C. Alan Runyan, the Provincial Prosecutor for the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA), resigned effective 18 July 2025, in the midst of the high-profile trial of the Rt. Rev. Stewart Ruch III, bishop of the Diocese of the Upper Midwest. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a letter addressed to the Most Rev. Stephen D. Wood, Mr. Runyan expressed \u201cgreat regret and deep spiritual sadness,\u201d citing \u201cirredeemable taint\u201d introduced into the trial process by a member of the ecclesiastical court who, according to Runyan, improperly questioned witnesses and drew on materials not entered into evidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In his letter to Archbishop Wood, Runyan detailed that the court member\u2019s actions introduced \u201cunwarranted suspicion of provincial investigative bias\u201d and violated the court\u2019s own previous order to keep focus strictly on the charges against Bishop Ruch, rather than the prior investigative process. He stated that attempts were made to cast doubt on the investigation itself, even though no evidence of impropriety had been presented in the trial record.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The prosecutor stressed that \u201ca trial process that bears within it the seed of impropriety, no matter the outcome, must change,\u201d and called for the full, redacted trial transcript to be made available both to any successor prosecutor and to the broader church for transparency. Runyan concluded by expressing his sorrow at the development and a hope for God\u2019s glorification in the ultimate outcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n