New Prosecutor in ACNA Trial of Bishop Ruch Is Named, and Accused of Conflict

(RNS) — A new prosecutor has been appointed in the long-awaited trial of Bishop Stewart Ruch of the Anglican Church in North America to replace the original church lawyer who resigned Saturday (July 19), claiming the process had been tainted. But advocates for abuse survivors in the denomination say the new prosecutor, the Rev. Job Serebrov, has a conflict of interest that “raises serious concerns” about his suitability for the role.

Ruch is accused of mishandling multiple abuse allegations in the diocese, failing to prioritize victims in the wake of abuse allegations and knowingly welcoming individuals with histories of predatory behavior without alerting church members. More than 10 clergy and other lay leaders in ACNA’s Upper Midwest Diocese, which Ruch leads, have been accused of misconduct.

Of particular concern to survivor advocates is Ruch’s handling of allegations that Mark Rivera, a onetime lay leader at Christ Our Light Anglican Church in Big Rock, Illinois, had sexually abused the 9-year-old daughter of a Christ Our Light member in 2019. Rivera, who has since been convicted of felony sexual assault and felony child sexual assault, was a founding leader of Christ Our Light under a church “planting” program known as the Greenhouse Movement.

The anti-abuse advocate group ACNAtoo pointed out Wednesday that ACNA Archbishop Steve Wood’s choice for prosecutor, Serebrov, also has ties to the Greenhouse Movement.

Serebrov received a certificate in Anglican studies from St. Paul’s House of Formation, an institution designed by the Greenhouse Movement to train Christian leaders. The homepage of the St. Paul’s House website features a testimonial from the lawyer praising St. Paul’s “unparalleled breadth of subject matter” and celebrates his “long lasting” friendships with its leaders.

ACNAtoo advocates say Serebrov’s connection is concerning due to Greenhouse’s central role in the abuse allegations at issue in the trial.

Relatedly, one of the lists of charges against Ruch, known as a presentment, includes six other cases of alleged abuse or misconduct involving Greenhouse Movement leaders, according to ACNAtoo. Ruch has historically attempted to distance himself from the Greenhouse Movement, which ceased being a deanery in the Upper Midwest Diocese in 2023.

Both Wood and the denomination’s Provincial Chancellor affirm that ACNA officials investigated Serebrov’s relationship to St. Paul’s and are convinced that none of his activities or relationships rise to the level of a professional conflict of interest and that they do not impair his ability to vigorously prosecute the case.

“Archdeacon Serebrov was carefully vetted, and the Province has confidence in him and in his independence,” the spokesperson wrote.