Born in Edmonton, Archbishop Shane Parker, elected primate of the Anglican Church of Canada June 26, is a former sociologist.

Bishop of Western Newfoundland John Organ says he will not follow recommendations from his provincial metropolitan, who found that the bishop violated misconduct policies, to re-instate a fired cathedral dean and complete the last three months of his episcopate on sabbatical leave.

Hard questions flew at a special session of General Synod June 28 in which members asked whether the church could get out of its commitments to an $8.18-million, five-year lease for a new national office—the answer to which remains uncertain, General Synod’s chancellor said, pending the results of an investigation into how the lease was approved.

General Synod has voted to pursue the six pathways for change recommended by a primatial commission over the next triennium—and to allocate up to $2 million of unrestricted funds from General Synod’s Consolidated Trust Fund to do that work. Both resolutions passed with overwhelming majorities.