Court for the Trial of a Bishop

• Only July 21, 2026, the Court for the Trial of a Bishop announced that it will hear arguments on the Province’s Motion for Summary Judgment in this matter on August 10, 2026.
• On July 8, 2026, the Court for the Trial of a Bishop posted a procedural update regarding the matter of Bishop Derek Jones. The Court announced it has received a Motion for Summary Judgment from the Provincial Prosecutor. Full details are here.
• On June 4, 2026, The Court for the Trial of a Bishop issued a procedural update about the case.
• On May 7, 2026, The Board of Inquiry convened to assess the presentments against three former SJAFC bishops serving under Bishop Derek Jones and referred all three cases to an ecclesiastical trial. Click on each name to view the official BOI decision regarding The Right Reverend Marshall MacClellan, The Right Reverend Mark Nordstrom, and The Right Reverend Michael Williams.
• On May 1, 2026, the Court for the Trial of a Bishop posted notice that Bishop Derek Jones was served with a Summons on April 24, 2026.
• On April 25, 2026, Bishop Dobbs, with consent from the five most senior bishops, re-issued an inhibition against The Right Reverend Mark Nordstrom, The Right Reverend Michael Williams, and The Right Reverend Marshall MacClellan.
• On February 20, 2026, The Court for the Trial of a Bishop issued its updated Rules of Procedure (posted above) and indicated that the Summons in the Jones case is forthcoming.
• On January 13, 2026, Bishop Dobbs, as Dean of the province and exercising the canonical duties of the Archbishop, and having received consent from the five senior bishops, has inhibited Bishop Mike Williams, Bishop Marshall McClellan, and Bishop Mark Nordstrom. An inhibition may be issued any time a member of the ordained clergy engages in action, which one having authority has reasonable grounds to believe may be grounds for presentment. An inhibition is a suspension from the exercise of ministry. An inhibition lasts for 60 days but may be extended.
• On December 16, 2025, The Board of Inquiry appointed to address the Presentment of Bishop Derek Jones issued its final decision to refer the matter to trial on all four charges. The canonical charges against Jones include: 1) Refusal to follow a Godly Admonition in violation of Title IV, Canon 2.1.12; 2) Disobedience to, or willful contravention of the Canons of the Church, in violation of Title IV, Canon 2.1.9; 3) Having exhibited conduct giving cause for scandal or offense, including the abuse of ecclesiastical power, in violation of Title IV, Canon 2.1.4; and 4) Has promoted and caused schism within this Church in violation of Title IV, Canon 2.1.2.
• On September 21, 2025, at 5pm EST, Bishop Jones refused to join a Microsoft Teams call with the Archbishop and the Dean of the Province as instructed by Archbishop Wood. In the absence of Bishop Jones’s attendance at that meeting, Archbishop Wood sent an email notification to Bishop Jones and his Chancellors to temporarily inhibit Bishop Jones from ministry for 60 days. This Inhibition was signed by four of the five senior diocesan bishops (determined by date of admission to the College of Bishops) necessary for the Archbishop to issue an Inhibition.
• On September 18, 2025, SJAFC Chancellor Job Serebrov sent an email to all SJAFC chaplains instructing them not to comply with the Archbishop or provincial staff or any investigator and to withhold all records and documents related to any investigation.
• On September 12, 2025, the Archbishop, along with the Dean of the Province and Presiding Bishop of the REC, Bishop Ray Sutton, met virtually with Bishop Jones and issued him a Godly Admonition. The Godly Admonition directed Bishop Jones to take, or refrain from taking, certain actions to ensure the integrity of an investigation into the validity of the complaints to determine if they rose to the level of a presentable offence.
• In July, 2025, the Safeguarding Office, based on multiple allegations of ecclesiastical abuse of power (deemed to be credible) against Bishop Jones, recommended to the Archbishop that a Godly Admonition be given to Bishop Derek Jones, accompanied by an Inhibition if necessary, and that an investigation into the credible complaints be initiated.

• On July 9, 2026, the Court for the Trial of Bishop issued a statement that reaffirmed its solemn commitment before God to conduct a fair and impartial process as it acknowledged public speculation and commentary. The Court requested the faithful refrain from speculation and instead offer prayers for all involved.
• On July 8, 2026, the Court for the Trial of a Bishop posted a statement regarding the scheduling order governing the time up to and including the trial for Archbishop Stephen Wood, scheduled for September 7, 2026, to be held in person in Charleston, South Carolina. The full schedule is available here. 
• On July 2, 2026, the Court for the Trial of a Bishop announced that it has scheduled the trial for the Archbishop for September 7-12, 2026. If necessary, extension dates have been set for September 21–26, 2026. Read the full announcement here.
• On June 30, 2026, the Court for the Trial of a Bishop announced that it had issued orders denying two motions by the prosecutor to compel discovery and one motion by the Archbishop for a hearing on the court’s decision to delay the trial date.  The court also announced that it would soon issue a discovery order binding on each party. Full details are available here.
• On June 23, 2026, the Court for the Trial of a Bishop denied the Archbishop’s Motion to Reconsider a trial reset but agreed to seek further input from both parties regarding the final start date, which will be no earlier than October 18, 2026. For more details on the Court’s decision, read the full statement here.
• On Saturday, June 20, The Court for the Trial of a Bishop posted a notice dated June 19, 2026, that postpones the date of the trial to October 26, 2026, “to better fulfill its goal of providing a full and fair adjudication of the allegations in this matter.”
• On Wednesday, June 10, The Court for the Trial of a Bishop ruled on a Motion for an In Camera trial, a Motion to Re-establish Fairness on the Court, and a Motion to Dismiss. The Court posted a Procedural Update summarizing these decisions.
• On Thursday, June 4, 2026, The Court for the Trial of a Bishop posted a procedural update about the hearings held on May 7 and June 2 (rescheduled from May 20, 2026).
• On the morning of April 27, 2026, The Court for the Trial of a Bishop posted notice of new procedural motions (dated April 24, 2026) in the trial of Archbishop Stephen D. Wood.
• On April 21, 2026, the Court for the Trial issued an update on the trial of Archbishop Stephen D. Wood.  It includes notice of the Respondent’s Motion to Dismiss and announces that the trial date has been set for July 20, 2026.
• On February 23, 2026, based on an update posted by the Court on April 21, 2026 a Summons was issued to Archbishop Wood
• On February 20, 2026 The Court for the Trial of a Bishop issued its updated Rules of Procedure (posted above) and indicated that the Summons in the Wood case is forthcoming.
• On January 12, 2026, having received consent from the five senior bishops, Bishop Dobbs, as Dean of the province, extended the inhibition issued to Archbishop Steve Wood on November 16, 2025, pending resolution of ongoing disciplinary proceedings.
  
• On December 12, 2025, The Board of Inquiry’s final decision will be referred to the Court of the Trial for a Bishop for trial.
• On November 16, 2025, following a Presentment received by the College of Bishops, and with the written consent of the five senior diocesan bishops of the College, determined by date of admission, On Sunday, November 16 Bishop Julian Dobbs who serves as Dean of the Province, inhibited Archbishop Stephen D. Wood from the exercise of ordained ministry in the Anglican Church in North America, in accordance with the canons of our Church. The inhibition document may be found here.

DECEMBER 16, 2025

Cover Note

Order of Correction – January 9, 2026

CORRECTED VERSION OF VERDICT NOW AVAILABLE: FINAL ORDER IN THE MATTER CONCERNING BISHOP STEWART RUCH III

[Click on Text Above to View Final Order ]

• Confidentiality Statement of the Court
• August 2024 Update for the ACNA Court for the Trial of a Bishop
• September 13, 2024 – Status Update – Scheduling Order
• June 2025 Notice of Intent to the Parties to Conduct the Ecclesiastical Trial of the Rt. Rev. Stewart Ruch III by Means of a Secure Internet-based Platform
• June 23 Court Update
• July 8 Court Update: Regarding Courtroom Access
• July 23 Limited Response to the Public Release of the Former Provincial Prosecutor’s Resignation Letter
• August 12 Court Statement from proceedings on August 11
• Adjusted Date for Resuming Trial – Now October 8. 
• Oct 15 Announcement of Trial Conclusion and Next Steps
• March 23 Post Ruch Review: Scope
• December 2025 – FAQ About Ruch Verdict

• April 1, 2024 – Order of the Court in the Matter of the The Rt. Rev. Todd Atkinson, Bishop, Via Apostolica Missionary District

Note: Due to certain complexities of this case, we would encourage you to not re-publish the Court Order on your website, or share it as an attachment, or distribute it in any other form. However, you may choose to share the link to the Court Order.

Canons are the rules the Church adopts for its internal governance. The ACNA’s Constitution and Canons are available here. The disciplinary rules of the Province are found in Title IV of the canons. These rules describe how misconduct is investigated and disciplined and are designed to uphold justice and accountability across the Province.

Reports of misconduct by a bishop may be submitted via the ACNA’s misconduct form, or through email to misconduct@acna.org. These reports are reviewed by the ACNA Director of Safeguarding and Canonical Affairs, and the Vice Chancellor of Safeguarding.

Every report is received and reviewed by the ACNA Director of Safeguarding and Canonical Affairs and the Vice-Chancellor for Safeguarding. Any report that concerns sexual or physical abuse by a bishop is immediately reported to local law enforcement and/or child protective services (if the abuse involves a minor). Any report received by the province regarding a priest, deacon, lay leader, or volunteer is promptly referred to the appropriate diocesan safeguarding contact to ensure its timely review. All reports are taken seriously. Some may evolve into formal presentments, while others may be submitted as presentments from the outset.

A presentment is a formal charge alleging a violation(s) of canon law. According to Canon IV.4.1, “A Bishop may be charged under Canon IV.2 by three Bishops of this Church with jurisdiction, or by not fewer than ten Presbyters [Priests], Deacons, or adult baptized members of this Church in good standing, of whom at least two shall be Presbyters. One Presbyter and not fewer than six lay persons shall belong either to the Diocese in which the alleged offense was committed or to the Diocese in which the Bishop is canonically resident.” Presentments are typically held in strict confidence until a Board of Inquiry has convened to determine that the accusations presented merit a disciplinary review.

A Board of Inquiry is appointed to evaluate accusations included in a presentment against a bishop or, at a bishop’s request, to investigate rumors concerning him. The BOI determines whether there are reasonable grounds to put the accused to trial. According to Canon IV.4.3, a Board of Inquiry is composed of “five Presbyters and five adult baptized members in good standing, none of whom shall belong to the Diocese of the accused.” The Board of Inquiry is typically convened in strict confidence. Accused parties are usually notified once the Board of Inquiry has reached a determination about whether or not the charges merit further action.

The canons indicate that this responsibility falls to the Archbishop. In instances that involve allegations against the Archbishop, such as those that were recently submitted, the Archbishop may recuse himself and delegate this responsibility to the Dean of the Province or another delegate.

This varies considerably based on the scope and nature of the charges being assessed, but a BOI process can range from a few weeks to 2-3 months.

The Court for the Trial of a Bishop is convened. The Court will establish a date and any necessary guidelines for an ecclesiastical trial to address the charges outlined in the presentment.

Yes, both complainants and respondents are offered pastoral care. Pastoral care is a ministry rooted in the life and example of Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd (John 10:11), who calls the Church to “bear one another’s burdens” (Galatians 6:2).

If you are a member of the clergy or a lay leader who would like to receive additional training, education, or resources about how to protect children and adults in your congregational community, please visit the ACNA’s Safeguarding page for a suite of resources. You may also reach out directly to our Director of Safeguarding, the Rev. Dr. Kelley Munger, at kmunger@acna.org to discuss a plan to suit the specific needs of your community.