Military Chaplains Attempt to Leave ACNA En Masse

Bishop Derek Jones stripped of responsibilities, sends “cease and desist” letter to denomination

A conflict between a bishop and his boss has created chaos for Anglican military chaplains.

JAFC Chaplains / The Right Reverend Derek Jones, center / Photo by JAFC

On Sept. 21, Bishop Derek Jones, who had been in charge of military chaplains for the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA), was inhibited from ministry for 60 days. An inhibition is a formal suspension from ministry activities, usually so an investigation can take place.

The inhibition is the latest step in a drama that has been unfolding since July in the Special Jurisdiction of the Armed Forces and Chaplaincy (SJAFC). The SJAFC is a unique canonical entity within ACNA, established in 2014 under the provisions of the ACNA’s Constitution and Canons for special jurisdictions. It serves as the official endorsing agency and canonical residence for professional chaplains affiliated with the ACNA.

According to a statement from ACNA Archbishop Steve Wood, in July “the Safeguarding Office, based on multiple allegations of ecclesiastical abuse of power (deemed to be credible) against Bishop Jones, recommended to the archbishop that a Godly Admonition be given to Bishop…Jones.” That “Godly Admonition” was issued on Sept. 12. The Godly Admonition instructed Bishop Jones to “take, or refrain from taking, certain actions to ensure the integrity of an investigation into the validity of the complaints.”

A Godly Admonition is often a preliminary step before more severe disciplinary measures. The Safeguarding Office was formally established in 2024, as part of a push in the ACNA to strengthen provincial-level coordination on abuse prevention and response.

A source in provincial leadership who asked not to be named told MinistryWatch that since July at least nine complaints have been formally made against Bishop Jones.

According to a statement from Archbishop Wood’s office, “On Sept. 18, SJAFC Chancellor Job Serebrov, acting under the authority of Bishop Jones, sent an email to all SJAFC chaplains instructing them not to comply with the archbishop or provincial staff or any investigator and to withhold all records and documents related to any investigation.”

Access to MinistryWatch content is free. However, we hope you will support our work with your prayers and financial gifts. To make a donation, click here.

Such instructions were a clear violation of the instructions of the Godly Admonition.

Three days later, on Sept. 21, Bishop Jones failed to join a Microsoft Teams call with Archbishop Wood. It was Bishop Jones’s failure to attend that virtual meeting that precipitated Bishop Jones’s inhibition for 60 days.

The next day, Monday, Sept. 22, the chair of the SJAFC Executive Committee sent a message to Archbishop Wood and Chancellor Bill Nelson indicating that the SJAFC was withdrawing from the ACNA.

The Right Reverend Derek L.S. Jones / Photo via JAFC

On Tuesday, Sept. 23, Archbishop Wood released a “Pastoral Letter” calling the actions of the SJAFC “deeply disappointing and particularly unsettling for our chaplains.” Wood further asserted that “I want to be clear: the Special Jurisdiction itself remains a canonical ministry of the Anglican Church in North America.” Wood maintains that the SJAFC is not a diocese and therefore cannot withdraw from ACNA according to provisions in the church canons that allow dioceses to withdraw. Wood said, “Because the Special Jurisdiction is not a diocese, but a canonical ministry established under Title 1, Canon 11, it does not have canonical authority to withdraw from the Province.”

Bishop Wood has appointed Archbishop Emeritus Bob Duncan and Bishop Jay Cayangyang to provide “episcopal and pastoral oversight” for the chaplains of SJAFC until a new bishop is elected.

In recent years, the SJAFC has been one of the most prolific endorsers of military chaplains. There are currently about 300 Anglican chaplains serving the military, with about 187 of them being full-time active duty chaplains, and the rest in civilian or volunteer roles.

Bishop Jones disputes what he calls the “false narrative” provided by ACNA leadership. A statement from the SJAFC Communications Office released Sept. 23 says “the Archbishop’s letter presents a false and misleading account of events.”

The SJAFC, through its law firm Nelson Madden Black, delivered a letter to the ACNA, Archbishop Wood, former Archbishop Duncan, and Bishops Sutton and Cayangyang demanding they “cease and desist” from “your efforts to mislead government agencies, military services, chaplains…and the general public into believing that the Anglican Church in North America has any ecclesiastical or practical right of supervision over the Jurisdiction or its chaplaincy program.” The letter goes on to call actions taken by Archbishop Wood and others named in the letter to be “malicious” and that they “interfere with the Jurisdiction’s crucial relationship with the United States Armed Forces and other agencies.”

Bishop Jones released an hour-long video explaining his views on the matter, which can be found here.

TO OUR READERS: The mission of MinistryWatch is to help Christian donors become more faithful stewards of the resources God has entrusted to them. Do you know of a story that will help us fulfill our mission, or do you want to give us feedback about this or any other story? If so, please email us at [email protected].