THREAD: The ecclesiastical court's acquittal of N. American Anglican Bishop Stewart Ruch bemoans the "narrative capture" of the case and claims that advocacy groups "exerted ongoing and distorting influence" over the investigation. But the verdict does not address many key areas: One of the two formal church complaints -- presentments -- argues that Ruch allowed men with criminal histories into the diocese to worship or lead. The court does not even mention two of the men that were central in the evidence.

Breaking now on the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) beat: Stephen Wood, who's been suspended from his duties as archbishop over allegations of sexual misconduct, will officially face an ecclesiastical trial that could result in his defrocking. anglicanchurch.net/board-of-inqui… The denomination announced this morning that a church Board of Inquiry — an anonymous panel of five parishioners and five presbyters -- recent met and and examined the formal complaint against Wood and found "probable cause" to put him to trial.

NEW THREAD 🧵 The Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) is now calling Archbishop Steve Wood's paid leave of absence a "voluntary inhibition," according to the church's spokeswoman. Wood has been on leave in the wake of sexual misconduct and bullying allegations against him. The church spokeswoman told me that Wood initially requested ACNA's Executive Committee "grant him the ability to take a paid leave of absence, or voluntary inhibition, as a matter of conscience to abide by the same counsel he had previously offered other clergy under his care."

NEW (THREAD🧵): Earlier this month, the archbishop of the Anglican Church in North America -- ACNA -- took a voluntary paid leave of absence following allegations that he committed sexual misconduct against a former employee, just two months before he took the helm. Now, a prominent ACNA bishop in his home state of South Carolina is calling for his "inhibition" or suspension. The bishop is also demanding that Wood face an ecclesiastical trial based on the sexual misconduct allegation and other accusations that he bullied and demeaned staff.

THREAD: Archbishop Steve Wood announced he's taking a temporary leave of absence as the leader of the Anglican Church in North America in the wake of allegations reported by the Washington Post that he tried kissing an employee last year, two months before he took the helm. The denomination issued a press release about the leave of absence, but omitted a key detail: This is a paid leave of absence. Wood technically remains archbishop and bishop of the Diocese of the Carolinas.