News and Updates on The Ecclesiastical trial of Bishop Stewart Ruch III

• On Monday, July 14, 2025 the ACNA Court for the Trial of a Bishop commenced the ecclesiastical trial of Bishop Stewart Ruch III in accordance with the previously published trial schedule.
• The Prosecutor representing the Province was C. Alan Runyan, Esq., who was appointed in 2024 by then-Archbishop Foley Beach.
• Respect for the independence and integrity of court does not allow for communications between the provincial office and/or Archbishop Wood and the Court, nor does it allow them visibility to trial proceedings while a case is active before the Court.
• On Friday, July 18, with the trial still in process, Mr. Runyan indicated to the court his intention to resign from his role as prosecutor.  
• Subsequently, on July 19, Counsel for Bishop Ruch submitted to the Court a written Motion for Directed Verdict and Findings of Not Guilty.
• On Sunday, July 20, Mr. Runyan formally submitted his letter of resignation to the Archbishop, immediately stepping down from his role and leaving the province without representation to complete the disciplinary proceedings as prescribed in the ACNA Canons. 
• In Mr. Runyan’s resignation letter to Archbishop Wood, which Mr. Runyan released publicly to the media on its date of issue, he cites concerns about alleged improper actions by an elected member of the Court as the justification for his resignation. The Court responded to these allegations on July 23. 
• On Monday, July 21, the provincial office shared an update about these developments with members of the province and included Mr. Runyan’s resignation letter alongside a note from the provincial chancellor to address certain matters it raised.
• Also on July 21, the Court issued a ruling to allow a short delay in its proceedings until August 11 to allow the province an opportunity to appoint a new prosecutor.**
• After a careful search of qualified candidates, on July 22 the Archbishop appointed Archdeacon Job Serebrov as the new Provincial Prosecutor to quickly prepare for a resumption of the trial on August 11.
• On July 25, the former Assistant to the Provincial Prosecutor resigned and circulated an open letter that accused Provincial leadership and members of the Court of unethical behavior. 
• On July 29, the College of Bishops and the Executive Committee released a joint statement addressing the accusations.
• On July 31, newly appointed Archdeacon Job Serebrov resigned and newly appointed Co-Counsel Thomas Crapps stepped in as the new Provincial Prosecutor, with Frank Shaw III joining as Co-Counsel. 
• On August 12, the Ecclesiastical Court released a statement announcing they would postpone the trial until October 6 in order to give the new Provincial Prosecutor time to prepare.
• On September 11, the Ecclesiastical Court released a statement announcing they would postpone the trial two days, to resume on October 8, in order to accommodate all parties involved.

**Without a provincial prosecutor, the trial cannot proceed. If the Court were to resume on August 11 without provincial representation, the prosecution would effectively end. What the Court would do in that case in unknown, but the alternatives could include dismissal of the case for failure to prosecute.

NEW! October 15 Announcement from the Court on the Conclusion of the Trial and Deliberation Period

September 11 Public Statement from the Court Announcing Trial Will Resume October 8

August 12 Public Statement from the Court Announcing Trial Will Resume October 6

August 1 Public Announcement on Provincial Prosecutor Resignation & Co-Counsel Taking Over Case

July 29 Joint Statement from the College of Bishops & Executive Committee

July 29 Letter from Archbishop Steve Wood

July 23 Update from the Court: “Limited Response to the Public Release of the Former Provincial Prosecutor’s Resignation Letter”

July 22: Archbishop Wood Appoints New Provincial Prosecutor

July 21 Follow-up Letter from Archbishop Steve Wood 

July 21 Letter from the Chancellor Re: The Resignation of the Provincial Prosecutor

July 20 Letter from Archbishop Wood

• The trial of Bishop Ruch began Monday, July 14 at 9:00 am CST
• It is addressing four charges laid out in two presentments (see below)
• The trial is being conducted utilizing a secure online platform and is closed to the public (see statements from the Court) 
• The trial is estimated to last ~5-10 court days, though the exact timing is always subject to change.
• When the trial ends, the court has up to 60 days to write its verdict. 
• Following the verdict, a 30-day window for appeal is open to either party upon sufficient grounds.
• Any sentencing is done by the College of Bishops (not the Court) shortly after the appeal window closes.
• The Court of the Trial of a Bishop is composed of 7 elected members: 3 Bishops, 2 Presbyters (Priests), and 2 Adult Members in Good Standing
• The Archbishop is not a member of the Court.

In December 2022, Mark Rivera, a former Lay Catechist in an Illinois church affiliated with the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA), was convicted of multiple counts of child sexual abuse.  The alleged mishandling of the disclosure of this abuse led to scrutiny of the ACNA’s Diocese of the Upper Midwest, the ecclesiastical entity primarily responsible for overseeing the parish where Rivera volunteered.

This summer, on July 14, 2025, Bishop Stewart Ruch III, who serves as the Bishop of the Diocese of the Upper Midwest, will face an ecclesiastical trial to address four charges*: 

• Habitual Neglect of the Duties of the Bishop’s Office in Violation of Canon IV.2.10;
• Conduct Giving Just Cause for Scandal or Offense including Abuse of Ecclesiastical Power in Violation of Canon IV.2.4;
• Conduct that Violates a Bishop’s Ordination Vows, Canon IV. 2.3;
• Disobedience, or Willful Contravention of the Canons of this Church or of the Constitution or Canons of the Diocese in Which He Holds Office, Canon IV.2.9.

This trial does not pertain to any civil or criminal charges. Bishop Ruch is not accused of committing sexual abuse.

The ecclesiastical court will address the formal charges (“presentments”) that accuse Bishop Ruch of violating canon (church) law.  Based on the decision of the court, any disciplinary action the College of Bishops may decide to pursue will be limited to his authority to minister within the Anglican Church in North America.