ACNA Archbishop Inhibits Armed Forces Bishop Derk Jones

Bishop Derek Jones

Jurisdiction of the Armed Forces and Chaplaincy terminates its affiliation with ACNA

By David W. Virtue, DD

www.virtueonline.org

Sept. 23, 2025

ACNA Archbishop Steve Wood has inhibited Armed Forces Chaplain and Bishop Derek Jones for “credible complaints alleging conduct…that, if substantiated, would constitute the basis of presentable charges against him.”

The charge promptly brought a response from David van Esselstyn, Executive Committee Chairman of the Jurisdiction of the Armed Forces and Chaplaincy, declaring that it was terminating its affiliation with the ACNA pursuant to Article II.3 of the ACNA Constitution. “You may not meet nor contact our member Chaplains or use the trademark Anglican Chaplains,” the note concluded.

VOL reached out to Bishop Jones for additional comment but did not hear back by the time of this publication.

In his letter to Bishop Jones, Archbishop Wood said that it was his “duty to see that these complaints are carefully, fairly, and thoroughly investigated, and I have directed that such an investigation take place.”

Wood said he met with Bishop Ray Sutton, Presiding Bishop of the Reformed Episcopal Church and Dean of the Province, and with Bishop Jones to discuss the complaints against him.

“At Bishop Jones’s request, the meeting was held by videoconference. At that meeting, and with the written consent of three of the five most senior active diocesan members of the College of Bishops, I issued to Bishop Jones a Godly Admonition directing him to take, or refrain from taking, certain actions in order to ensure the integrity of the investigation. Additionally, I had the written consent of four of the five senior diocesan bishops of the College of Bishops to inhibit Bishop Jones at this meeting.”

Wood said he was pursuing this as a “pastoral matter” and informed Bishop Jones of the signed Inhibition and his decision to withhold its administration for the time being. Wood said it would be in effect for sixty days with the possibility of further extension as provided by canon law.

Wood appointed the Most Rev. Robert Duncan, founding Archbishop of the Anglican Church in North America, along with the Rt. Rev. Jay Cayangyang, to serve as pastoral and episcopal shepherds of the Special Jurisdiction.

To ensure that the chaplains of the Special Jurisdiction are well shepherded and pastorally supported during this season. In addition, and in accordance with the canons of the Special Jurisdiction, given the inhibition of Bishop Jones, the Vicar General of the Special Jurisdiction will serve as the interim endorser of chaplains.

However, the letter from David van Esselstyn seemed to rule out any intervention by the ACNA.

VOL wrote Archbishop Wood requesting additional information as to the nature of the charges involving the inhibition, but did not hear back from the archbishop at this time of publication.

The ACNA is in the midst of a trial charging Bishop Stewart Ruch III with disobedience and willful contravention of the canons of this Church. The ecclesiastical court will resume the trial of Bishop Ruch on October 8, 2025.

With continued internal arguments and discussion over the issue of women’s ordination, an issue that has dogged the ACNA for 16 years (since 2009), a number of active ACNA clergy and laity told VOL that this latest dustup might cause fragmentation within the ACNA.

END