07 May New Deans and Task Force Updates – News Roundup May 2025

Welcome to the News Roundup, where we feature brief recaps of current news from the Diocese, including the Standing Committee, Task Forces, and more. In this issue, you’ll learn our new Deans and their roles, plus find updates from two important task forces.

In This Issue:

Task Force Updates:
– Misconduct Prevention
– Registered Sex Offender
New Deans Elected
ACNA West Partnership
Bishop Martyn Minns
Trial Schedule
Revive 2025
Job Opportunities

Misconduct Prevention Task Force
The Misconduct Prevention Task Force has completed its work of creating two documents:

• The Ministry Worker Handbook contains policies that all of our “ministry workers” need to know and follow. This includes all clergy and any adult (volunteer or staff) who works with children, youth, or vulnerable adults.
• The Policy for the Protection of Children and Adults contains additional policies that only some ministry workers need to know and follow. This includes all clergy and those who supervise the work of other ministry workers.

These two documents are undergoing final revisions by clergy and children/youth staff of all diocesan churches. The Standing Committee will review and potentially adopt them in mid-May. Diocesan churches must adopt the Policy by June 30, per the Province’s Canon.

Registered Sex Offender (RSO) Task Force
The RSO Task Force is finalizing a new diocesan RSO policy that is currently being reviewed by external third-party professionals, including trauma-informed therapists who work with RSOs and churches, plus law enforcement. Once their feedback has been incorporated, the Standing Committee will review the policy, and send feedback back to the Task Force.

New Deans Elected
In March, clergy and wardens from each congregation within the Chicago-Kansas City and Wisconsin-Iowa Deaneries voted respectively to elect their next Dean.  Fr. Trevor McMaken of City of Light Church in Aurora, IL, and Fr. Scott Cunningham of Christ Church Madison, WI, were elected. (The Minnesota Deanery is temporarily partnering with the Wisconsin-Iowa Deanery.)

Deans are elected to three-year renewable terms. Candidates must be a diocesan priest in good standing and approved by their rector. The deans serve on a new team that is focused on the diocesan vision of building a revival of Word and Sacrament and the diocesan mission of planting churches. They also partner with rectors through the entirety of an individual’s ordination discernment process and serve as voting members on the Ordination Committee. In addition, they help plan the annual diocesan-wide Revive conference and lead any deanery meetings.

ACNA West Partnership
The Upper Midwest continues to appreciate partnership with ACNA West, a collaboration among seven dioceses for shared ministry and resources. Bishop Stewart meets regularly with member bishops and attended the first bishops’ collegiality retreat in February. He and another clergy member plan to attend a May meeting to learn how ACNA West will help prepare clergy for ordination exams. 

The Diocese is also thankful for ACNA West’s Misconduct Office reporting services via a neutral, third-party Intake Officer. Learn more here.

Bishop Martyn Minns 
We are grateful for Bishop Minns, who continues to offer consulting and coaching expertise on a regular basis.

Trial Schedule
The Diocese continues to prepare for Bishop Stewart’s trial, scheduled for July 14. The trial process is overseen by the Court for a Trial of a Bishop. Read an explanation of legal terms here. Last fall the Court for the Trial of a Bishop posted the schedule of proceedings here. We will continue to keep you informed if the Court releases any additional communication regarding Bishop Stewart’s trial.

Revive 2025
Save the dates for Revive: October 24-25, 2025

Job Opportunities
Find openings at our diocesan churches here.

Stay Connected
The Upper Midwest seeks to connect you to leaders and ministries across the Diocese via timely updates, clear information, and encouraging ministry reports. In addition to the News Roundup, you’ll receive:

• Our regular e-newsletter, Upper Midwest Anglican Stories (UMD Stories), with highlights from different churches, events, and ministries where the Lord is on the move. Read the last issue here.
• Leaders’ Latest, greetings from Bishop Stewart and his introduction to an inspiring lay person, church staff, or leader in the Diocese. Find the last issue here.
• Subscribe here.