The Week after the Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Tuesday September 1, 2026
Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Our young Province finds itself in a challenging and uncomfortable season. Our unity, fervor, and faith are surely being tested.
For almost a year, Archbishop Stephen Wood has been inhibited from his position as our ecclesiastical leader and has been facing charges of a highly serious nature before the Court for the Trial of a Bishop.
Specifically, in December 2025, the Province’s Board of Inquiry found there was probable cause to present the Archbishop for trial on the following charges:
Violation of his ordination vows;
Engaging in conduct giving just cause for scandal or offense, including the abuse of ecclesiastical power;
Sexual immorality.
The ecclesiastical court trial in this matter begins next week on Monday, September 7.
These proceedings touch the highest office of our Province, and their outcome will be felt in every diocese, congregation, and chaplaincy. For that reason, as Dean of the Province of the Anglican Church in North America, I ask the faithful of this Church to join me in prayer, and, as they are able, in fasting, for every person involved and for their families: that they would be given strength of mind, body, and spirit; godly courage to speak and to uphold the truth; and that the truth would come plainly to light and justice be done, to the glory of God.
Even as these proceedings commence, the gospel work of the Anglican Church in North America continues. In every diocese, congregations gather, the Word is preached, the sacraments are faithfully administered, men and women and young people are brought to repentance and faith in Christ and new churches are being planted. These proceedings do not suspend the mission entrusted to us, which is to reach North America with the transforming love of Jesus Christ.
Pray, then, for the Church herself: that God will uphold her, encourage her, and present her at the last pure and spotless on the Day of our Lord.
To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. Jude 24, 25
Almighty God, you sit on your throne giving righteous judgment: We humbly ask you to bless the Court for the Trial of a Bishop; give them a spirit of wisdom and understanding, that fearing no power but yours alone, they may discern the truth and impartially and lovingly administer justice; through him who shall come to be our Judge, your Son our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
In Christ alone,
The Rt. Rev. Julian M. Dobbs
Dean of the Province, ACNA