31 Oct Letter from Bp. Martyn Minns to the Upper Midwest

Dearest Upper Midwest Diocese:

As I mentioned in my statement last week, Bishop Martyn Minns has been appointed by the Archbishop to work with me as I return to active ministry in the Diocese. I am honored to learn from Bishop Minns, and I know you will warmly welcome him into our Diocese. He has written this brief introduction below that I commend to you.

+Stewart 

Bishop Stewart Ruch III
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Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,  

I am writing to give a brief introduction following the recent communications from Bishop Stewart and Archbishop Foley Beach.

I grew up in the industrial Midlands of England and came to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as a child in a community Baptist church. I met Angela, my wife of 58 years, when we were both fifteen. She and her family introduced me to the wonderful world of Anglicanism in which I continue to grow and serve.

We moved to the USA in 1967—by then married and with two daughters (18 months and 5 months)—for me to continue my career in operations research and computer systems with Mobil Oil Corporation. We made our home in Darien, Connecticut, where, by God’s grace, we discovered St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. This became our home away from home and is where we were introduced to the transforming power of the Holy Spirit.

In 1975 we followed God’s call to ordained ministry. After study at Virginia Theological Seminary, I was ordained a deacon and then a priest. Since then, we have served congregations in Connecticut, Louisiana, New York City, and Virginia. In 2006, I was consecrated a bishop by the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion). I was appointed to serve as the founding missionary bishop of the Convocation of Anglicans in North America (one of the founding partners of the ACNA) until my retirement in 2013. I also served as the Executive Director of the Global Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans (GAFCON) from 2011 until 2014.

More recently I was appointed Interim Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh (ADP) from November 2020 until April 2022 and was present for the election of their new bishop, +Alex Cameron, with whom you are well acquainted! (+Alex served the Upper Midwest as chair of the Bishop’s Council until his election.)

A few days ago, I was asked by Archbishop Foley to work with Bishop Stewart as he returns from his voluntary leave of absence and resumes his ministry among you. My involvement in this capacity will be for a period of six months. I am very mindful of the unprecedented challenges that +Stewart and Katherine, their family, and all of you have experienced, and the difficulties that remain. It is my hope that I will be able to help all of you experience the healing and restorative power of the Holy Spirit as you begin this new season of ministry.

One of the gifts that I bring—in addition to my wife Angela and daughter Rachel—is confidence in the Lord of the Church, who has declared that nothing, not even that gates of hell, will prevail against His Church. I also offer you a verse that has been an inspiration to our family for many years:

“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” -1 Corinthians 2:9

We look forward to being among you in the coming weeks.

Your Brother in Christ, 

+Martyn

Bishop Martyn Minns