ACNA & JAFC BISHOPS CLASH OVER INHIBITION OF BISHOP DEREK JONES
- Charles Perez
- Oct 5
- 3 min read
By David W. Virtue, DD
October 5, 2025
It’s getting downright nasty and legal. ACNA bishops led by Bishop Phil Ashey contend that the charges of misconduct (but not of a sexual nature) laid at the feet of Bishop Derek Jones of the Special Jurisdiction of the Armed Forces and Chaplaincy (SJAFC) are grounds for an inhibition.
The complaints include allegations of ecclesiastical power abuse, wrongful use of disciplinary processes, backdating or fabrication of church documents, interference with external employment opportunities, wrongful release of a priest from orders, and infliction of financial, emotional, and psychological stress upon persons in Jones' care.
ACNA Archbishop Steve Wood issued a Godly Admonition to Jones on September 12, requiring him to comply with an investigation into his conduct. However, Jones refused to comply with the directive and fought back declaring the JAFC was disaffiliating from the ACNA.
Wood and his fellow bishops promptly announced a vacancy in the office of the Bishop for the SJAFC and elected the Rt. Rev. Jerome R. Cayangyang, Captain, Chaplain Corps, USN, as bishop for the Armed forces jurisdiction.
Ashey said Bishop Jones had no authority under the Constitution and Canons of the ACNA to declare that all ACNA Chaplains in the SJAFC are no longer a part of the ACNA. Period.
Jones laid out his case refuting the charges in a story which you can read here: https://www.virtueonline.org/post/jafc-bishop-refutes-charges-of-ecclesiastical-power-abuse
The Jurisdiction of the Armed Forces and Chaplaincy (JAFC) issued a press release claiming that a press release from the archbishop of the ACNA “presents a false and misleading account of the events concerning both the JAFC and Bishop Derek Jones.”
In a video explaining his situation and the charges leveled against him, Jones said he had been wrongfully charged with violating Title IV of the canons and using Title IV disciplinary proceedings to manipulate clergy.
Jones then responded to the disaffiliation and charges by Wood, hiring a law firm who delivered a “cease and desist” letter to Wood and his fellow bishops including former ACNA Archbishop Robert Duncan and REC Bishop Ray Sutton.
The lawyers accused ACNA of misusing and misappropriating the Jurisdiction’s trademarked terms, accusing them of using “defamatory remarks about the Jurisdiction and Jones himself.”
They then told Wood to refrain from making further false and defamatory or disparaging statements and to remove all disparaging materials from their websites and other publications including without limitation your publication.”
“Your malicious actions have interfered and are continuing to interfere with the Jurisdiction's crucial relationships with the United States Government and with the Jurisdiction's relationships with the many chaplains who are serving those forces and agencies. You have written to the chaplains that report to the Jurisdiction to mislead them into believing that you have replaced Bishop Jones and assumed the Jurisdiction's functions. Your interference threatens the chaplains’ assignments and the Jurisdiction’s core functions. Your disparagement has already damaged important relationships of the Jurisdiction and Bishop Jones, as you intended.”
The lawyers brought the hammer down on the ACNA and said that no ecclesiastical relationship exists between the ACNA and the Jurisdiction and Bishop Jones. “You have no legally cognizable basis for asserting any entitlement or exercise jurisdiction or discipline over either of them.”
“The Jurisdiction has essential relationships that are not yours to assume by deception or insinuation. Freedom of Religion provides no protection for identity theft.”
Jones has his defenders. Bishop Michael R. Williams a JAFC bishop, wrote VOL and said Bishop Derek Jones is neither a "scoundrel" nor a "villain"; and “I take profound offense at such an unfair and ill-founded characterization. I deem such a characterization of Bishop Derek to be an appalling spiritual abuse of the highest order from a person in ecclesiastical power, a presumptive judgement upon our beloved Bishop without due process; and, given what I am witnessing.”
It is anybody’s guess how this will play out, but the optics are bad, given that ACNA is embroiled in another unseemly canonical trial with another ACNA bishop over the mishandling of sexual abuse allegations.
END
What oh what is happening to the Body of Christ on the conservative, true believers side? Did not Paul speak and warn about these things? Can both parties be wrong? Where is truth here. Such disparaging remarks. What about calling for deep prayer among the believers and especially the clergy on both sides? The ACNA and the JAFC was the last hope for many Anglicans? What must Jesus think? This is not an example to show the greater, global church nor new believers, the skepters and especially the ultra liberal church which has become so dominent causing schism of the last few decades. Have not heard a call for prayer from the leaders of the ACNA nor the JAFC.
What an embarrassment. God have mercy. How we can we preach the apostolic faith when we have no respect for apostolic authority? For the entire history of the Church your bishop has been your bishop, whether you agree with him or not. Now we all feel free to use our own judgement to discard authority whenever it’s convenient and we think we’ve been wronged. Embarrassing, unmanly, contrary to the teaching of the Church. What a joke.
Great witness before the world - now we see what Pharisees and Saducees look like in today's age. Grow up, grow out and get it together!
ACNA dioceses can make up their own mind whether they will ordain women or not. Most do not, but the “two integrities” principles have been in play since ACNA was founded 16 years ago.
Mr. Virtue, why didn't you also clarify that Bishop Jones never refused to be investigated? Mr. Ashley and Wood have publicly made this claim, knowing it was a lie. Our church just voted to leave the ACNA and will be moving to the JAFC. Bishop Jones has already scheduled a visit. Our previous bishop never visited. I agree with TraderMoe. The DNA was bad from the start. That is why we have left the ACNA.