Church court acquits bishop embroiled in scandal

Even as the top leader of the Anglican Church in North America faces a church trial for alleged sexual misconduct, a church court has acquitted another bishop of charges of failing to carry out his duties. The court exonerated Bishop Stewart Ruch III of the Diocese of the Upper Midwest after a lengthy secret trial. He faced charges over his oversight of clergy and lay people accused of sexual and other misconduct. Ruch did not face accusations of sexual misconduct himself. But two sets of people, including bishops, priests and lay people, brought formal charges known as presentments. They accused him of violating ordination vows, conduct giving just cause for scandal or offence, disobedience or willful contravention to church canons (laws) and habitual neglect of duties. The court, composed of three bishops, two priests and two lay people, said it recognized the gravity of sexual abuse and that “such suffering stands as a sobering reminder of the Church’s sacred duty to protect the vulnerable.”

But it said Ruch did not violate any church laws. It acknowledged some missteps but attributed them to the learning curve of a young denomination and its leaders, rather than any canonical violation. It said Ruch shows “humility, openness to correction and pastoral devotion” and is well-positioned to lead reforms. The Anglican Church in North America was formed in 2009 by conservatives who split from the US Episcopal Church and the Anglican Church of Canada over liberalizing trends in those churches.