A Letter from Bishop Chris (November 2023B)
Dear Friends,
Our recent annual Diocesan Synod was such an encouraging experience. The theme for our Synod was “Called to Go” and focused on the outward movement of the church into the world. As the missiologist Rolland Allen wrote, “The Holy Spirit is a missionary Spirit relentlessly driving the church outward to witness.”
On Friday afternoon, we held our annual pre-Synod workshop, this year entitled, “The Art of Neighboring.” Led by author Dave Runyon, it was an engaging, practical, and extremely well-received seminar about how to know and love our neighbors. The audio recording is found here.
The Synod itself…
was blessed by wonderful, spirit-filled worship led by the worship team from Church of the Good Shepherd in Charlottesville. I preached the Friday evening sermon and the Rev. David Drake, rector of Church of the Resurrection, Lutherville, MD preached the Saturday morning sermon;
heard my first report as Bishop;
heard encouraging reports on our church planting work from Tuck Bartholomew and leaders from our newest church starts: the Rev. Mike Seawright of Trinity Church, Burke, and the Rev. Danny Hindman of All Souls Anglican Church, Richmond, VA;
approved All Souls Anglican Church, Richmond, VA, as a mission church;
heard a range of outstanding speakers during lunchtime and mid-afternoon breakout sessions. Audio recordings of their presentations are available here;
heard a presentation from Treasurer Gary French, and Finance Committee Chair, the Rev. Amy Rowe, in which they reported on the 1 percentage point increase in the ask from our churches toward our diocesan budget, from 4.1% to 5.1%, which was adopted;
adopted several amendments to our diocesan Canons;
heard a report from the Rev. Jim Beavers, Canon for Ordinations, on the work of shepherding the numerous emerging leaders coming through our ordination process;
elected members of the Standing Committee: Jim Oakes, Vivian Hayes, the Rev. Dr. Morgan Reed, the Rev. Eric Hornbuckle. By Canon, I am able to appoint annually one lay person and one member of the clergy to a one-year term. I have appointed Kevin Marshall and the Rev. Brian Vander Wel;
elected members of the Constitution and Canons Committee: Willie Deutsch, Kimberly Maher, the Rev. Andy Terry. I have appointed Mike Harpster;
elected members of the Ecclesiastical Trial Court: Heather Adams, Kimberly Maher, Dawn Smutz, Brian Waidmann, the Rev. Jerry Brown, the Rev. Richard Crocker, the Rev. Patrick Cunningham, the Rev. Mike Koppola, the Rev. Sam Pascoe;
elected delegates to represent the Diocese of the Mid Atlantic at the Provincial Assembly in 2024: Dondie McNickle, John Palafoutas, Chris Roth, Allan Sharrett, the Rev. Scott Bailey, the Rev. Erin Bair, the Rev. Robbie Pruitt, the Rev. Dr. Morgan Reed, the Rev. Amy Rowe. Our Youth Delegates are: Daniel Fuenzalida, Lydia Marshall, Reilly Pachecano.
On our diocesan website, you’ll find audio recordings of the sermons, presentations, reports, and breakout sessions. I hope you’ll bookmark the page and return to it again and again to listen in on the wonderful array of resources you’ll find there. In addition, all the Synod materials distributed in advance are also posted.
Our great thanks to all those who helped to lead our Synod, to all who participated, to the gracious team from All Saints’ Church for hosting us, and to our amazing diocesan staff team, who made it such an encouraging experience for us all. Please mark your calendars for next year’s Annual Synod on November 15-16, 2024.
We have so much to be thankful for as a Diocese. I hope you’ll join in praising God for his provision, and for his goodness and grace in blessing us to be part of such a Church. To God be the glory!
Blessings,
Chris+
Follow Up on the Upper Midwest
from Bishop Chris
Last June I wrote to you about my experience at the College of Bishops which focused on resolving 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 Stewart Ruch in the Diocese of the Upper Mid West.
In the months since the CoB meeting, the following has occurred:
The Provincial Tribunal lifted the Stay Order on the Presentment against Bishop Ruch.
The Board of Inquiry began its work to investigate that Presentment. They have determined that there are reasonable grounds to take +Ruch to trial on both presentments against him.
On November 6 the Board of Inquiry issued the following statement:
In the matter of Stewart E. Ruch, III, Bishop of the Diocese of the Upper Midwest, this Board of Inquiry, selected pursuant to Canon IV.4.3 of the Canons of the Anglican Church in North America, had a presentment signed by three bishops of this Church with jurisdiction referred to it from the office of the Archbishop of the Anglican Church in North America. The presentment conformed to the requirements of Canon IV.4.1.
Having investigated the charges contained therein, pursuant to Canon IV.4.4, the Board of Inquiry finds, upon matters of law and fact, as presented to it, that there are reasonable grounds to put the accused to trial, and, pursuant to Canon IV.4.6, hereby makes this public declaration that, in the judgment of at least two-thirds of the Board of Inquiry, there is probable cause to present Bishop Stewart E. Ruch, III for trial for violations of Canon IV.2.4, and Canon IV.2.10.
Respectfully submitted November 6, 2023.
The Board of Inquiry
Both Presentments filed against Bishop Ruch will now be before the Court for the Trial of a Bishop to proceed according to the Canons and Rules of Procedure. Archbishop Foley Beach has asked us to pray for those who have been hurt, for Bishop Stewart, his family, the diocese, the Court, and the ACNA.
Almighty Father, we pray for your holy catholic Church. Fill it with all truth, in all truth, with all peace. Where it is corrupt, purify it; where it is in error, direct it; where in anything it is amiss, reform it; where it is right, strengthen it; where it is in want, provide for it; where it is divided, reunite it; for the sake of Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. Amen.
Collect for the Universal Church (William Laud), BCP 2019, p.646.