Federal Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Against Anglican Church in North America

A U.S. federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by the Jurisdiction of the Armed Forces and Chaplaincy (JAFC) against the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA). U.S. District Judge Bruce Hendricks ruled that the court lacks the authority to intervene in the dispute, citing the church autonomy doctrine. This legal principle prevents secular courts from adjudicating matters of internal church governance, discipline, and ecclesiastical polity, as doing so would violate First Amendment protections.

The conflict arose after the JAFC attempted to disaffiliate from the ACNA in September 2025. The JAFC leadership initiated the legal action following the denomination's refusal to recognize their separation. The group’s decision to break ties was largely motivated by the ACNA’s handling of Bishop Derek Jones. JAFC representatives characterized the denomination's actions against Jones as a targeted attack, while ACNA leadership maintained that they were responding to credible allegations of abuse of ecclesiastical power.