The Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) has engaged a third-party review of the disciplinary process of Bishop Stewart Ruch III, who was acquitted last year of all canonical charges regarding the mishandling of abuse allegations in his diocese.
Ruch, who is bishop of the ACNA’s Upper Midwest Diocese, which includes 18 churches, was formally charged in 2022 but was cleared unanimously in December following his ecclesiastical trial.
A day after the results of the trial were announced, more than 70 clergy, 100 lay members and 25 former members of the ACNA called for an independent review of the investigation and trial.