Archbishop Lynne McNaughton has submitted her resignation as archbishop and metropolitan of the ecclesiastical province of B.C. and Yukon, citing a desire to focus on work in her own diocese of Kootenay.
McNaughton announced her resignation Nov. 22, effective immediately, in a letter to Bishop David Lehmann, senior bishop of the ecclesiastical province.
“After prayerful consideration, for personal reasons I am resigning from my position as the metropolitan of the ecclesiastical province of British Columbia and Yukon… I wish now to let go of this responsibility to focus my work on the needs of the diocese of Kootenay,” McNaughton said.
“It has been an honour to serve as metropolitan as the province has embarked on finding new ways to work together, to begin restructuring to be more effective in our shared mission,” she added. “I remain committed to take part in this ongoing work as the bishop of Kootenay. It is a joy to work with the provincial House of Bishops, and I look forward to continuing our common ministry with my colleagues.”
In an open letter published Nov. 25 on the provincial website, Lehmann thanked McNaughton for her ministry as metropolitan of B.C. and Yukon, a post she served since 2021.
“Archbishop McNaughton served the province with grace, vision, and fortitude,” Lehmann said.
“She gave sacrificially to her role. I have much gratitude for her and her brilliant leadership. The grace that she had in care for the Territory of the People in a time of profound crisis. Her vision of a province working collaboratively and compassionately. The fortitude to serve through what [have] been difficult years has been a blessing to me and the province.”
Lehmann will serve as acting metropolitan, working alongside the provincial executive and council until the election of a new metropolitan.
Details for the metropolitan election are being worked out, Lehmann said. He asked provincial synod members to set aside Jan. 18, 2025 for an election held via Zoom, the same format as the past two metropolitan elections.
