Bishop-elect Gregory Kerr-Wilson
Dean Gregory Kerr-Wilson, 43, rector of All Saints’ Cathedral in Edmonton and dean of the diocese of Edmonton, was elected bishop of the Regina-based diocese of Qu’Appelle on Nov. 12.
An electoral synod held at St. Paul’s Cathedral in Regina, attended by 148 lay and clergy delegates, chose Dean Kerr-Wilson on the third ballot. Voting took about two hours and Dean James Merrett of Qu’Appelle, rector of St. Paul’s, received the second-highest number of votes.
Dean Kerr-Wilson has served in Edmonton since 1998. During that time, he has also served as chief examining chaplain for the diocese, responsible for advising the bishop on vocations to ordained ministry. From June 2004 to January 2005, he was bishop’s commissary, responsible for overseeing the diocese, while Bishop Victoria Matthews was on sick leave. Working with those who discern a call to ministry, he has led several pre-ordination retreats.
Another interest of Dean Kerr-Wilson is liturgy. Before arriving in Edmonton, he worked in the diocese of Toronto, where he chaired the liturgy planning committee for the Archbishop of Canterbury’s visit in 1994 and was liturgical consultant for the Credit Valley area of the diocese.
He has done extensive youth work, serving for several years as a counsellor and as a chaplain at Base Camp, the diocesan summer camp for teenagers.
He was incumbent at Church of the Holy Family, Brampton, Ont., from 1991 to 1998, during which time the parish moved from being financially-assisted to self-supporting. “A central parish goal was to work toward a comprehensive process, from invitation and welcoming to introductory education programs to full membership commitment and participation in the ministry of the church, in order to serve and enable those coming to Holy Family in their spiritual journey,” he wrote in an information package submitted to Qu’Appelle.
He also worked as assistant curate at St. Paul’s, Bloor Street, Toronto, from 1989 to 1991. He earned a bachelor of applied science degree from the University of British Columbia in 1985. Prior to seminary, he spent three summers in geological exploration in bush camps in the Northwest Territories and one summer working for the British Columbia Forest Service. He earned a master of divinity degree from Nashotah House Episcopal Seminary in Milwaukee in 1989. He was ordained deacon in Toronto in 1989 and priested in 1990. Mr. Kerr-Wilson is married to Vicki and has three children, Jeremy, 16, Asha, 13 and Kyla, 11.