A Letter from Bishop Chris (June 2023B)

Dear friends,

The College of Bishops (COB) met in Plano Texas last week prior to the gathering of the Provincial Council of the ACNA. If you’re interested, you can read about what went on at the Provincial Council here. Today, I want to share with you a bit of what I experienced during this very important meeting of the College. Consider these my observations as a new bishop.

As a bit of backstory, I want to acknowledge that in the weeks prior to the COB, I was approached by a few people in our diocese who were concerned about:

1)     The College of Bishops taking action with regard to the Diocese of the Upper Midwest related to issues of sexual misconduct in that diocese and allegations of abuse of power. Some feared that the COB would sweep the matter of the Upper Midwest and the two presentments issued against Bishop Ruch under the rug.

and

2)     The showdown that emerged between the Provincial Office (the Archbishop) and the Provincial Tribunal (the court) over the first of the two presentments against Bishop Ruch. Some worried that the ACNA was teetering due to the constitutional challenge that ensued between the “executive branch” (Archbishop) and the “supreme court” (Provincial Tribunal).

What happened at the COB:

First, the bishops put these matters as the primary agenda of the College. Everything else was moved to an, “if we get to it” status. Clearly, there could be no business as usual or sweeping matters under the rug and there wasn’t. There was absolute commitment to finding a way forward out of “the stuck.”

Second, we moved very quickly into Executive session which means that only the bishops could be present. Executive session allows confidentiality during the processing of issues and permits the bishops to speak freely and openly with one another as we discuss and/or debate how to deal with issues facing the College while seeking to maintain the unity and integrity of the Church. Working conciliary to maintain Church unity with regard to doctrine and discipline is one of the primary purposes of a bishop in the ACNA and is part of the vows we make when we are consecrated. Please don’t confuse this, as some on social media occasionally have, with the notion of circling the wagons - it is not. In my opinion, that is a shallow understanding of apostolicity and catholicity. (For an excellent read on this I suggest: Archbishop Michael Ramsey, The Gospel and the Catholic Church).  What impressed me was both the way in which the bishops wrestled well and sometimes vigorously with the matters at hand and also the clear commitment each bishop has to the gospel, their dioceses (and the people they serve), as well as to the ACNA, and to each other.

What emerged:

1. The COB worked to insure that the first presentment which was filed against Bishop Ruch by members of the COB (and which +Ruch had contested as invalidly “sworn to”) was confirmed to have been signed and sworn in accordance with our canons so that it could move forward appropriately. This doesn’t mean +Ruch has been found guilty of the charges. It means that a board of inquiry can now be called to determine if the presentment against him merits a trial against a bishop. The COB took seriously the presentment against him and insured that the canonical process could advance.

2. The COB worked to get out of the constitutional impasse that had emerged between the Archbishop and the Provincial Tribunal. The COB sent a canonical amendment to the Provincial Council seeking to remedy this matter which Archbishop Emeritus Bob Duncan presented to the Provincial Council. You can read more on this here or watch the video from the Council here.

3. After the COB concluded, the second presentment which was sent to the COB just days before we met and which came from within the Diocese of the Upper Mid West was received by the COB and forwarded to the Archbishop’s office so that it too can proceed to a board of inquiry, and if found meriting a trial against a bishop, can move forward accordingly. It is conceivable (though not mandatory) that the two presentments could be heard by the same board of inquiry to streamline overlapping issues.

Final thoughts:

It’s clear to me that the COB is not a perfect institution. How could it be? It’s populated by people including me. But in my observation, it is a prayerful, godly, wise, biblically-committed, and canonically-oriented group. It is both apostolic and catholic in its orientation and I look forward to working within the College in the years to come.

It occurs to me that the ACNA is now 14 years old. By way of analogy, I remember when I had 14 year olds in my family. Many times they responded to life marvelously and maturely. At other times they encountered new things that stretched their capacity beyond their experience. It seems to me that the issues we have recently encountered have stretched our capacity beyond our experience. However, I’m confident that we are moving into maturity as an organization as a result.

The issues the ACNA currently faces are painful for many. These issues involve real people who deeply matter to the Lord Jesus Christ. We cannot make light of this and we must move forward with intentionality and gospel imperative. I ask that you continue to pray for me, as your bishop, and for our diocese, and the ACNA. Be assured of my prayers for you.
 
Blessings,
The Rt. Rev. Chris Warner

p.s. I will be on vacation during July and will be away from my email and phone. In the event of any emergency, or to schedule a meeting with me for August, please contact Lynn Milograno.