Saskatchewan
anglican
The newspaper of the Dioceses of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon and Qu’Appelle • A Section of the Anglican Journal • October 2018
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Saskatoon elects a new bishop By Rev. Peter Coolen
The current 12th Bishop of Saskatoon, the Right Rev. David M. Irving, meets with the bishop-elect, the Rev. Christopher A. Harper, after the election for a bishop during the 73rd Synod of the Diocese of Saskatoon on Sept. 8. For a biography on Harper, please see page 13. Photo by Rev. Peter Coolen
Students experience hospitality in northern Saskatchewan Submitted PRINCE ALBERT – Editor’s note: This summer the Diocese of Saskatchewan hired four young people to conduct Vacation Bible Schools in various locations within the diocese and to help out and experience life in Saskatchewan. Hannah Fisher, Andrew Griffin, Karis Tees, and Samuel Landry are students at the University of King’s College in Halifax, N.S. Following the visit of Bishop Michael Hawkins and Rev. Wilfred and Theresa Sanderson (Fort a la Corne) to Halifax in March 2016, Bishop Michael and the Sandersons asked for a group of young people from
King’s to live, work, and learn in the diocese for a summer. These four students were very grateful to accept this invitation and they have composed the article below to share some of their summer experiences. This summer we were received warmly as guests, both of the Diocese of Saskatchewan and of its communities and people. Travelling from Nova Scotia, our time in Saskatchewan was unfamiliar and yet rich in ways we could not have expected. We were continually welcomed as friends and guests, while both the people we met and the places we saw will remain
dear in memory and prayer. Arriving at the beginning of Pentecost, we began our time in prayer and waiting. In only our first two weeks, we were introduced to many diverse communities by attending the daily prayer services scheduled in different churches in and around Prince Albert. During these weeks, we also said the Daily Offices at St. Alban’s Cathedral, attended Cree classes, drank coffee with everyone who was willing to share their story, and prepared the curriculum for Vacation Bible School. After three weeks in P.A., we travelled 240 kilometres north to La Continued on page 9
SASKATOON — The Diocese of Saskatoon has a new bishop and his name is the Rev. Christopher A. Harper. Following the announcement of the retirement of the Right Rev. David M. Irving as 12th Bishop of the Diocese of Saskatoon, on Oct. 1, the 73rd Session of the Synod of the Diocese of Saskatoon was called to elect a new bishop. The synod was at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, Saskatoon on Sept. 8. The election slate consisted of: the Rev. Christopher A. Harper, Diocese of Toronto, the Ven. Jane Elizabeth Humphreys, Diocese of Huron, the Rev. Dr. Iain Ronald MacKenzie Luke, Diocese of Saskatoon, the Rev. Kyle Norman, Diocese of Calgary, the Ven. Noel Wygiera, Diocese of Calgary, and the Rev. Nany Yee, Diocese of Qu’Appelle. The day began with registration, a Eucharist service — the Most Rev. Greg Kerr-Wilson, Metropolitan, presided and gave the homily — a review of videos of each of the candidates responding to a series of questions on how their strengths and skills meet the needs that they perceive a bishop of the diocese should have. The members of the synod had been provided with these videos earlier, plus a detailed list of questions, responses and CVs of the candidates. During the homily, KerrWilson explained the service was also a celebration of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary and, as detailed in the appointed psalm, she was compared to the ark of the covenant as the bearer of the Holy Spirit into the world.
He added the Church, each one of us and, especially the electoral candidates, are also bearers of the Holy Spirit into the world. Special observers were Karen Webb, vice-chancellor, Diocese of Brandon; Bishop Rodney Andrews, the 11th Bishop of Saskatoon; the Rev. Christopher Harper and his wife; and the Ven. Jane Humphreys and her husband. The Rev. Dr. Iain Luke and his wife were also present as members of the House of Clergy. The archbishop chaired the synod and the elections. For the election, the House of Laity consisted of 43 — 22 votes needed to be elected — and the House of Clergy of 26 — 14 needed to be elected. Four ballots were required to meet the majority needed for election; with each ballot the candidate with the lowest count dropped off the slate, so by the fourth ballot only three candidates remained: Harper, Humphreys, and Luke. Harper received the most votes during all four ballots and by the fourth was elected by a majority in both houses (26 and 14), followed by Humphreys (15 and 10) and Luke. With the acceptance of Harper as bishop-elect, the archbishop concurred with the results and said he hoped for a speedy response and concurrence from the provincial House of Bishops. Before adjournment, Kerr-Wilson thanked those who had participated in the synod, including election organizers and the electoral candidates. A service of consecration for Christopher A. Harper as the 13th Bishop of the Diocese of Saskatoon is Saturday, Nov. 17 in the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, Saskatoon.