The Most Rev. Ray Sutton, Dean of the Province of the Anglican Church in North America, has stepped temporarily into the role of ACNA’s archbishop and primate—but a group of chaplains has objected, calling him unfit to lead the denomination.
The ACNA’s Provincial Office announced Sutton’s elevation to acting archbishop on November 3, two weeks after disciplinary charges alleging financial, sexual, and behavioral misconduct against Archbishop Steve Wood were filed. Wood has taken a voluntary and paid leave of absence pending resolution of the charges.
Less than a day after that announcement, a public letter released by a group of chaplains with histories in the ACNA’s chaplaincy jurisdiction decried the decision, claiming that Sutton’s appointment has “further aggravated” the church’s “crisis of credibility” in handling clergy misconduct.
The chaplains’ public letter alleges that Sutton, among other senior ACNA bishops, repeatedly obstructed their previous complaints of misconduct against the Rt. Rev. Derek Jones, the denomination’s former chaplaincy bishop now under inhibition and investigation, over a period of at least four years.
New for @Livng_Church: A group of chaplains with histories in the ACNA’s chaplaincy jurisdiction claim that Bp. Ray Sutton’s appointment to acting archbishop has "further aggravated" the church’s "crisis of credibility" in handling clergy misconduct.https://t.co/XmtBzMctKU
— Arlie Coles (@ArlieColes) November 6, 2025