HAPPY NEW YEAR!
January, 2010
A Section of Anglican Journal
THE RIGHT REVEREND ROD ANDREWS, BISHOP OF SASKATOON, RECEIVES HONORARY DOCTORATE FROM COLLEGE OF EMMANUEL ST. CHAD’S Photo- Maureen Scale-
Photo- Maureen Scale
The Chancellor of the College of Emmanuel & St. Chad, the Right Reverend Derek Hoskins, Bishop of Calgary (to the right), applaudes Bishop Rodney (to the left) after presenting him with his Honourary Doctor of Divinity Degree.
The Chancellor of the College of Emmanuel & St. Chad, the Right Reverend Derek Hoskins, Bishop of Calgary (to the left) bestowed the Honourary Doctor of Divinity Degree on Bishop Rodney (center) while Bishop Rodney's nominator, the Reverend Canon Colin Clay (left), holds Bishop Rodney's doctor's hood.
Editor's Comments: On Tuesday, November 10th, at a special convocation Eucharist in Christ Chapel, University of Saskatchewan, in recognition that the Senate of the College of Emmanuel and St. Chad wished to honour the contribution of the Right Reverend Rodney Andrews, Bishop of Saskatoon to the life and the work of the Anglican Church, the Chancellor of the College of Emmanuel & St. Chad, the Right Reverend Derek Hoskins, Bishop of Calgary, was pleased to bestow an Honourary Doctor of Divinity degree on Bishop Rodney. The Reverend Canon Colin Clay, who had placed Rodney Andrews' name in nomination to the Chancellor for the honour, gave the following address at the convocation: Rodney Andrews was born on a day in 1940 which is easy to remember, November 11th. Growing up in our neighbour Province of Alberta, Rod was scarcely 18 years old when he first discerned the call to ordained ministry. When he shared this with his bishop, the Bishop of Calgary, he was encouraged to apply to Emmanuel College in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. He came by train to an unknown city, to an unfamiliar college environment, and was immediately surrounded by about sixty be-gowned students, all subject to the discipline of several learned, and reverently respected, ordained faculty. But didn't young Rodney long to become acclimatized to this new chapter in his life. He managed to combine a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Saskatchewan (with a major in Canadian history) with a Bachelor of Theology at Emmanuel College. Rod was Senior Stick when he was a student at the College. He was here when Emmanuel, Saskatoon joined with St Chad's, Regina. Rodney was the first I
student to receive his Bachelor of Theology degree following the amalgamation of the two colleges. In 1981, having presented his thesis to the College, Rodney was awarded the Master of Divinity degree. The alumni elected Rod to the College Council in 2002. Rodney Andrews was ordained Deacon in 1963 when he was 23 years of age - no one younger than 23 can be ordained in the Anglican Church of Canada. His ordained ministry began in Red Deer, Alberta, followed by service in other parishes in theDiocese of Calgary. In 1970, while Rod was Rector of Okotoks and Midnapore, he learned to fly an airplane; seven years later he was a qualified airline pilot. While Rector of Coaldale, Alberta, he flew regularly as a pilot with Time Air with the support of his Bishop and his Parish. Like the apostle Paul, Rodney Andrews has always believed that clergy with parish responsibilities should be free to engage in secular occupations. After all, St Paul is known to have engaged in a "tent making" ministry. As most of you know, Rod has continued flying and some (like me) have had the pleasure of being a passenger with him in his Piper Cherokee180. Rod continues to be a member of Flying Farmers and is a Search and Rescue pilot. I must share with you a story Bishop Rod tells of a meeting over one of the meals at the 2008, Lambeth Conference in the United Kingdom. The bishop across the table introduced himself and said he was a "flying bishop" to which Rod naturally responded, "I'm a flying bishop too" and naturally expected a conversation about aircraft. Bishop Rod quickly discovered that in the Church of England, a "flying bishop" seldom leaves terra firma. He "flies", by car or train, to parishes that will not accept the ministry
of their own diocesan bishop if that bishop ordains women to the Priesthood. The ordination of women is still controversial in certain parts of the Church of England. In 1984, Rod left Alberta for a parish in Quebec. His ministries continued to be varied, challenging and exciting: in Montreal he served as an Armed Forces Chaplain; in Ontario he became Executive Archdeacon in the Diocese of Algoma; in Vancouver he was the Anglican Chaplain at the University of British Columbia and then Rector of St Alban's Church in Richmond. In 1998 he was elected as Prolocutor of General Synod and, while working with the Primate, Archbishop Michael Peers, he shared in the initial work of establishing the Residential Schools litigation process. In 2003, Rodney Andrews was elected Bishop of Saskatoon and consecrated in February 2004. This Fall, Bishop Rod announced that he would retire at the end of February, 2010. With us this evening are Rodney's wife, Jacqueline Plante, his son David from Calgary and his sister Gwen from Strathmore, Alberta. Rodney's daughter Patricia, from Kamloops, B.C., is not able to be present this evening. Rodney met his wife Jacqueline while he was serving in Montreal. Jacqueline, a registered nurse, is a wonderful support to Rod and a very popular friend to people everywhere in the Diocese. It is not generally known that Rodney has been a regular columnist with the “Country Guide”, Canada's national farm magazine, for the past 15 years; the editor is delighted that Rod will continue this feature after he retires as our Bishop. Rodney has been an ideal Bishop for this Diocese which combines both urban centres and rural life. We all know his love for farm equipment, especially
tractors. He drove vintage John Deere tractor right across the Diocese, meeting so many people and raising over $40,000 for the Primate's World Relief and Development Fund, for Camp Okema, and for the programme to combat HIV-AIDS in Africa, while doing so. I cannot forget to mention that Rod is a dedicated John Deere man. I know it's not exactly true, but while Rod undoubtedly rejoices whenever someone with no religious faith becomes active in the church family, I suspect he can also hear the alleluias from the angelic chorus when a farmer turns in his New Holland combine in order to purchase a big, green John Deere machine! These have not been easy days for any bishop in the Anglican Church of Canada and the Diocese of Saskatoon is no exception. Bishop Rodney has faced the challenges prayerfully, wisely and lovingly, whether they have concerned matters of human sexuality; declining revenue from the worldwide economic downturn in investments; the shortage of clergy to staff parishes and especially the changing face of rural Saskatchewan, which has led to families moving to the city and the subsequent closure of many country churches. Through a ministry that spans 46 years in the Anglican Church of Canada, Bishop Rodney Andrews has served his Saviour; his Church; his College and the wider community across this country with love, cheerfulness and dedication. He is a most worthy recipient of this degree in which he honours us, just as we, this evening, endeavor to honour him. Eminent Chancellor, I present to you the claims of Rodney Osborne Andrews and ask that you confer on him the degree of Doctor of Divinity.
May Your Year Ahead be filled with the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,the Love of God, and the Fellowship of the Holy Spirit