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.
The assessment, which will be conducted by legal firm Lathrop GPM, will investigate the disciplinary process under the leadership of Archbishop Foley Beach from June 2021 to June 2024 and Archbishop Steve Wood from July 2024 to December 2025. Wood is also facing a church trial, which is set to begin on the 20th of July, due to various accusations.
