Evening Prayer, some publicly repented of their words or actions from previous weeks—including at the vestry election—and we talked about ways to move forward as a congregation. I offered a history of the past two years, and we discussed some of the complexities around leadership that had contributed to the confusion and challenges we now face. For many attendees, this information was new and surprising. It was not meant to disparage anyone, though I have been told after the fact that some who weren’t actually at the meeting took it as such. No one has called me directly.
The evening seemed to be productive and charitable for those who attended. After the meeting, the one vestry member who did attend freely offered me his resignation if it would help the church. I asked him to wait, telling him that I would consider it and follow up with him after I had time to pray and consult with the Diocesan Chancellor. Because the April 27 vestry election vote had never been counted, there was also some question as to the validity of the election. I was given the ballots and proceeded to consult with the Chancellor in the days ahead. Together we determined that the vestry election was viable.
However, at that point in time, we were also unclear as to whether there even was a vestry other than the Treasurer and the Junior Warden. On May 1, attempting to bring pastoral stability to the congregation, I installed the Reverend [REDACTED] as the Interim Rector of IAC. In this role he serves as the pastoral leader with all the responsibilities of priest-in-charge, as well as the express goal of helping the church prepare for the next full-time and permanent Rector whom the vestry is tasked to call with my approval as Bishop. Rev. [REDACTED] has signed an employment agreement and operates, as all Anglican clergy do, under the ecclesial authority of the Diocesan Bishop.
Rev. [REDACTED] is a priest in good standing in the Anglican Diocese of South Carolina but has been licensed by me to serve in the Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic. After having searched for several months to find IAC a clergy person within DOMA, I had come up empty. Because we are a new diocese, we simply don’t have a “deep bench” when it comes to extra clergy. Thus, after prayer, I asked Rev. [REDACTED] to serve in this capacity. I am delighted that he agreed to do so. He has already made a wonderful difference in bringing peace and stability to this church community.
Rev. [REDACTED] brings pastoral experience and spiritual maturity, but also a heart for reconciliation and a steady presence that will serve you well during this season of transition. As Interim Rector, his ministry will be to walk alongside you: listening, healing, leading worship, overseeing, and working with a vestry to prepare the ground for a faithful and hopeful future.
A couple of weeks ago I was told that the remaining vestry had notified Rev. [REDACTED] of their intention to step down, “for the good of the church,” and to do so in a non-destructive way. As such, Rev. [REDACTED] sought potential names from the few remaining vestry members and others who could serve as a temporary vestry until such time that a new vestry election can be called. Four people indicated their willingness to serve in this temporary capacity. This seemed right and good to me, as well as peaceable and holy.
Sadly, I was notified last week that the vestry members rescinded their resignations and no longer intend to step down. Additionally, they sent a letter to the Standing Committee of the Diocese, with copies to the Archbishop and others in the ACNA, complaining of my conduct as bishop. At no time have they sought me out or communicated with me directly.
This has been the cause of the recent delays in communication, and it means the search process for a permanent Rector will be on hold until we get these matters sorted out. My communicated hope was that we could get a new Rector in place by the end of the summer for the sake of the church and because that’s a good time for clergy with families to move. This time frame seems unlikely now. The next thing that will occur is a…
Jun 10: With mounting pressure from Bp. Warner, the vestry again pleads with DOMA’s standing committee and the archbishop's office for relief. They offer no action, only encouragement to attend the Jun 11 meeting. With no diocesan & provincial support, the entire vestry resigns.
Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic
Anglican Church in North America
June 10, 2025
To:
Senior Warden
Incarnation Anglican Church, Williamsburg
Via email
Dear [Name Redacted],
Thank you for your letter to the Standing Committee, and your subsequent emails to me. Please be assured that we are praying for you, for the vestry, and for the congregation at Incarnation Anglican Church, and for our Bishop.
As I previously informed you, the DOMA Standing Committee met last night to review the current situation at Incarnation Anglican (of which Bishop Warner had already made us aware), to pray, and to consider our recommendations for next steps.
It is clear to us that there is a great deal of confusion and uncertainty surrounding the current situation at Incarnation Anglican. To cite one example, there seems to be a lack of clarity as to who is or is not on the current vestry, given some apparent resignations or offers to resign. In this environment, we believe that Bishop Warner’s offer to meet with members of the congregation who would like to meet with him is both timely and appropriate. In fact, we believe that face-to-face communication is almost always the best way to overcome misunderstandings among Christians. To that end, we urge you and other members of the leadership of the congregation to attend the meeting and to participate fully in the conversations and prayers. We believe that this step is the best way to find a path forward that honors God and that assures that all concerned parties are heard.
We will hold you and Bishop Warner in prayer during the meeting.
In Christ,
Jim Oakes
Vice-Chair, Standing Committee
Jun 11: A "transitional vestry" is quickly appointed. Members of DOMA’s standing committee join Bp. Warner at the Jun 11 parish meeting. They discuss the allegations in the misconduct report but state that they do not intend to investigate the charges or take any further action.
For the past couple of weeks I have worked to identify and ask some members of IAC to prayerfully consider serving on the temporary/transitional vestry. This search was done quietly to avoid over-complicating the process and causing more division. Much thought, care, and prayer went into how this process was conducted, and to ensure that the process was in line with the Bylaws of IAC and the Canons of the Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic.
Four individuals were identified and agreed to serve, and last night the transition began at our regularly scheduled vestry meeting. Because the bylaws do not anticipate a group resignation from the vestry, it took multiple votes and extra time to complete the necessary steps. This morning the process was completed.
Jun 19: After a former vestry member shares the misconduct report with the parish, Bp. Warner’s handpicked interim responds on Jun 19 by sharing the names of signatories with the parish, publicly accusing them of sin for not following the pattern of reconciliation in Matthew 18.
Subject: Letter of Complaint
From: William Eastman
Date: 6/14/2025, 9:55 PM
To: undisclosed-recipients
Over the past several weeks, you may have heard references from Bishop Warner and others to a letter the former vestry submitted to the Standing Committee of our diocese and to Archbishop Wood. This letter, dated May 28, raised serious concerns about the conduct and integrity of Bishop Chris Warner.
While we had hoped that diocesan and provincial processes would be able to address these concerns quietly and faithfully, parts of our letter have now been described by the bishop publicly in parish communications and meetings, without the letter itself being shared. However, in the interest of transparency and to prevent further speculation or misunderstanding, it is now necessary to share the May 28 letter with you directly, so that you can see clearly the matters that led to mounting pressure on the vestry to step aside. You will find it attached.
We understand that some have asked why we did not share these concerns with the congregation sooner. Our desire was to keep the congregation united, not divided. It was not until the bishop began pressuring the vestry—particularly on the topic of women’s ordination—that we realized how deeply these matters were affecting parish life. Also, the vestry was hesitant to share the information because we didn’t want a trial by gossip, rather an investigation carried out by a neutral third party so everyone was protected.
From the beginning, we sought to follow the Church’s canonical processes. We submitted our request to the Standing Committee and the Archbishop’s Office, trusting they would provide next steps. We were grateful that Archbishop Wood personally received our letter. Then, in the face of continued escalating public pressure from Bishop Warner invalidating the vestry’s authority, we followed up again to the Standing Committee and Archbishop’s Office with a plea for guidance. They responded without offering any substantive action or relief. This led all vestry members to succumb to the mounting pressure from the bishop to resign.
As of today, no meaningful steps have been communicated to us—either by the diocese or the province—to formally address these allegations, provide relief, or initiate an impartial investigation. We continue to pray that leaders in the Church will act with pastoral courage so that an investigation will be allowed to run its course prayerfully and without obstruction.
Light dispels darkness. Our hope is for true reconciliation, healing, and unity between all parties. Healing requires the truth to be named. Without truth, there can be no trust. And without trust, reconciliation cannot be real. More importantly, our prayer is that bringing these concerns into the light may not only help our church heal and be restored, but may also protect other congregations facing similar misuses of episcopal authority.
The Church does not ultimately belong to any one of us: not to a vestry, not to a rector, not to a bishop, and not even to an archbishop. When authority in the Church is exercised without accountability, and when concerns are silenced rather than addressed, it strikes at the very heart of the Church’s witness to the Gospel of our crucified and risen Lord Jesus Christ, who alone is the true and eternal Head of the Church.
We are praying for you, for your new vestry, and for healing and peace.
(end of email)
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Grace and peace to you.
I write to you with a heavy heart, in response to a recent email that was sent by a former vestry member to the entire congregation this past Saturday evening, disclosing grievances against individuals in our church that are contained in the grievance letter that the former vestry has made against our Bishop. The message and the letter understandably caused concern, confusion, and pain among many in our church family.
Because I have heard that not everyone at church has received the email sent on Saturday night, I regretfully need to provide the email and the letter so that all may know the context of my comments made this past Sunday and of this present email. Both the letter with the complete signature page and the Saturday night email are attached to this email.
The response from DOMA's standing committee, and the silence from Archbishop Steve Wood of @the_ACNA speaks loud & clear: Spiritual abuse is taken lightly, and investigations into misconduct only exist to be weaponized against ideological opponents.
That’s the end of the information up until the time of writing. Will this be investigated?
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