Stephen Dwain Wood (born October 12, 1963[1]) is an American Anglican bishop. He is currently serving as the first bishop of the Diocese of the Carolinas, a diocese of the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA), as well as rector of St. Andrew's Anglican Church in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. Since June 2024, he has also been the third archbishop of the ACNA.[2]
Stephen D. Wood | |
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| Archbishop of the Anglican Church in North America | |
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| Church | Anglican Church in North America |
| Diocese | Carolinas |
| In office | 2024–present |
| Predecessor | Foley Beach |
| Other post(s) | Bishop of the Carolinas (2012–present) Rector, St. Andrew's Church (2000–present) |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | June 15, 1991 (diaconate) February 1, 1992 (priesthood) by James R. Moodey |
| Consecration | August 25, 2012 by Robert Duncan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 12, 1963 Cleveland, Ohio |
Ordination history of Steve Wood | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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Early life and career
editWood was born in Cleveland, Ohio and grew up in Wickliffe, Ohio.[3] He received his B.A. from Cleveland State University in 1986 and his M.Div. from Virginia Theological Seminary in 1991, after which he was ordained to the priesthood of the Episcopal Church. Wood served at Episcopal churches in Ohio until being called in 2000 as rector of St. Andrew's, Mount Pleasant, which was then a parish of the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina.
Under Wood's leadership, St. Andrews was described as "one of the Lowcountry’s biggest church success stories", growing to a membership of more than 3,000 and planting new churches in Goose Creek, downtown Charleston, and the Park Circle area of North Charleston.[4] In 2006, Wood was one of three finalists in the election for Bishop of South Carolina; ultimately Mark Lawrence was elected.[4] In 2010, St. Andrew's voted by a large margin to leave the Episcopal Church and affiliate with the Anglican Church in North America.[5]
Episcopacy
editShortly after joining ACNA, Wood became involved with efforts to create the Diocese of the Carolinas, which was formed with 14 congregations with an average Sunday attendance of over 2,700. He served as vicar general of the diocese while in formation and, in 2012, he was elected to serve as its first bishop.[6] Wood was consecrated on August 25, 2012, at St. Andrew's by Archbishop Robert Duncan. Co-consecrators included Archbishop-elect Stanley Ntagali of Uganda and Bishops Roger Ames, John Guernsey, and Alphonza Gadsden.[7]
On June 22, 2024, Wood was elected by the ACNA college of bishops to succeed Foley Beach as the province's third archbishop. He formally took office on June 28, at the conclusion of the ACNA's provincial assembly.[2]
Personal Life
editBishop Wood was married to Jacqueline Elizabeth (Benner) Wood on February 1, 1986. Together, they have four sons and eight grandchildren.[8]
Notes
edit- ^ "The Most Rev. Stephen D. Wood". Anglican Diocese of the Carolinas. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
- ^ a b Fodor, Chloë-Arizona (June 24, 2024). "Anglican Church in North America elects Steve Wood as archbishop". Religion News Service. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
- ^ "St. Andrew's Clergy Staff". Retrieved 28 August 2012.
- ^ a b Parker, Adam (August 19, 2012). "Steve Wood of St. Andrew's Church to lead new Anglican Diocese of the Carolinas". Post and Courier. Retrieved 28 August 2012.
- ^ Griffith, Greg. "South Carolina: Largest Parish in Diocese Votes Overwhelmingly to Affiliate with ACNA". Stand Firm in Faith. Retrieved 28 August 2012.
- ^ Witte, Sully (June 13, 2012). "Wood Elected Bishop of the Diocese of South Carolina". Moultrie News. Retrieved 28 August 2012.
- ^ "Treading Grain". Retrieved 28 August 2012.
- ^ https://anglicanchurch.net/get-to-know-archbishop-wood/