Anglican Leader Embroiled in Misconduct Scandal: Suspended Amid Allegations

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The top leader of the Anglican Church in North America has been suspended from ministry pending an investigation into allegations of misconduct. Archbishop Stephen Wood, who leads the denomination, is facing claims of sexual misconduct, bullying, and plagiarism. The suspension, announced on Monday, does not imply guilt or innocence and is aimed at ensuring the best interests of the Church, according to Bishop Julian Dobbs, the ACNA's new dean. The allegations against Wood, who has denied any misconduct, were presented last month by church members in a formal charge known as a presentment. The document, which has not been made public, is said to include claims of misconduct before Wood became archbishop last year. A second woman has also come forward, accusing Wood of sexual harassment. Under the ACNA's rules, a board of inquiry will determine whether to send the matter to an ecclesiastical trial. Wood has recused himself from appointing the board in his own case, and a new dean, Bishop Ray Sutton, had initially been tasked with the duty. However, Sutton resigned on Saturday, citing the need to focus on his health and multiple roles within the denomination. During his suspension, Wood will continue to receive his salary, and the Diocese of the Carolinas, which he also leads, will be overseen by Acting Bishop David Bryan. The Anglican Church in North America has about 130,000 members in around 1,000 congregations across the U.S. and Canada. The investigation into Wood's conduct is the latest in a series of upheavals within the denomination's hierarchy. The ACNA was formed in 2009 by conservatives who split from the U.S. Episcopal Church and its Canadian counterpart over liberalizing trends in those churches.