Wall of Silence

Episode 22 features an extended conversation with ACNAtoo advocate Heather Griffin and lawyer Sam Lacy on Heather's concept of "the important man problem." They challenge us to consider what it means for the Church and the culture at large that women on the whole tend not to be listened to, believed, or respected unless a man speaks up for them. Put another way, when an "important man" in a community raises his own voice in support of a woman addressing an issue—for instance, abuse within the Church—that woman is far more likely to be taken seriously and see actual changes made.

From the episode: Heather Griffin lives in Durham, North Carolina, is an ACNAtoo advocate and has a Masters’ in Theological Studies from Duke Divinity School. Sam Lacy has an MDiv and MA in Christian Education from Princeton Theological Seminary, he pursued a PhD at University of Pennsylvania in Legal and Religious History, and then got a law degree, a JD, from NYU. 

You can find a transcript of this episode here.

You can find the Instagram page and other writings and videos of Alex Bradbury, the family nurse practitioner who's audio was used in this episode here.

Episode 21 features the continuation of a conversation with Sam Lacy, a lawyer and one of the authors of the lay lead presentment against Bishop Stewart Ruch. While combining two interviews from 2025 recorded before the Ruch presentment trial verdict was announced, this episode offers more reflection on Ruch's actions, Sam's extended thoughts on the challenges involved in attempting to address abuse within the Church, and how the film A Hidden Life has been an inspiration to him through this whole process. Finally, Chris gives his own reflection on the Mad Max film series and how it relates to local pastors who may be hesitant to speak up about abuse in our churches.

You can read a transcript of this episode here.

Episode 20 features an interview with Dr. Stephen Backhouse, political theologian and former host of the Tent Talks podcast he used to produce with Chris. Two years ago, right before the Wall of Silence was first released, Chris interviewed Stephen with insights about the approach he should take in starting a podcast about church abuse and abuse advocacy. Here Chris shares the interview in full (which was previously only available to Patreon backers), along with his present day reflections on Stephen’s words. The episode also features a brief ACNA news roundup along with a corresponding resource suggesting ways both clergy and lay people can begin conversations within their churches and with their church leaders surrounding the Ruch trial verdict, the upcoming presentment trial for Archbishop Wood, and all the other pressing issues happening in the ACNA.

You can read a transcript of this episode here.

ACNA News Articles Referenced:

Anglicans For Truth, Renewal, and Accountability

ACNA’s Acting Abp. Sues Former Bishop for Defamation

South Carolina Calls for Greater Transparency in ACNA

ACNA Commissions Postmortem of Ruch Title IV Process

South Carolina Anglican Bishop Demands Transparency in ACNA

From the ACNA: Post Ruch Review: Scope

ACNA Hires Lathrop GPM to Review Ruch Title IV Process

Archbishop Duncan named Interim Bishop of the Western Gulf Coast

Court (Dis)Order: lopsided witnesses by Katie Robichaud

In this episode ACNAtoo turns the microphones around and interviews the podcaster himself, Chris Marchand. Getting him to share aspects of his story he's never fully told, Audrey Luhmann asks him about why he started the podcast in the first place, his experiences meeting with his former bishop when he was being asked to stop the podcast under canonical obedience, why he decided to eventually keep doing the podcast, and what his hopes are for the American Church.

You can find a transcript of the episode here.

Here is the letter referenced in the episode from Bishop Alberto Morales and the emails referenced from former Archbishop Foley Beach.

Episode 18 is a continuation of the Zoom conversation with ACNAtoo members Abbi Nye, Audrey Luhmann, Heather Griffin, and Whitney Harrison answering questions from listeners and supporters about the verdict of Bishop Stewart Ruch's presentment trial. With questions about transparency, the trial process itself, and what ACNA members can do in response, one course of action is to set about getting the trial transcripts released.

You can find a transcript of the episode here.

Links and resources referenced:

A bishop’s secret church trial and the U.S. Anglican Church in turmoil—Washington Post article by Ian Shapira

The presentment documents against Bishop Ruch—from ACNAtoo's website

Final order from Bishop Ruch's trial

ACNAtoo's response to the Ruch verdict

Recent article from ACNAtoo: Why ACNAtoo is Not Participating in Title IV Revisions

Anglicans for Truth, Renewal, and Accountability Open Letter

On December 16, 2025 the Anglican Church in North America's Court for Trial of a Bishop released their verdict for the presentments against Bishop Stewart Ruch: acquitted on all charges. In this episode members of ACNAtoo (Abbi Nye, Audrey Luhmann, Heather Griffin, and Whitney Harrison) discuss their reactions to the verdict and the 71 page trial order the court released. Did the members of the court follow basic due diligence in the process they followed to reach their verdict? Though not comprehensive, this episode hopes to answer that in part, while continuing to point those seeking understanding to the two presentments against Ruch, the detailed timeline of events put together by ACNAtoo, and other documents directing us to Bishop Ruch's actions and demonstrating why there was so very little "firsthand" testimony given in the trial by abuse survivors and whistleblowers in the Diocese of the Upper Midwest. Provided below are links to a number of those sources.

You can read a transcript of this episode here.

Links and resources referred to in the episode:

The ACNA's landing page for Bishop Ruch's trial can be found here, and the full text of the trial order can be found here.

ACNAtoo's response on the Ruch Verdict

Ruch Acquitted on All Charges—article by Arlie Coles from The Living Church

ACNAtoo's comprehensive timeline of events—Piecing It All Together: Part 01, An Accusation and Arrest (Part 1 of 5)

The texts for the lay presentment against Ruch and the bishops' presentment, and a general page about the presentments from ACNAtoo. Please see the footnotes as the bottom of the lay presentment page for full citations of firsthand sources.

Article by Helen Keuning detailing her accounts of Ruch's leave of absence.

Washington Post article about Bishop Julian Dobbs: "He suspended the archbishop, but faced his own probes — financial ones"

Suspended ACNA Bishop Founds Breakaway Church—article about Bishop Derek Jones and his break away Anglican denomination by Arlie Coles from The Living Church

This episode features another conversation with Sam Lacy—a lawyer and co-author of the lay presentment against Bishop Stewart Ruch—with reactions and reflections about the series of Washington Post articles with allegations toward ACNA archbishop Steve Wood and new revelations from survivors of clergy abuse in Ruch's diocese. Lacy specifically offers his insights about where the church gets off course in its attempt to adhere to the American law system.

You can find a transcript of this episode here.

Links to articles referenced in the episode:

Wood Inhibited; Sutton Steps Down

ACNA Archbishop Faces Second Sexual Misconduct Complaint

Second woman says N. American Anglican Church archbishop sexually harassed her

N. American Anglican archbishop suspended after sexual misconduct allegations

Bishop Chip Edgar's pastoral letter #1

Bishop Chip Edgar's pastoral letter #2

ACNA News: Archbishop Wood is Inhibited; Bishop Sutton Resigns as Dean; Bishop Julian Dobbs Appointed Dean of the Province

Bishop Chris Warner's pastoral letter

Quote from Bishop Felix Orji

This episode features a live conversation with members of ACNAtoo responding to the aftermath of the Washington Post articles that have come out by journalist Ian Shapira. Along with details about the articles and the abuse survivors that did not fit into the articles, they also share their insights about what is happening at the provincial level regarding the accusations towards Archbishop Steve Wood and Bishop Ruch's trial. Supporters of ACNAtoo and listeners of the podcast were able to join the conversation and ask questions via the message box. Abbi Nye moderated those questions and was joined by Audrey Luhmann, Heather Griffin, and Conor Hanson. Please note: further accusations and developments have come out since recording this conversation, which is acknowledged in the episode's introduction and referenced in the article links given bellow.

You can read a transcript of this episode here.

Articles from the Washington Post, Living Church, and other sources:

U.S. Anglican Church archbishop accused of sexual misconduct, abuse of power

A bishop’s secret church trial and the U.S. Anglican Church in turmoil

Second woman says N. American Anglican Church archbishop sexually harassed her

N. American Anglican archbishop takes paid leave in wake of allegations

Inhibited Bishop Sues ACNA

Abp Wood Announces Leave of Absence

ACNA Archbishop Faces Second Sexual Misconduct Complaint

Accountability and Discipline of Bishops in the ACNA (from ACNA website)

GAFCON Communique: The Future Has Arrived

No Schadenfreude for the ACNA

In ACNA’s upside-down world, abuse survivors are considered the problem by Abbi Nye

Is the church broken? by Chris Hill

Open letter from victims of Derek Jones to the ACNA

Concerns from my heart about the deep ACNA leadership crisis: Kendall Harmon

Twitter thread from Audrey Luhmann

Twitter thread from Arlie Coles

Twitter thread from "monk of justice"

Twitter thread from Marissa Burt

Episode 14 features the story of Sam Lacy, a lawyer and ACNA churchgoer, who helped to write the lay lead presentment against Bishop Stewart Ruch. While in part about the careful work that went into preparing the presentment document, Sam's story is largely about the frustrations he faced as he sought to bring up Bishop Ruch's actions within his church community, particularly the reactions of his church leaders.

Sam has also played an integral role in podcast host Chris' own story, as this episode details, notably in how that relates to Chris's meeting with his former bishop, which included the other lawyer referenced in the episode's title, the Canon Lawyer in Chris's former diocese.

You can read a transcript of this episode on ACNAtoo's website here.

Please see these articles with explanations and updates (as of September 2025) for Bishop Ruch's Presentment trial:

New Trial Date Announced from ACNAtoo

Ruch Trial Halted By Prosecutor's Resignation by Arlie Coles

Chaotic Ruch Trial On Hold by Arlie Coles

Amid trial crisis, ACNA pushes forward with clergy misconduct overhaul by Katharyn Post

Third prosecutor appointed in ACNA trial of Bishop Ruch by Katharyn Post

Assistant Counsel Releases Details of Court Misconduct from ACNAtoo

Provincial Prosecutor Replaced Again from ACNAtoo

Episode 14 features the story of Sam Lacy, a lawyer and ACNA churchgoer, who helped to write the lay lead presentment against Bishop Stewart Ruch. While in part about the careful work that went into preparing the presentment document, Sam's story is largely about the frustrations he faced as he sought to bring up Bishop Ruch's actions within his church community, particularly the reactions of his church leaders.

Sam has also played an integral role in podcast host Chris' own story, as this episode details, notably in how that relates to Chris's meeting with his former bishop, which included the other lawyer referenced in the episode's title, the Canon Lawyer in Chris's former diocese.

You can read a transcript of this episode on ACNAtoo's website here.

Please see these articles with explanations and updates (as of September 2025) for Bishop Ruch's Presentment trial:

New Trial Date Announced from ACNAtoo

Ruch Trial Halted By Prosecutor's Resignation by Arlie Coles

Chaotic Ruch Trial On Hold by Arlie Coles

Amid trial crisis, ACNA pushes forward with clergy misconduct overhaul by Katharyn Post

Third prosecutor appointed in ACNA trial of Bishop Ruch by Katharyn Post

Assistant Counsel Releases Details of Court Misconduct from ACNAtoo

Provincial Prosecutor Replaced Again from ACNAtoo