News and Updates on The Ecclesiastical trial of Bishop Stewart Ruch III
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. Other accusations of misconduct and canonical violations by leaders of the Diocese were also made and investigated.
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.
To keep our community up-to-date on any developments in this case, below are a few resources that may be helpful. This page will also house any news or updates about the case and any related news.
COURT DOCUMENTS + DATES
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- Court for the Trial of a Bishop Home Site – This is where any motions or decisions filed by the court will be published.
- Court Schedule
Harm done in the church is always wrong and deeply grievous. The church should never be a source of pain. Collectively, we particularly grieve and lament the hurt, trauma, and harm these circumstances have caused for those in our Anglican community.
If you know or suspect that a child or vulnerable adult has been abused, neglected, or exploited, call 911 immediately. Likewise, if you have experienced sexual abuse by a clergy person, lay leader, or volunteer, we encourage you immediately visit the ACNA’s Safeguarding page for detailed instructions about how to file a report of misconduct. All reports are kept in strict confidence.
Likewise, if you are a member of the clergy or a lay leader who would like to receive additional training, education, or resources about how to protect vulnerable children and adults in your congregational community, please download the ACNA Sample Policy for the Protection of Children and Adults. You may also reach out directly to our Director of Safeguarding and Canonical Affairs, Dr. Tiffany Butler, at tbutler@acna.org to discuss a plan to suit the specific needs of your community.
Please direct all media inquiries and/or other questions or concerns to Kate Harris, Director of Outreach and Development, at kharris@acna.org or 703-740-6736.
*Correction: An earlier version of this webpage, published on May 30, 2025 misstated that the charges against Bishop Ruch were related to “habitual neglect of duty”. Additionally, it suggested that the charges against Bishop Ruch are solely related to the Mark Rivera case. It has been updated to reflect the four formal charges that will be addressed in the trial. We regret the error.