Stewart Ruch

{{Short description|American Anglican bishop}} {{Primary sources|date=July 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=November 2025}} {{Infobox Christian leader | type = Bishop | honorific_prefix = The Right Reverend | name = Stewart Ruch | honorific_suffix = | title = Bishop of the Upper Midwest | image = | image_upright = | alt = | caption = | church = Anglican Church in North America | diocese = Upper Midwest | term = Since 2013 | successor = | other_post = | previous_post = Rector of Church of the Resurrection (1999–2019)<ref name="Rez-Parish-Profile">{{cite web |title=Parish Profile |url=https://churchrez.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/rector-search.pdf |publisher=Church of the Resurrection |access-date=August 13, 2025}}</ref>{{rp|22, 26}} | ordination = | ordained_by = | consecration = September 28, 2013 | consecrated_by = Robert Duncan | laicized = | birth_date = {{birth based on age as of date|58|2025|10|23}} | birth_place =  | death_date =  | death_place =  | spouse = Katherine Ruch | children = | alma_mater = Wheaton College }} '''Stewart E. Ruch III''' (born 1966 or 1967<ref name="WaPo-2025">{{cite news |last1=Shapira |first1=Ian |title=U.S. Anglican Church archbishop accused of sexual misconduct, abuse of power |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/2025/10/23/anglican-church-archbishop-misconduct/ |access-date=October 23, 2025 |newspaper=Washington Post |date=October 23, 2025}}</ref>) is an American Anglican bishop. He has been the first bishop of the Anglican Diocese of the Upper Midwest at the Anglican Church in North America, since his consecration on September 28, 2013, by Archbishop Robert Duncan.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Coles |first=Arlie |date=July 12, 2025 |title=ACNA to Try Bishop on Mishandling Abuse Charges |url=https://livingchurch.org/news/news-episcopal-church/acna-to-try-bishop-on-mishandling-abuse-charges/ |access-date=July 12, 2025 |website=The Living Church |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Biography==

Stewart Ruch was raised as a high church Presbyterian and in the Charismatic movement, but he felt more attracted to Anglicanism when he joined Wheaton College and first read the Book of Common Prayer. He later had a spiritual crisis and only returned fully to the Christian faith in September 1991, thanks to the ministry of Fr. William Beasley, at the Church of the Resurrection in West Chicago, IL.

He majored in English at Wheaton College, and was also actively involved in theater. He later earned a Master of Theology at Wheaton and won Wheaton's Kenneth Kantzer Prize for Theology.<ref>{{Cite web |last=College |first=Wheaton |title=Story of Reconciliation |url=https://www.wheaton.edu/academics/academic-centers/center-for-applied-christian-ethics/events/2016-17-cace-events/story-of-reconciliation/ |access-date=July 1, 2025 |website=Wheaton College |language=en}}</ref> He is pursuing his doctorate of ministry from Nashotah House Theological Seminary, Nashotah, WI.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://anglicanchurch.net/meet-bishop-stewart-ruch-of-the-diocese-of-the-upper-midwest/ | title=Meet Bishop Stewart Ruch of the Diocese of the Upper Midwest | date=March 22, 2014 }}</ref>

He has been the rector of the Church of the Resurrection, which relocated to Wheaton, Illinois, since 1999. He left the Episcopal Church, because of disagreements with the leadership of the denomination and what he perceived as liberalism, particularly on the subject of homosexuality and sexual ethics, and particularly in the sermons and writings of the Bishop of Chicago Frank T. Griswold.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Coles |first=Arlie |date=July 12, 2025 |title=ACNA to Try Bishop on Mishandling Abuse Charges |url=https://livingchurch.org/news/news-episcopal-church/acna-to-try-bishop-on-mishandling-abuse-charges/ |access-date=July 12, 2025 |website=The Living Church |language=en-US}}</ref> Ruch then, in 1997, became pastor at the Church of the Resurrection following Canon William Beasley. In 2013, he and his congregation joined the new Anglican Church in North America, launched in June 2009.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://anglicanchurch.net/celebrating-15-years-of-the-acna/ | title=Celebrating 15 Years of the ACNA | date=March 25, 2024 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://anglicanchurch.net/nearly-40-congregations-join-the-anglican-church-in-north-america/ | title=Nearly 40 Congregations Join the Anglican Church in North America | date=October 24, 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://churchrez.org/about/our-story/ | title=Our Story }}</ref> He is married to Katherine and they have six children.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Our Leaders – Anglican Diocese of the Upper Midwest |url=https://midwestanglican.org/our-leadership/ |access-date=July 1, 2025 |language=en-US}}</ref>

He and Baroness Caroline Cox escaped narrowly an ambush by Islamist Fulani herdsmen during a visit to Jos Plateau State, in Nigeria, on November 14, 2016.<ref>[http://www.globalchristiannews.org/article/uk-peer-and-us-bishop-narrowly-escape-deadly-ambush-on-nigeria-visit/ UK Peer and US Bishop narrowly escape deadly ambush on Nigeria visit, Global Christian News, 16 November 2016, Article by Hassan John]</ref>

==Ministry==

Ruch states that he "has a vision to see a Revival of Word and Sacrament infused by the Holy Spirit in the Upper Midwest." He was consecrated the first bishop of the Diocese of the Upper Midwest on September 28, 2013.<ref>[http://anglicanchurch.net/?/main/page/766 Meet Bishop Stewart Ruch of the Diocese of the Upper Midwest, ACNA Official Website]</ref> Since his ordination, over thirty new churches have been planted within the Diocese of the Upper Midwest.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://churchrez.org/staff/bishop-stewart-ruch-iii/#:~:text=He%20completed%20his%20Master%27s%20in,with%20his%20children%20and%20Katherine | title=Bishop Stewart Ruch III }}</ref> As bishop, Ruch has overseen numerous Diocesan ministries including The Greenhouse Movement and Gregory House.<ref>[https://www.google.com/search?q=The+greenhouse+Movement&oq=The+green&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqDggAEEUYJxg7GIAEGIoFMg4IABBFGCcYOxiABBiKBTIICAEQRRgnGDsyBggCEEUYOzIGCAMQRRg5MgYIBBBFGDsyCggFEC4YsQMYgAQyBggGEEUYPDIGCAcQRRg80gEIMTc1M2owajeoAgCwAgA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8 Google search results for "The greenhouse Movement"]{{Better source needed | date=July 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://gregoryhouseschool.org/about/ | title=About – Gregory House School }}</ref>

Stewart Ruch has preached throughout the Anglican diaspora<ref>[https://www.facebook.com/chicagoanglican/videos/his-narrative-not-ours-bishop-stewart-ruch-january-31-2021/1070659773442014/ His Narrative, Not Ours - Bishop Stewart Ruch (January 31, 2021)] on Facebook</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=S1TNOfn7qBs | title=The Consecration of Bishop Steve Wood | website=YouTube | date=September 19, 2012 }}</ref> and at Wheaton College.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJkL-GKNldY | title=Bishop Stewart Ruch '89 | Homecoming Chapel (10/3/2014) | website=YouTube | date=May 21, 2015 }}</ref> He has contributed to several articles for Christianity Today.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.preachingtoday.com/skills/2013/july/preaching-on-celibacy-interview-with-stewart-ruch-iii.html | title=Preaching on Celibacy: An interview with Stewart Ruch III }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.preachingtoday.com/sermons/sermons/2013/july/gods-plan-for-your-body.html | title=God's Plan for Your Body }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.preachingtoday.com/sermons/sermons/2013/july/gift-of-celibacy.html | title=The Gift of Celibacy }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.preachingtoday.com/exegesis/ruth/preaching-divine-short-story.html | title=Preaching a Divine Short Story }}</ref> Along with his wife Katherine Ruch, he has created and led the Fully Alive Conference,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://midwestanglican.org/diocesan-news/ | title=Diocesan News – Anglican Diocese of the Upper Midwest }}</ref> a weekend conference of sermons, lectures, and worship centered around complementarian theology, celibacy, and sexuality.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://midwestanglican.org/bishop-stewart-the-acna-sexuality-and-identity-statement/ | title=Bishop Stewart: The ACNA Sexuality and Identity Statement – Anglican Diocese of the Upper Midwest }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=III |first=Richard Reeb |date=October 10, 2019 |title=Fully Alive Conference |url=https://amateuranglican.com/2019/10/10/fully_alive/ |access-date=July 3, 2025 |website=Amateur Anglican |language=en}}</ref>

In 2023, at GAFCON, Archbishop Ben Kwashi announced that Bishop Ruch had been appointed to 'Next Gen,' "the intentional development of the next leaders of the movement."<ref>{{cite web | url=https://anglican.ink/2023/04/22/mission-and-ministry-of-gafcon-extracts-from-archbishop-ben-kwashis-opening-address-to-gafcon-iv-kigali/ | title=Mission and Ministry of GAFCON: Extracts from Archbishop Ben Kwashi's opening address to GAFCON IV Kigali | date=April 22, 2023 }}</ref>

==Allegations of abuse mishandling== In July 2021, Ruch went on leave after making what he called “regrettable errors” in handling cases of sexual abuse in the diocese.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 9, 2021 |title=Prominent Anglican bishop takes leave of absence amid ongoing accusations of mishandling abuse allegations |url=https://religionnews.com/2021/07/09/prominent-anglican-bishop-takes-leave-of-absence-amid-ongoing-accusations-of-mishandling-abuse-allegations/ |access-date=October 16, 2022 |website=Religion News Service |language=en-US}}</ref> The leave of absence followed disclosures that Mark Rivera, lay catechist at Christ Our Light Anglican Church in Big Rock, Illinois, had been arrested in 2019 and charged with felony sexual assault and predatory abuse of a victim under 13 years of age.<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 15, 2022 |title=Mark Rivera, a former Anglican lay pastor, found guilty of felony child sexual assault |url=https://religionnews.com/2022/12/15/mark-rivera-a-former-anglican-lay-pastor-found-guilty-of-felony-child-sexual-assault/ |access-date=December 21, 2022 |website=Religion News Service |language=en-US}}</ref> Since 2019, over a dozen survivors have come forward with accounts of abuse by Rivera.<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 15, 2022 |title=Mark Rivera, a former Anglican lay pastor, found guilty of felony child sexual assault |url=https://religionnews.com/2022/12/15/mark-rivera-a-former-anglican-lay-pastor-found-guilty-of-felony-child-sexual-assault/ |access-date=December 21, 2022 |website=Religion News Service |language=en-US}}</ref> Their allegations included rape, assault, child sexual abuse, indecent exposure, and grooming.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rivera's trial resumes again |url=https://www.acnatoo.org/acnatoo-news/riveras-trial-resumes-again |access-date=October 16, 2022 |website=ACNAtoo |language=en-US}}</ref> Rivera was sentenced to 15 years in jail on March 6, 2023, and another 6 years was added to his sentence on April 12, 2023.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Post |first1=Kathryn |title=Mark Rivera, a former Anglican lay pastor, sentenced to 15 years in prison |url=https://religionnews.com/2023/03/06/mark-rivera-a-former-anglican-lay-pastor-sentenced-to-15-years-in-prison/ |access-date=October 3, 2023 |publisher=Religion News Service}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Post |first1=Kathryn |title=Mark Rivera pleads guilty to felony sexual assault, sentenced to 6 more years |url=https://religionnews.com/2023/04/12/mark-rivera-pleads-guilty-to-felony-sexual-assault-sentenced-to-6-more-years/ |access-date=October 3, 2023 |publisher=Religion News Service}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Sarah |date=September 5, 2023 |title='The First Thing I Did Was Text My Priest' |url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/anglican-church-of-north-america-sexual-abuse-scandal.html |access-date=July 1, 2025 |website=Intelligencer |language=en}}</ref>

In June 2021, a former congregant of Christ Our Light, Joanna Rudenborg, alleged on Twitter<ref>{{Cite web |title=Part 1: Joanna's Story |url=https://www.acnatoo.org/diocese-of-the-upper-midwest/overview-of-diocese-of-the-upper-midwest-mishandling-of-abuse-allegations |access-date=December 21, 2022 |website=ACNAtoo |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Sarah |date=September 5, 2023 |title='The First Thing I Did Was Text My Priest' |url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/anglican-church-of-north-america-sexual-abuse-scandal.html |access-date=July 1, 2025 |website=Intelligencer |language=en}}</ref> that she had been raped twice by ACNA catechist Mark Rivera and that Ruch, along with other Diocesan leaders, had mishandled the allegations years prior.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 9, 2021 |title=Prominent Anglican bishop takes leave of absence amid ongoing accusations of mishandling abuse allegations |url=https://religionnews.com/2021/07/09/prominent-anglican-bishop-takes-leave-of-absence-amid-ongoing-accusations-of-mishandling-abuse-allegations/ |access-date=December 21, 2022 |website=Religion News Service |language=en-US}}</ref> In response to her allegations, ACNAtoo was formed as an anti-abuse advocacy group.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 15, 2021 |title=Abuse prevention advocates want input into ACNA investigation of bishop |url=https://religionnews.com/2021/07/15/acna-abuse-prevention-acnatoo-advocates-stewart-foley-beach-ruch-call-for-permanently-removed/ |access-date=October 16, 2022 |website=Religion News Service |language=en-US}}</ref> Later that month, Bishop Ruch first informed the Diocese of Upper Midwest congregations about the allegations against Rivera,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bishop Stewart's Letter Regarding Devastating Situation in Diocese – Anglican Diocese of the Upper Midwest |url=https://midwestanglican.org/big-rock/ |access-date=October 16, 2022 |language=en-US}}</ref> nearly two years since learning of the first assault claims. Rivera had previously held multiple volunteer roles at Church of the Resurrection, where Ruch served as rector and then as bishop.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://ministrywatch.com/alleged-victims-say-acna-church-leaders-failed-to-acknowledge-their-abuse-allegations/ | title=Alleged Victims Say ACNA Church Leaders Failed to Acknowledge Their Abuse Allegations – MinistryWatch | date=July 28, 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.acnatoo.org/diocese-of-the-upper-midwest/rivers-story | title=River's Story }}</ref>

===Investigations===

Following the events of June 2021, the ACNA launched two parallel investigations<ref>{{Cite web |title=Facing Allegations, Anglicans Want to Change Their Abuse Response |url=https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2021/july/anglican-acna-abuse-response-investigation-wheaton-midwest.html |access-date=October 16, 2022 |website=News & Reporting |date=July 27, 2021 |language=en}}</ref> — one into the accusations against Rivera and the diocese's response and another into allegations that Ruch and other ACNA leaders had created a culture of coercion and control in the Diocese of the Upper Midwest.<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 29, 2022 |title=ACNA bishop, alleging 'spiritual attack,' makes appeal for his return |url=https://religionnews.com/2022/04/29/acna-whistleblower-says-bishop-leaders-cast-alleged-abuse-survivors-as-the-enemy/ |access-date=October 16, 2022 |website=Religion News Service |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://churchrez.org/diocesefaq/ | title=Diocese FAQ on the Investigative Process }}</ref>

===Ecclesiastical trial=== {{main|Ecclesiastical trial of Stewart Ruch}} After the investigations were concluded in 2022, two sets of charges, known as presentments, were filed against Ruch.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ecclesiastical Trial |url=https://www.acnatoo.org/ruch-trial |access-date=July 1, 2025 |website=ACNAtoo |language=en-US}}</ref> On January 31, 2023, Ruch challenged the validity of the first presentment, halting the process until Archbishop Foley Beach publicly addressed Ruch's appeal.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Thebeau |first=Rachel |date=June 7, 2023 |title=Update on the Diocese of the Upper Midwest, June 7, 2023 - The Anglican Church in North America |url=https://anglicanchurch.net/update-on-the-diocese-of-the-upper-midwest-june-7-2023/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250110220101/https://anglicanchurch.net/update-on-the-diocese-of-the-upper-midwest-june-7-2023/ |archive-date=January 10, 2025 |access-date=July 1, 2025 |work=The Anglican Church in North America |language=en-US}}</ref> On August 15, 2023, and November 6, 2023, the Anglican Church in North America announced that the two presentments against Bishop Ruch would advance to an ecclesiastical trial.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Thebeau |first=Rachel |date=August 15, 2023 |title=An Update Regarding Allegations Against Bishop Ruch |url=https://anglicanchurch.net/an-update-regarding-allegations-against-bishop-ruch/ |access-date=September 28, 2023 |website=The Anglican Church in North America |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Thebeau |first=Rachel |date=August 15, 2023 |title=Public Declaration from Board of Inquiry |url=https://anglicanchurch.net/public-declaration-from-board-of-inquiry/ |access-date=September 28, 2023 |website=The Anglican Church in North America |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=PUBLIC DECLARATION FROM BOARD OF INQUIRY – NOVEMBER 6, 2023 |url=https://anglicanchurch.net/public-declaration-from-board-of-inquiry-november-6-2023/ |access-date=November 13, 2023 |website=Anglican Church in North America|date=November 6, 2023 }}</ref> The Ruch trial began in July 2025 on four charges:<ref>{{Cite web |last=Post |first=Kathryn |date=July 11, 2025 |title=Church trial of ACNA Bishop Stewart Ruch starts Monday |url=https://religionnews.com/2025/07/11/church-trial-of-acna-bishop-stewart-ruch-starts-monday/ |access-date=July 11, 2025 |website=RNS |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Coles |first=Arlie |date=July 12, 2025 |title=ACNA to Try Bishop on Mishandling Abuse Charges |url=https://livingchurch.org/news/news-episcopal-church/acna-to-try-bishop-on-mishandling-abuse-charges/ |access-date=July 12, 2025 |website=The Living Church |language=en-US}}</ref>

# 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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Updates on the Ecclesiastical Trial of Bishop Stewart Ruch III |url=https://anglicanchurch.net/updates-on-the-ecclesiastical-trial-of-bishop-stewart-ruch-iii/ |access-date=July 1, 2025 |website=The Anglican Church in North America |language=en-US}}</ref>

Ruch was found not guilty of all charges by the court in December 2025.<ref name="WaPo-acquittal">{{cite news | last=Shapira | first=Ian | title=After secret church trial, Illinois N. American Anglican bishop acquitted | website=The Washington Post | date=December 17, 2025 | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/2025/12/16/stewart-ruch-angilican-bishop-aquitted/ |url-access=subscription | access-date=December 17, 2025}}</ref>

===Lawsuit===

The mother of the child assaulted by Rivera filed a lawsuit on May 18, 2022, in Kane County, Illinois, against Christ Our Light Anglican Church<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 18, 2022 |title=Lawsuit accuses ACNA church of negligence that resulted in child sexual abuse |url=https://religionnews.com/2022/05/18/lawsuit-accuses-acna-church-of-negligence-that-resulted-in-child-sexual-abuse/ |access-date=October 16, 2022 |website=Religion News Service |language=en-US}}</ref> arguing that the child experienced mental anguish and emotional and physical pain because of the church's negligence, and requests over $50,000 in damages.<ref>{{Citation |title=Church leader accused of assaulting goddaughter, church accused of not taking action |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/video/church-leader-accused-of-assaulting-goddaughter-church-accused-of-not-taking-action/ |language=en-US |access-date=October 16, 2022}}</ref> The lawsuit also names several other ACNA entities as respondents in discovery, including the Diocese of the Upper Midwest, Church of the Resurrection (the diocesan cathedral where Rivera previously attended and volunteered), the Greenhouse Movement (the church planting organization that oversaw Christ Our Light Anglican) and the Anglican Church in North America.<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 18, 2022 |title=Lawsuit accuses ACNA church of negligence that resulted in child sexual abuse |url=https://religionnews.com/2022/05/18/lawsuit-accuses-acna-church-of-negligence-that-resulted-in-child-sexual-abuse/ |access-date=October 16, 2022 |website=Religion News Service |language=en-US}}</ref> The case is co-counseled by longtime sexual abuse attorney Boz Tchividjian and Chicago attorney Evan Smola.<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 18, 2022 |title=Lawsuit accuses ACNA church of negligence that resulted in child sexual abuse |url=https://religionnews.com/2022/05/18/lawsuit-accuses-acna-church-of-negligence-that-resulted-in-child-sexual-abuse/ |access-date=December 21, 2022 |website=Religion News Service |language=en-US}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *[http://anglicanchurch.net/?/main/page/766 Meet Bishop Stewart Ruch of the Diocese of the Upper Midwest, ACNA Official Website]

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Ruch, Stewart}} Category:Living people Category:Bishops of the Anglican Church in North America Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Wheaton College (Illinois) alumni