Canon (lay) Clare Burns has submitted her resignation as chancellor of General Synod and will step down from the position no later than Dec. 31.
Archbishop Shane Parker, primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, announced on Nov. 12 that Burns had presented her resignation two days prior, effective by the end of 2025. Council of General Synod (CoGS) appointed Burns chancellor in November 2023 at the recommendation of then-primate Linda Nicholls.
“I have respectfully accepted Canon Burns’ resignation and wish to acknowledge her outstanding and sacrificial contribution to the life and health of our church at an extremely challenging juncture,” Parker said.
The chancellor is the legal advisor to the primate in the latter’s role as president of General Synod and chairperson of CoGS. Appointees must be a judge of a court of record or barrister of at least 10 years’ standing at the bar.
Burns, a litigator for the firm WeirFoulds, took over as chancellor after serving as vice chancellor for three years. She previously served as the Children’s Lawyer for Ontario from 2003 to 2008, overseeing the office responsible for persons under the age of 18 in legal proceedings before provincial courts and tribunals.
Parker praised Burns for helping position the national church to pursue six “pathways for change” recommended by a primatial commission.
“Her integrity, wisdom, acumen and poise were instrumental in lifting us to a place where the work of ‘creating pathways’ can be fully embraced,” the primate said of Burns.
“Her generous offering of service comes from deep faithfulness, and I know that her decision to step down comes after prayerful and careful consideration. She has my sincere personal gratitude and that of our beloved Anglican Church of Canada.”
CoGS and officers of General Synod will work together to identify and confirm a new chancellor, Parker said.
Asked by the Anglican Journal about the reasons for Burns’ departure, the primate declined further comment. Burns had not responded to requests for comment as of press time.
