ACNA Court Finds Bishop Derek Jones Guilty of Misconduct

An ecclesiastical court within the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) has unanimously found Bishop Derek Jones, leader of the Jurisdiction of the Armed Forces and Chaplaincy (JAFC), guilty of four counts of misconduct. The charges include the willful refusal to follow godly admonition, violation of church canons, causing schism, and the abuse of ecclesiastical power. The court stated that Jones’s actions demonstrated a rejection of godly authority and a failure to uphold the pastoral standards required of his office.

The proceedings followed allegations of power abuse raised by ACNA Archbishop Steve Wood in September 2025. Archbishop Wood clarified that the complaints did not involve sexual or physical misconduct or doctrinal disputes, but rather centered on the misuse of authority. The court has referred the findings to the College of Bishops for sentencing, pending a thirty-day appellate period.

In response to the investigation, the JAFC has disputed the court's findings, characterizing the process as a targeted attack by Archbishop Wood in retaliation for Jones’s criticisms of church leadership. Following the verdict, the JAFC announced its intention to terminate its relationship with the ACNA.