A Call to Prayer
A letter from Bishop Dan requesting prayer regarding the presentment made against Archbishop Steve Wood
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ and members of our diocese,
I write to you today, as your diocesan bishop, with a special call to prayer for our Province of the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA). We as a diocesan family have been saddened and troubled in recent weeks as allegations of misconduct have been brought against our Primate, Archbishop Steve Wood, by multiple people, including former staff members of the church where until recently he was rector. This is a serious and unprecedented situation in the history of our Province and one in which all of us are in need of great grace and humility as it evolves and progresses. So I ask you to join me in fervent prayer in at least four ways: for all those who have brought forward these allegations, for the Province’s disciplinary process, for the Archbishop and his family, and for the safeguarding work in our own diocese.
First, please pray with me for the men and women who have brought these allegations as a presentment to our Province. It is a vulnerable and difficult step to come forward in this way, and their allegations describe experiences of significant distress and pain. Join me in praying for God’s great comfort and mercy for them, for his protection and care, and that they would know his abundant love for them throughout the days ahead.
Second, pray for the process of investigation and discipline. Our diocese and our Province take seriously allegations of misconduct by any bishop, presbyter, deacon, lay leader, or volunteer serving within the ACNA. The Archbishop is accountable to the same standards and disciplinary process as any other leader accused of misconduct. Therefore, the Province has taken up a process outlined in our canon law to thoroughly investigate and earnestly seek the truth in these matters. A presentment has been made, and a Board of Inquiry consisting of ten clergy and lay people has been appointed. They will determine whether the matter should go forward to an ecclesiastical court. Pray for God’s wisdom for the members of this board in the weighty responsibility they have before them, and that truth and justice would prevail.
For more from the Province regarding the process and updates on the investigation join the Provincial mailing list here and see their FAQ page here.
The New Testament teaches that discipline is crucial to the health of the Church. Its purpose is not retribution or humiliation, but the protection of the people—especially the vulnerable—and the bringing about of correction, humble repentance, reconciliation, and healing when there is wrongdoing. Pray that God will bring about this good fruit through those who are tasked with carrying out the very challenging work of investigation and discipline. Please also pray for the rigorous process our Province is undertaking to improve our canons on discipline, which will be completed by the Provincial Council meeting next summer.
Third, please continue to pray for Archbishop Steve Wood and his wife, Jacqui, and their family. Today Archbishop Steve was inhibited from the exercise of ordained ministry in our Province as the process takes place. An inhibition is a suspension that does not determine guilt or innocence, nor does it pre-judge any allegation or any step that may follow. The canons provide for the imposition of an inhibition when it is determined to be in the best interests of the Church to do so. During this time, Bishop Julian Dobbs, who is now Dean of the Province will ensure continuity, order, and effective coordination across the life of the Province.
Please pray for God’s care, wisdom, guidance, and protection for Archbishop Steve and his family. Steve continues to hold the office of Archbishop within our Province, and it is very appropriate to continue to pray for him as you pray for bishops in your Sunday service intercessions. It is also right and good to pray for those who have brought these allegations forward, as you pray in your services for those in need.
Finally, pray with me for the work of church safeguarding in our own diocese. It is an essential aspect of our Gospel ministry that our churches be safe places where we grow in the faith and love of Jesus, serve one another in humility, and lovingly bring the Gospel to the world, so that they may become part of the family of God who are being saved. Much time and effort have been invested by our diocesan staff and safeguarding committee to provide resources so that each congregation can implement robust policies to protect the vulnerable. I have committed to our Province that all our churches will have such a policy in place by the end of this year. Please pray for the clergy and lay leaders in each of our congregations as they take on the challenging work of forming a safe church policy that can be well implemented in their context.
Friends, thank you for considering this call to pray for God’s Church, and for all those involved in this painful, difficult and quickly evolving situation. In this call we are helped by the Apostle Paul, who experienced anxiety in the form of deep concern for all the churches (2 Corinthians 11:28–29). Knowing this, he also teaches us that our anxiety should be the occasion for prayer:
“The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6)
The Lord of the Church is at hand. May He strengthen you in your prayers and supplications with thanksgiving, and may this collect of mercy be a help to you as you pray:
Let your continual mercy, O Lord, cleanse and defend your Church; and because it cannot continue in safety without your help, protect and govern it always by your goodness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Yours faithfully,
The Right Reverend Dan Gifford
Diocesan Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Canada