July 31, 2025

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

I write today, in the final week of my vacation, to thank those of you who have communicated concerns to me about the ongoing ACNA ecclesiastical trial and to share with you a few thoughts about the trial, how it has unfolded, and its unfortunate impact on the credibility of our denomination and our ability to do the work of the gospel.

In case you are unaware, the most recent events in the long and complicated trial involving allegations of the mishandling of complaints in the Diocese of the Upper Midwest are that the Prosecutor for the Province has resigned mid-trial and the Archbishop has appointed a new Prosecutor to resume the trial on August 11. Each of these decisions has been met with both criticism and approval, in private and public communications. The College of Bishops and Executive Committee responded with a joint statement on July 29. As a member of the Provincial Tribunal, I recused myself from this meeting and was not party to that statement. You may find a more detailed timeline from the ACNA here.

For those of you, and those in your congregations, who may be finding it difficult to have faith in this rocky and prolonged process, I want to share a couple of reminders that have given me comfort over the last two weeks.

First, I am reminded that my confidence in justice and reconciliation is not in the process, but in Jesus Christ himself. Whatever our disillusionment about the Church may be at this moment, Jesus is Lord, even of this.

Second, as I have read statements, letters, and responses, I am reminded that there is much that I do not know. What has been particularly challenging is that these statements—often entirely contradictory—have been made by people that I know and whose integrity I respect. The fullness of the situation remains unknown to me and to most of us. I am praying for three things in light of this: the measured humility to avoid premature conclusions, the clarity and courage to ask the right questions, and the discernment to know when and how to ask.

As we await a conclusion, I ask you to join me in prayer. However dissatisfying it may be, those given the responsibility to navigate this process—including the Archbishop, the members of the Court for the Trial of a Bishop, the provincial Prosecutor, the Counsel for Bishop Ruch, the College of Bishops, and the Executive Committee—are doing just that: navigating. I ask your prayers for them as they do the work that God has given them to do, making every effort to assume the best rather than the worst, and your prayers that truth, justice, and mercy may be known among us soon.

Grace and peace to you,

The Right Reverend Alex W. Cameron
Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh