Christopher Warner (bishop)

2025-11-24T17:14:47Z

The Laudable Laud:

{{short description|American Anglican bishop}}

{{Infobox Christian leader
| type = Bishop
| honorific-prefix = [[The Right Reverend]]
| name = Christopher S. Warner
| title = Bishop of the Mid-Atlantic
| image = Rev-christopher-warner.jpg
| alt = Warner as bishop-elect of the Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic at the 2023 [[March for Life (Washington, D.C.)|March for Life]] in Washington, D.C.
| caption = Warner as bishop-elect of the Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic at the 2023 [[March for Life (Washington, D.C.)|March for Life]] in Washington, D.C.
| church = [[Anglican Church in North America]]
| archdiocese =
| diocese = [[Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic|Mid-Atlantic]]
| see =
| term = 2023–present
| predecessor = [[John Guernsey]]
| successor =

| ordination = 2000 (diaconate) 2001 (priesthood)
| consecration = February 18, 2023
| consecrated_by = [[Foley Beach]]
| rank =

| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1969}}
| birth_place = [[Pueblo, Colorado]]
| death_date =
| death_place =
}}
'''Christopher S. Warner''' (born 1969) is an American [[Anglicanism|Anglican]] [[bishop]]. He is the second bishop of the [[Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic|Anglican Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic]] (DOMA), prior to which he served as a priest in the [[Anglican Diocese of South Carolina]]. On September 13, 2025, he became the first bishop in American history to ordain his own wife to the priesthood.

==Early life, education, and family==

Warner was born in 1969 in [[Pueblo, Colorado]]. He was baptized in the [[Catholic Church]] but did not grow up attending church. In high school and college, Warner became a [[Deadhead]] and followed the [[Grateful Dead]] on East Coast tours. He has said that he became fearful of demonic presences at Grateful Dead concerts. During a Dead concert at [[Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium|RFK Stadium]] in Washington, D.C., Warner left the stadium and prayed for conversion.<ref name="warner-autobio">{{cite web |last1=Warner |first1=Christopher |title=Spiritual Autobiography |url=https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5d76a03fc9972061eb9219cd/t/62cc5dde7829b27c767b773f/1657560542258/chris+warner+spiritual+autobiography+doma.pdf |publisher=Anglican Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic |access-date=19 October 2022}}</ref>

Warner graduated from the [[University of North Carolina Wilmington|University of North Carolina at Wilmington]] in 1991.<ref name="warner-resume">{{cite web |last1=Warner |first1=Christopher |title=Resume |url=https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5d76a03fc9972061eb9219cd/t/62cc5ded77bbf3381265ad67/1657560557544/chris+warner+resume+doma.pdf |publisher=Anglican Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic |access-date=19 October 2022}}</ref> After college, he began discernment for ordained ministry and served as a youth pastor at St. Margaret's Episcopal Church in Charlotte.<ref name="warner-autobio" /> In 1993, he married his wife, Catherine, and they have three adult children. In 1997, after working in the financial sector at [[Bank of America]] and Broadway and Seymour, Warner enrolled in [[Trinity School for Ministry]].<ref name="warner-resume" />

==Ordained ministry==

[[Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh|Pittsburgh]] Bishop [[Robert Duncan (bishop)|Robert Duncan]] ordained Warner to the diaconate in 2000 upon his graduation from Trinity.<ref name="warner-autobio" /> He was ordained to the priesthood the following year. He served from 2000 to 2002 as curate at [[Trinity Episcopal Church (Columbus, Georgia)|Trinity Episcopal Church]] in Columbus, Georgia. From 2002 to 2007, he was associate rector at the Church of the Holy Cross in [[Sullivan's Island, South Carolina]], where he developed a men's hiking ministry that has expanded throughout the Diocese of South Carolina and assisted with the launch of a second campus in [[Daniel Island]].<ref name="warner-resume" />

In 2007, Warner was appointed rector of St. Christopher Camp and Conference Center on [[Seabrook Island, South Carolina|Seabrook Island]]. The camp is a 300-acre retreat center then owned by the [[Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina (1785–2012)|Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina]]. The role included spiritual oversight of the camp and conference center programs (including summer camps, a [[barrier island]] environmental education program and diocesan and church conferences) plus oversight of 60 employees.<ref name="christopher-camp">{{cite news |title=The Rev. Chris Warner to Take the Reins of St. Christopher Camp and Conference Center |url=https://adosc.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/feb_mar07_jub_deo.pdf |access-date=19 October 2022 |work=Jubilate Deo |issue=February/March 2007}}</ref> He chose to leave St. Christopher's in 2011. With the rift between the Diocese of South Carolina and the [[Episcopal Church (United States)|Episcopal Church]] portending future litigation over diocesan properties, Warner has said that "[n]ecessarily, St. Christopher would be stewarded through management rather than visionary growth. After much prayer, I realized my gift mix was better suited elsewhere."<ref name="warner-autobio" /> (In 2022, St. Christopher's was returned to the [[Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina]] under a final settlement.<ref name="christopher-settlement">{{cite news |title=Details of South Carolina settlement announced |url=https://anglican.ink/2022/09/29/details-of-south-carolina-settlement-announced/ |access-date=19 October 2022 |work=Anglican Ink |date=29 September 2022}}</ref>{{primary-inline|date=October 2025}})

Warner returned to Holy Cross as an associate priest and in 2015 was appointed rector of the [[Multi-site church|multisite congregation]] with a ministry staff of 22 plus two [[preschool]] programs at its two campuses.<ref name="warner-resume" /> During his rectorate, Holy Cross paid down $1.5 million in building debt from prior expansions.<ref name="warner-autobio" /> He also shifted Holy Cross from a "[[Church Growth|seeker-sensitive]]" model to a "relational and discipleship model" for church life.<ref name="adosc-bishop-search">{{cite news |last1=Dennis |first1=Rickey Ciapha |title=SC Anglican Diocese announces final three candidates for bishop |url=https://www.postandcourier.com/features/sc-anglican-diocese-announces-final-three-candidates-for-bishop/article_d179093a-f480-11eb-a12b-8723eaab033e.html |access-date=19 October 2022 |work=The Post and Courier |date=7 August 2021}}</ref>

In the late 2010s, Warner has said that he was encouraged to consider episcopal ministry by [[Anglican Diocese of Canada|Anglican Network in Canada]] Suffragan Bishop Trevor Walters and Bishop [[Mark Lawrence (bishop)|Mark Lawrence]].<ref name="warner-autobio" /> He was a finalist in the election for the 15th bishop of South Carolina in which [[Chip Edgar]] was elected.<ref name="adosc-bishop-search" /> In October 2022, Warner was elected the second bishop of the Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic to succeed [[John Guernsey]].<ref name="doma-election">{{cite news |last1=Reichert |first1=Heidi |title=Chris Warner elected Bishop of the Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic |url=https://anglican.ink/2022/10/15/chris-warner-elected-bishop-of-the-diocese-of-the-mid-atlantic/ |access-date=19 October 2022 |work=Anglican Ink |date=15 October 2022}}</ref>{{primary-inline|date=October 2025}} Following consent from the ACNA College of Bishops, Warner was consecrated as a bishop by [[Foley Beach]] and 25 other ACNA bishops on February 18, 2023, at the [[The Falls Church (Anglican)|Falls Church Anglican]]. During the same service, he was [[investiture|invested]] as the diocese's second bishop.<ref name="consecration">{{cite web |last1=Reichert |first1=Heidi |title=Bishop Chris Warner Consecrated as Second Bishop of the Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic |url=https://www.anglicandoma.org/messenger-articles/bishop-chris-warner-consecrated-as-second-bishop-of-the-diocese-of-the-mid-atlantic |publisher=Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic |access-date=20 February 2023 |date=February 18, 2023}}</ref>

==Bishop of the Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic (DOMA)==

===Investigation into alleged sexual misconduct at The Falls Church Anglican===
In September 2023, Warner ordered an investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct against a youth minister who had been employed by [[The Falls Church|The Falls Church Episcopal]] in the 1990s and early 2000s. The independent inquiry concluded that the youth minister “engaged in sexual abuse of students who participated in the youth program while he was employed.”<ref name="tfca">{{cite news |last1=Shapira |first1=Ian |title=Minister accused of sex abuse landed one high-profile job after another |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/interactive/2025/falls-church-sex-abuse-allegations/ |access-date=5 October 2025 |work=The Washington Post |date=15 January 2025}}</ref> At the conclusion of the investigation in April 2024, Warner ordered a pastoral letter be read aloud in every congregation in DOMA,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Warner |first1=Christopher |title=Pastoral Letter |url=https://static1.squarespace.com/static/60e5f6619e0560434d86ee99/t/67571dd4139bb16b6ad694a0/1733762517084/TFCA%2BINVESTIGATION%2BFINAL%2BDoc%2B11-25-24.pdf |publisher=Anglican Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic |date=25 November 2024 |access-date=22 November 2025}}</ref> in which he shared the report's conclusion regarding The Falls Church's role in responding to the allegations: <blockquote>The report finds that when a credible allegation of sexual abuse was received in 2007, the church did not do enough to determine whether others were harmed. Finally, the report finds that in 2021, when these allegations were raised again, the church failed to take the necessary steps to investigate what happened in the church's past.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Warner |first1=Christopher |title=Pastoral Letter |url=https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5d76a03fc9972061eb9219cd/t/6627e15058e82d7ed136f551/1713889616705/Pastoral+Letter+Abuse+Spring+2024.pdf |publisher=Anglican Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic |date=23 April 2024 |access-date=22 November 2025}}</ref></blockquote> In November 2024, Warner took the unusual step of publicly announcing that he had issued "Godly Admonitions" against the former and current rectors of [[The Falls Church Anglican]], criticizing them for failing to investigate the allegations when first informed.<ref name="tfca" /> In a pastoral letter, Warner shared why he had decided to issue a Godly Admonition against the current rector of The Falls Church Anglican, the Rev. Sam Ferguson, noting Ferguson's expression of public remorse for not actively responding to the allegations: <blockquote>Unfortunately, when the crisis surfaced during his tenure in 2021, Reverend Ferguson did not actively respond to it through investigation or by seeking Bishop Guernsey's counsel. This resulted in extra years of pain for the reporting family and others. To Reverend Ferguson's credit, during the Listening Sessions he publicly acknowledged his shortcomings in this matter, citing his inexperience as a new Rector in 2021 and acknowledging his desire in that role to be “successful,” which overshadowed the imperative for action.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Warner |first1=Christopher |title=Pastoral Letter |url=https://static1.squarespace.com/static/60e5f6619e0560434d86ee99/t/67571dd4139bb16b6ad694a0/1733762517084/TFCA%2BINVESTIGATION%2BFINAL%2BDoc%2B11-25-24.pdf |publisher=Anglican Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic |date=25 November 2024 |access-date=22 November 2025}}</ref></blockquote>

===Charges of misconduct and compelling acceptance of female presbyters===
In May 2025, Warner became the subject of misconduct allegations at Incarnation Anglican Church in Williamsburg, Virginia involving purported abuse of ecclesiastical power and imposition of religious beliefs concerning the ordination of women. In a formal complaint filed with Archbishop [[Steve Wood (bishop)|Steve Wood]] and DOMA's Standing Committee, the vestry of Incarnation alleged that Warner had sought to require that the next rector of their parish "must be willing to receive Holy Communion from a female priest."<ref name="misconduct investigation">{{cite web |title=Misconduct investigation requested of the Bishop of the Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic |url=https://anglican.ink/2025/07/27/misconduct-investigation-requested-of-the-bishop-of-the-diocese-of-the-mid-atlantic/ |work=Anglican Ink |access-date=3 October 2025 |date=July 27, 2025}}</ref><ref name="uproar">{{cite web |title=Uproar continues at Incarnation Anglican Church Williamsburg (ACNA) over the ordination of women and more |url=https://www.anglicanwatch.com/uproar-continues-at-incarnation-anglican-church-williamsburg-acna-over-the-ordination-of-women-and-more/ |work=Anglican Watch |access-date=3 October 2025 |date=September 6, 2025}}</ref> The Standing Committee of the [[Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic]] responded to the allegations in August by issuing a statement assuring that Warner was not the subject of any disciplinary actions or investigation by the Provincial Office of the [[Anglican Church in North America]].<ref name="response">{{cite web |title=Statement from the standing committee of the Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic on compelling acceptance of women clergy |url=https://anglican.ink/2025/08/29/statement-from-the-standing-committee-of-the-diocese-of-the-mid-atlantic-on-compelling-acceptance-of-women-clergy/ |work=Anglican Ink |access-date=3 October 2025 |date=August 29, 2025}}</ref>

===Ordaining his wife to the priesthood===
Bishop Chris Warner ordained his wife, the Rev. Catherine Warner, to the priesthood on September 13, 2025 in a ceremony held at [[Truro Anglican Church (Fairfax, Virginia)|Truro Anglican Church]]. [https://northamanglican.com/why-presbyters-are-fathers-not-mothers/][https://www.youtube.com/shorts/iAtfn6bHkoE][https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzwgMY9sljE&t=2512][https://www.anglicandoma.org/messenger-articles/ordination-in-the-diocese-warner] Various commentators described a widely-shared video of Warner's wife laughing during her ordination vows: "Recently, a clip went semi-viral in which Bp. Christopher Warner ordained his wife, Catherine Warner, to the office of the presbyterate. In the clip, as Bp. Warner read the oath of canonical obedience; his wife seemingly laughed through taking the due canonical vows." Warner is the first bishop in American history to have ordained his own wife to the priesthood.

===Response to allegations of sexual misconduct against Archbishop Steve Wood===
In October 2025, ''The Washington Post'' reported that an ecclesiastical presentment had been issued against Wood, who was being accused of forcibly touching and attempting to kiss a female staff member in his office, of improperly paying her thousands of dollars in church funds, of bullying and disparaging colleagues, and of plagiarism. The misconduct was alleged to have occurred at [[St. Andrew's Church (Mount Pleasant, South Carolina)|St. Andrew's Church]] in Charleston, South Carolina, where Wood was the longtime rector. On October 23, Warner responded with a statement calling it "disheartening" that the allegations had been shared with the ''Post'' and expressing confidence in the ACNA Provincial Office: "I'm confident that the ACNA is taking this seriously . . . and does not hesitate to take action when action is warranted."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Shapira |first1=Ian |title=Second woman says U.S. Anglican Church archbishop sexually harassed her |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/2025/11/07/anglican-church-archbishop-harassment/ |access-date=9 November 2025 |work=The Washington Post |date=7 November 2025}}</ref>

However, in November 2025, the ''Washington Post'' revealed that Warner had been one of four bishops initially approached about the allegations. Warner acknowledged that the complainants had shared the draft presentment against Wood with him in May, months before speaking to the ''Post''. Warner had also been informed that the allegations contained a charge of sexual harassment involving a "potential unwanted advance" by Wood. At the time, he had declined to endorse or read the presentment, instead referring them to a reporting channel managed by Wood's staff because, in Warner's words, "there are women in that process." Warner also encouraged them to wait a year or more until a new disciplinary process was set to be adopted.<ref name="WaPo - inhibition">{{cite news |last1=Shapira |first1=Ian |title=N. American Anglican archbishop suspended after sexual misconduct allegations |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/2025/11/17/investigations-archbishop-anglican-suspended |access-date=17 November 2025 |work=Washington Post |date=November 17, 2025}}</ref> After being informed of the allegations, Warner shared in June that he had recently joined the archbishop of the ACNA, [[Steve Wood (bishop)|Steve Wood]], for a trip to Kenya, during which they together led a three-day retreat for the [[Anglican Church of Kenya]]'s House of Bishops. Warner shared about the trip: "It was a powerful time with God's presence among us in word, worship and sacrament and as we prayed for each other and anointed one another with oil."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Warner |first1=Christopher |title=A Letter from Bishop Chris |url=https://www.anglicandoma.org/messenger-articles/a-letter-from-bishop-chris-june2025 |publisher=Anglican Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic |date=5 June 2024 |access-date=22 November 2025}}</ref>

On November 16, Warner sent an email to the clergy of DOMA, offering an apology to the women in his diocese and the women who had made allegations against Wood: "I recognize that women's experiences are too often overlooked or minimized, particularly in systems led by men." He concluded the email by sharing that he had recently called for an inhibition of Wood.<ref name="WaPo - inhibition"></ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://www.anglicandoma.org/meet-the-bishop Profile on Anglican Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic website]

{{s-start}}
{{S-rel|ac}}
{{S-bef|before=[[John Guernsey]]}}
{{S-ttl|title=[[Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic|II Bishop of the Mid-Atlantic]]|years=2023–present}}
{{S-aft|after=Incumbent}}
{{End}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Warner, Christopher S.}}
[[Category:1969 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Christians from South Carolina]]
[[Category:Bishops of the Anglican Church in North America]]
[[Category:University of North Carolina at Wilmington alumni]]

AnglicanWiki - User contributions [en]

Christopher Warner (bishop)