College of Bishops Sentencing of Todd Atkinson

A letter from the House of Bishops

Dear Friends In Christ,

It was announced on Monday evening by our province of the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) that a sentence for the former bishop of Via Apostolica, Todd Atkinson, has been decided. An ACNA ecclesiastical trial found him guilty on April 3rd, 2024 on four charges of “conduct giving just cause for scandal or offense, including the abuse of ecclesiastical power.” Having read the court’s finding, we met as the ACNA Provincial College of Bishops to make a sentencing decision on May 9th, 2024. The College voted to depose Todd, which means he is no longer permitted to engage in ordained ministry as a deacon, a priest, or a bishop. You can find the ACNA announcement with a link to the court’s findings here: https://anglicanchurch.net/atkinson-deposed-from-ministry/

As Archbishop Foley wrote in the announcement, we in the College of Bishops were all grieved by what we read in the court’s findings, and we together wrote and sent a letter of concern and prayer to the victims. We remain deeply concerned about the hardship and suffering endured by our brothers and sisters in Christ, and we thank all those who took the risk of participating in the investigation and judicial process. As a church, we are indeed indebted to them, and we hope and pray that this decision will help to bring some closure and further healing.

We are so very thankful for our brothers and sisters who have joined our ANiC family from Via Apostolica and who so wonderfully enrich our mission together as ministers of the Gospel of Jesus. We invite you to continue to pray for those most affected by this case, that they may find healing and restoration in Jesus. Pray also for us all in ANiC, that we may indeed be a good and godly fellowship of faith, as together we follow our crucified, risen and ascended Lord Jesus, our Good Shepherd and Great Redeemer, who makes all things new.

Yours faithfully,

The ANiC House of Bishops

The Right Reverend Dan Gifford
The Right Reverend Stephen Leung (on sabbatical)
The Right Reverend Mike Stewart