(RNS) — The long-awaited trial of Bishop Stewart Ruch, who faces allegations of mishandling sexual abuse allegations in the Upper Midwest Diocese of the Anglican Church in North America, continues to face serious setbacks two weeks after it began.
On July 18, just days into the trial, the church prosecutor resigned, calling the proceedings “irreparably tainted,” causing the court to pause the trial until Aug. 11. A week later, the lawyer who served as the prosecutor’s assistant counsel followed with a letter accusing denominational leaders of withholding key information about the trial.
After convening Monday (July 28), two of the denomination’s governing bodies issued a joint statement voicing confidence in the court’s ability to carry out the trial.
“We affirm the integrity of the elected members of the Court and have full confidence in the Court as an independent body that is committed to act fairly and in accordance with our canonical processes,” the statement said.
The church trial is examining whether Ruch failed to put alleged abuse victims first in his response to allegations, and whether he knowingly welcomed individuals with histories of predatory behavior without alerting church members. It will also determine if he habitually neglected his duties as bishop and if he violated church bylaws. More than 10 clergy and other lay leaders in ACNA’s Upper Midwest Diocese, which Ruch leads, have been accused of misconduct.
On Friday evening, Rachel Thebeau, a lawyer who served as assistant counsel to the denomination’s prosecutor before resigning Friday herself, emailed her letter to several people in the denomination claiming the court’s integrity has been “fatally undermined.”
Thebeau’s letter, which was obtained by RNS, says that on June 23, ACNA Chief Operating Officer Deborah Tepley gave a member of the seven-person court access to digital files related to the Upper Midwest Diocese that were owned by Thebeau, without Theb …