The nominees for primate share their assessments of the present—and their hopes for the future
Chris Harper, National Indigenous Archbishop
Hometown: Onion Lake Cree Nation, Sask./Alta., Presently: Edmonton, Alta.
Ordained: Deacon – Feb. 6, 2005, Priest – Oct. 16, 2005
Consecrated: Nov. 17, 2018
Favourite scriptural passage: Ephesians 4:1-4 FNV
Favourite hymn: “In the Garden,” “This Little Light of Mine,” “On Jordan’s Stormy Banks I Stand”
What is the biggest challenge now facing the Anglican Church of Canada, and what should be done about it?
Diminishing numbers in both attendance and finances seem to be on the hot list of every executive, vestry, and parishioner; these are resultant systemic balances when we lose the meaning and intent of the church in the body of Christ. While these realities need to be acknowledged and remedies sought, how we communicate is equally important. To communicate and share hopeful, growth-building stories is vital, especially in a world and age that loves to diminish and tear down. Our faith story should be of building up the Kingdom of God in all the things, from the smallest to the greatest of endeavours in our parishes. Enablement, support, faith and community building should be part of our story of faith in the building up of the body of the church.
Given that the coming years are likely to be a time of controversial decisions, how would you foster unity in the church?
The office of primate needs to be a unifying and familial voice drawing all in the family of God together under the light and life of the gospel message. Being drawn together we can go forward together as one in the body of Christ witnessing the love and peace of Christ. The primate needs to be the presence of the church in the communities, walking supportively with the bishops, as the ministry of the church is carried out from the pews. Since the church, the body of Christ, is diverse in practice, so too should our ministry be as it is carried and shared in the context of the locality and peoples. Diversity is not a failing but a strength of creation, and the primate can and should embrace all in the family of God as we go forward stepping into new life and opportunities as one in the family of God.
What do you see in the church that gives you the most hope?
I see diversity of ministry and faith expression, and a growing acknowledgement that we are at a crossroads of change and visioning. We together see the need to examine what we are doing in ministry, praying as we lay it at the foot of the cross, calling upon the Holy Spirit to open and soften our hearts and ways and lead us in the journey of discovery as we together step forward in faith and go forward in reconciliation with the Almighty and each other, in an inward and spiritual healing, embracing all in the family of God who come to the Lord’s bounty and table, where life and peace abound. Diversity is not the issue; diversity is the blessing, especially when seen through the lens of all creation around us.
Greg Kerr-Wilson, Bishop of Calgary, metropolitan of the ecclesiastical province of the Northern Lights
Hometown: Winnipeg, Saskatoon and North Vancouver
Ordained: Deacon – May 14, 1989, Priest – May 13, 1990
Consecrated: May 23, 2006
Favourite theologian: St. John the Divine, St. Paul, Rowan Williams
Favourite scriptural passage: John 1:1-5; Romans 12:1-2; Ephesians 4:1-16
Favourite hymn: “I Bind Unto Myself Today,” “Be Thou My Vision”
What is the biggest challenge now facing the Anglican Church of Canada, and what should be done about it?
[Editor’s note: Because of a family emergency, Kerr-Wilson was unable to prepare a response to the first of our questions but has asked that the Journal include a link to his response to a similar question on his bio on the website of the Anglican Church of Canada. It can be found here.]
Given that the coming years are likely to be a time of controversial decisions, how would you foster unity in the church?
It depends on what you mean by controversial decisions. Decisions made about resource allocation or structural reforms are not of the same order of importance as those made about doctrine, discipline and worship. My father, who had spent a lot of time playing baseball, used to say, “Keep your eye on the ball.” What he meant was, keep what is central at the centre, and let everything else take its place in relation to it. The Church’s centre of gravity is not controversial institutional decisions, but the ongoing, faithful, Christ-centred, Spirit-led worship of God and the pursuit of the Church’s mission in making disciples and being “salt and light” in our local communities. The Scriptures, the creeds, the sacraments, our baptismal covenant—these are the foundational pieces. Paul reminds us in Ephesians 4:4-6 that there is one body and one Spirit … one Lord, one faith, one baptism. Unity, amongst ourselves and amongst Christians generally, is not something we generate ourselves, but is a gift that is being given. The call of the Church is to seek to be faithful in receiving that gift with discernment and humility. Fostering that receptivity happens through prayerful listening, seeking mutual understanding and inviting our members not to engage in the individualistic self-assertion of our culture and to not give up on one another.
What do you see in the church that gives you the most hope?
Several things I am seeing give me hope. The first is a renewed concern for and engagement with the work of “making disciples”: more energy and focus on calling our people into being more fully formed as followers of Jesus—who feed their spiritual life communally and personally in worship and prayer, seek to know and understand the Scriptures and engage in the work of mission in their local communities. Second, I believe we are seeing, amongst those who are not connected to the Church, a rise in curiosity about, and perhaps even a hunger for, what a life of faith might have to offer them. While we have been in a long and steady decline in church-going and membership over the last 50 years, a fair number of congregations are beginning to see a rise in attendance—and the stories of interested inquirers have increased to a certain degree. Third, the rise in the ministry of deacons, lay leaders and locally raised-up clergy has begun to give some new strength to our congregational life—especially to small and rural congregations in many instances. Fourth, and not least, I believe we are seeing something of an infusion of strength and faithfulness from increased numbers of new Canadians who are enriching our communities and bringing their faith and spiritual focus with them. Ultimately though, whether in good times or bad, our hope is in Christ—and it is in God’s faithfulness that I find the hope that is the foundation of our life and witness. Smaller numbers are not a cause for despair, but a call to renew our faith and commitment in Christ.
David Lehmann, Bishop of Caledonia
Hometown: Toronto (aka Centre of the Universe); raised in Fort Smith, N.W.T.
Ordained: Deacon – May 22, 1994, Priest – March 26, 1995
Consecrated: Jan. 18, 2018
Favourite theologian: C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, John Webster, Fleming Rutledge
Favourite scriptural passage: Psalm 16:11
Favourite hymn: “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty”
What is the biggest challenge now facing the Anglican Church of Canada, and what should be done about it?
The largest challenge facing the Anglican Church of Canada is ourselves. The church is amid the largest change since the printing press, and we are caught up in this liminal space. This shows up as a strong desire not to change anything or the opposite—wanting to change everything quickly. We cannot give into temptation but must trust in the leading of the Holy Spirit. We have embarked on a journey of discernment for the national church; we must honour the process without shelving it nor jumping ahead. It would be a shame if we did not delve deeper, past financial concerns, and explore the underlying issues. My vision would be to see the “Pathways” process through extensive consultation for three years with an implementation at General Synod 2028; to spend the next triennium living into it and review it in 2031; and at this point start another process of discernment for a new primate to continue with in 2034. I believe God is calling us to follow where “Pathways” leads knowing that our greatest strength is ourselves.
Given that the coming years are likely to be a time of controversial decisions, how would you foster unity in the church?
Guarding the unity of the church is part of a bishop’s vows. As such, this is a great question and a matter that should not be trivialized nor sensationalized. Over salvation history, divisions begin in Genesis and are at the foreground of the life of the early church, as seen in Acts. Our current divisions are not new and cannot be ignored. Our unity comes not from a plan or a program but from the Holy Spirit. The work of the General Synod is to prayerfully and in the power of the Spirit communicate, connect and convene. These are a means to build up the unity of the church. As Anglicans we need to continue to fully embrace JEDI (justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion) practices in our journey together. I would expect General Synod and the Council of General Synod to pursue avenues that give voice to all members of the church—while following through on the good work started by the primate’s commission.
What do you see in the church that gives you the most hope?
What gives me hope? The incredible acts of love in the church that we don’t celebrate as much as we should. The kindness of the Anglican Church Women of New Westminster when they gave the seed funds for the Council of the North’s retired non-stipendiary clergy housing fund. How that encouraged others to care for those who have given sacrificially in their ministry. Likewise, the many people who support the Say Yes To Kids! initiative of the Anglican Foundation. Plus, the generous response of Canadian Anglicans through Alongside Hope to the crises in Ukraine, Gaza, and Myanmar. This is all in addition to the quiet work that happens every day in parishes to care for those in the wider community through soup kitchens, food banks, thrift shops and outreach ministries. Seeing parishes as welcoming, open communities that share their experience of God’s grace and mercy is the good stuff of life.
Riscylla Shaw, Suffragan bishop in the diocese of Toronto
Hometown: Ufford, Muskoka, diocese of Algoma
Ordained: Deacon – May 6, 2001, Priest – Nov. 18, 2001
Consecrated: Jan. 7, 2017
Favourite theologian: Archbishop Desmond Tutu
Favourite scriptural passage: Romans 8:35-39
Favourite hymn: “Just As I Am”
[Editor’s note: Shaw chose to combine her answer to the first two questions:]
What is the biggest challenge now facing the Anglican Church of Canada, and what should be done about it?
Given that the coming years are likely to be a time of controversial decisions, how would you foster unity in the church?
Jesus was no stranger to controversial decisions. He forgave and healed marginalized people—the Samaritan woman, the unclean, the lepers. He valued and embraced children. He turned over the tables in the temple. He upset the religious establishment so much that it led to his death on the cross. To be the people of God who follow Jesus, we can’t be afraid of controversy even when it leads us to the cross. This is where we find unity in our diversity, and where I see hope: in the liberating, life-giving message of our non-violent Messiah. As an Easter people, we remember the agony and disappointment of Good Friday. We are shown compassion and mercy by God not because of anything we have done, but because of what God is doing. We Anglicans have known from the beginning of our tradition that unity is not easy; neither is it permanent. It requires intention and vigilance. As theologian Daniel Berrigan said, “our task as church is to re-member, in the Way of Love, that which society has dismembered.” The biggest challenge and opportunity this presents the Anglican Church of Canada today is to work together as the Body of Christ, within our competing concerns. This is not a simple task, as the reality is that our intentions are in tension with each other. In all our differences we share a gospel mandate to feed the hungry, welcome the stranger, visit the imprisoned—to stand up and be counted as we love mercy and walk humbly with our God.
What do you see in the church that gives you the most hope?
In this time of heightening crises, hope is found in servant leaders who witness to truth and righteousness, defending the rights and dignity of all people. By our baptism, the whole church is called to be prophetic, to give voice to the voiceless, to sustain and renew the life of the earth and to share in the holiness of the Lord.
