An Update Regarding Accusations Against Archbishop Steve Wood

October 24, 2025

Dear Holy Cross Family, By now, many of you have heard of the allegations against Archbishop Steve Wood, which have been reported in the Washington Post and several other media outlets. This difficult situation touches Holy Cross in several ways. Our parish is a member of the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) and is under the spiritual authority of Archbishop Wood, who also serves as the Rector of St. Andrew’s Anglican Church in Mt. Pleasant, just a few miles away. In addition, some of us have personal connections with Archbishop Wood and his family. Finally, the complainants include members of our Diocese and a former member of our staff, Claire Buxton. As discouraging and disorienting as this is, our greatest desire is that God would be glorified through the revelation of truth and grace. Let us remember that “God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:5-7). As the church of Jesus Christ, we are called to the relentless pursuit of holiness, truth, justice, and mercy. The church must be a place of refuge and protection from the evils of the world. We need to allow the instruments of justice to work. ACNA has a thorough and Christ-honoring process for investigating and adjudicating claims against clergy. If any member of the clergy, including a bishop or archbishop, is accused of behaving in a way that is not in line with the Gospel (Galatians 2:14; 1 Timothy 3:1–13), including sexual harassment or abuse, there must be a thorough investigation. This process must be fair and truthful, measured by facts, evidence, and patient investigation by people committed to the truth. Furthermore, we are not to treat an accusation as fact but trust that the Lord will uphold justice through faithful witness and wise discernment (Deuteronomy 19:15–21; 1 Timothy 5:19). Many will take advantage of this moment to attack the Church and attempt to discredit the message of the Gospel. Some have already suggested that this accusation and other lamentable events demonstrate that the leadership of ACNA is morally bankrupt. As your Rector, I want to assure you that this is simply not true. In truth, the very fact that a presentment has been brought forward against the Archbishop illustrates our commitment to holiness, transparency, and accountability. So what should we do? First, pray for all involved—the Church, ACNA, our leaders, Archbishop Steve Wood and his wife, Jacqui and their children, and the complainants, including Claire. Second, do not lose heart. It would be easy to become cynical and disillusioned. But Jesus himself said, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Third, proclaim the Gospel. Satan would love nothing more than to distract us from God’s mission through rumor, speculation, and gossip. We have a message of grace and freedom to share with a hurting world in bondage to sin. This situation only highlights how desperately we all need Jesus! As followers of Christ, let us all recommit ourselves to lives of grace and truth by the power of the Holy Spirit and be vigilant in our care for every man, woman, and child in the churches entrusted to our care. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to me or Dan McNeill, our Sr. Warden, via our church email at info[at]holycross[dot]net. In Christ, –(The Rev.) David Cumbie is rector, Holy Cross, Sullivan’s Island, South Carolina

David Cumbie of Church of the Apostles, Houston, called to be new rector of Holy Cross, Sullivan's Island #SouthCarolina https://t.co/0ylo4poNBE #parishministry #lowcountrylife #anglican #religion #faith #transition #leadership #marriage #family #children #texas #acna pic.twitter.com/oAsFYduwBZ

— Kendall Harmon (@KendallHarmon6) October 18, 2023

The allegations against both men have turned a spotlight on a denomination founded 16 years ago by conservatives who separated from the Episcopal Church over its confirmation of an openly gay bishop. Now, the Anglican Church in North America — which considers itself a “province” of a global network of orthodox Anglican churches — faces its own internal crisis over alleged misconduct by top leaders.

The charges against Ruch are outlined in two presentments, formal accusations that specify which church laws or “canons” he allegedly violated. The presentments accuse him of multiple transgressions, including “scandalous” conduct, habitual neglect of duties, disobedience to church canons, and violating the vows he made when he was ordained. Ultimately, the allegations illuminate a dilemma facing houses of worship: Should religious sanctuaries that cater to families exclude people with histories of violence and sexual misconduct or welcome anyone?

One presentment — submitted by a mix of more than 40 lay members and clergy — accuses Ruch of allowing multiple men with troubling incidents in their past to worship or hold staff or other roles, including leadership positions, in the denomination’s Upper Midwest Diocese. The men have been convicted or accused of violent or sexual misconduct, or forced out of a job for inappropriate behavior, the complaint said. Ruch, the presentment charges, “acted with negligence towards the sheep entrusted to his care, creating opportunities for wolves to devour and scatter Christ’s flock.”

Read it all.

Today, our second piece on the Anglican Church in North America. A secret church trial. A bishop, Stewart Ruch, accused of allowing a child sex offender, a man accused of attempted 2nd degree murder into his diocese. Gift link here: https://t.co/dY74zkFCmx

— Ian Shapira (@ianshapira) October 24, 2025

I will take comments on this submitted by email only to KSHarmon[at]mindspring[dot]com.

President Donald Trump said he would immediately halt all trade negotiations with Canada, citing a Canadian advertisement against his signature tariffs plan featuring the voice of former President Ronald Reagan.

“TARIFFS ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO THE NATIONAL SECURITY, AND ECONOMY, OF THE U.S.A.,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. “Based on their egregious behavior, ALL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS WITH CANADA ARE HEREBY TERMINATED.”

The ad in question comprises excerpts from an address Reagan gave in 1987 in which he defended the principles of free trade and slammed tariffs as an outdated idea that stifles innovation, drives up prices and hurts US workers.

Read it all.

"Trump Terminates Trade Talks With Canada Over Reagan Tariff Ad" via @dwallbank , @decloet and Hadriana Lowenkronhttps://t.co/VygvQUuiEg

— Stephanie Hughes (@StephHughes95) October 24, 2025

…as retirement moves online there will be costs that society must reckon with. Older folks’ devices, unlike those of teenagers, are usually connected to credit cards. Door-to-door conmen, who have long preyed on the elderly, can now go iPad-to-iPad. Governments rightly strive to protect children from online predators. They must recognise that there is another, fast-growing vulnerable group to look after.

A second cost is misinformation. Pensioners are twice as likely as under-25s to use news apps or websites. Older people also appear to be more susceptible than others to online hoaxes (which artificial intelligence promises to make still more convincing). As older generations shift from spending their time in front of Fox or the BBC to spending it on YouTube or TikTok, they are entering a Wild West of information. And when the elderly are misled it is everyone’s problem, because they are the most likely to vote.

Screen time has a mixed impact on loneliness. Screens are companions for the isolated. But they can also be a substitute for real life. E-commerce removes the hassle of the weekly shopping trip—but also the social interactions that come with it. Consumers are free to make such choices. But for the infirm, the siren song of the sofa is especially strong. Balancing the pros and cons of screen use is easier for teenagers, whose time online is curbed by teachers during the day and parents in the evening. Older folk lack these informal mediators.

Read it all.

As retirement moves online there will be costs that society must reckon with. At least old people’s rocketing screen time should make for a measured debate on digital matters https://t.co/o5cC9O4Yoq

— The Economist (@TheEconomist) October 24, 2025

On March 23, 2023, an N.B.A. player left a game in New Orleans after playing just 10 minutes. His team said the player, Terry Rozier, was experiencing “foot discomfort.”

But according to federal prosecutors, Mr. Rozier’s departure was a key moment in an insider-trading scheme. Before the game, they say, Mr. Rozier had informed his childhood friend Deniro Laster that he would be exiting the game early, so that Mr. Laster and others could bet hundreds of thousands of dollars on his underperformance for the Charlotte Hornets.

On Thursday morning, Mr. Rozier was arrested in Orlando, Fla., and charged with wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy. He was one of dozens of people — including Chauncey Billups, the head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers — named in two indictments aimed at illegal gambling.

The charges spanned the worlds of professional sports, Mafia families and online betting, pairing traditional smoky-room card cheating with corruption enabled by today’s ubiquitous betting apps and smartphones. Each indictment described schemes that the authorities said had defrauded gamblers; one cast doubt on the integrity of N.B.A. games.

Read it all.

(NYT front page) More than 30 people were indicted on Thursday in a case involving insider bets on basketball games and poker games rigged by Mafia families https://t.co/vBLHICaKhb #sports #gambling #basketball #culturewatch #usa #law #ethics #scandal #corruption #money #greed

— Kendall Harmon (@KendallHarmon6) October 24, 2025

Almighty God, who alone gayest us the breath of life, and alone canst keep alive in us the holy desires thou dost impart; We beseech thee, for thy compassion’s sake, to sanctify all our thoughts and endeavours; that we may neither begin an action without a pure intention nor continue it without thy blessing.  And grant that, having the eyes of the mind opened to behold things invisible and unseen, we may in heart be inspired by thy wisdom, and in work be upheld by thy strength, and in the end be accepted of thee as thy faithful servants; through Jesus Christ our Saviour.

Over The Gate. 8°C and a chilly Northwesterly breeze. Highland Cattle in the valley. pic.twitter.com/LwoViQ0eYp

— Yorkshire Wolds Weather (@WeatherWolds) October 24, 2025

Now in the second year of their coming to the house of God at Jerusalem, in the second month, Zerub′babel the son of She-al′ti-el and Jeshua the son of Jo′zadak made a beginning, together with the rest of their brethren, the priests and the Levites and all who had come to Jerusalem from the captivity. They appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, to have the oversight of the work of the house of the Lord. And Jeshua with his sons and his kinsmen, and Kad′mi-el and his sons, the sons of Judah, together took the oversight of the workmen in the house of God, along with the sons of Hen′adad and the Levites, their sons and kinsmen.

And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord, the priests in their vestments came forward with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise the Lord, according to the directions of David king of Israel; and they sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the Lord,

“For he is good,
    for his steadfast love endures for ever toward Israel.”

And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid. But many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers’ houses, old men who had seen the first house, wept with a loud voice when they saw the foundation of this house being laid, though many shouted aloud for joy; so that the people could not distinguish the sound of the joyful shout from the sound of the people’s weeping, for the people shouted with a great shout, and the sound was heard afar.

–Ezra 3:8-13

Buttermere pic.twitter.com/hJlEHH1LGC

— Andrew Locking (@andrewswalks) October 23, 2025