The Rev. Capt. David Parsons will assume the position of Anglican bishop of the diocese of the Arctic in early 2013.
Elected co-adjutor bishop last Wednesday during the Arctic synod in Iqaluit, Nunavut, Bishop Parsons will replace Bishop Andrew Atagotaaluk, who retires at the end of the year after a decade as bishop.
Parsons was consecrated this past Sunday at the opening of the St. Jude’s Cathedral, newly rebuilt after being destoyed by fire in 2005.
Parsons currently serves as regional dean of the Mackenzie Delta and is the priest in charge at the church of the Ascension in Inuvik. He has also been overseeing St. John’s Tuktoyaktuk, St. Clements Sachs Harbour, and Church of the Resurrection Ulukhaktok, N.W.T.
Ordained as an Anglican priest in 2004, Parsons has served in Inuvik since that time. He has also served as an evangelist for the Church Army in Canada since 1987, and has been a chaplain for seafarers, a diocesan refugee coordinator and a hospital hostel administrator.
The Rev. Darren McCartney, one of three other contenders for the Arctic episcopacy, was elected suffragan bishop of the diocese. Currently based in his native Northern Ireland, McCartney spent several years in Pangnirtung, Nunavut, as rector of St. Luke’s and speaks fluent Inuktitut.
McCartney served in the Royal Irish Regiment and as a chaplain for the Royal Army. He is currently rector of St. Matthew’s in Knocknamuckley.
The two other contenders for the position of bishop were the Rev. Iola Metuq, a priest in Kuujjuag, Que., and the Rev. Haydn Schofield, a priest at St. Luke’s in the diocese of Calgary.
At 1.5 million square miles, the diocese of the Arctic is Canada’s largest Anglican diocese. It includes, the Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Nunavik.
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