Schools award honorary degrees at spring convocation ceremonies

Vancouver School of Theology celebrated the 20th anniversary of its native ministries program by awarding honorary doctorate degrees at its May 9 convocation to the program’s founders, Archdeacon Ian MacKenzie and Rev. Cecil Corbett. Mr. MacKenzie, a retired priest in the diocese of Caledonia, is an adopted member of the Haida and Nisga’a nations and was a founding member of the Indian Ecumenical Conference and the Centre for Indian Scholars. Mr. Corbett, a member of the Nez Perce tribe of Idaho and a priest in the Presbyterian Church USA, is executive director of the National Indian Training and Research Centre in Phoenix.

In other ceremonies across the country:

• the University of Trinity College (with the University of Toronto) awarded honorary doctor of divinity degrees to bishops David Hamid and Colin Johnson. Bishop Hamid is the former regional mission co-ordinator for Latin America and the Caribbean for the Anglican Church of Canada. From 1996 to 2000, he served as director of ecumenical affairs and studies with the Anglican Consultative Council. In 2002 he was appointed suffragan bishop of the Church of England in Europe. Bishop Johnson was named the 11th bishop of Toronto in 2004. He had previously served as executive assistant to the archbishop of Toronto from 1992 to 2003, archdeacon of York (1994-2003) and bishop suffragan of Toronto and area bishop of Trent-Durham (2003-2004).
• the University of King’s College in Halifax awarded Bishop Sue Moxley, suffragan bishop of the diocese of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, with an honorary doctor of divinity at its May convocation on May 19, at All Saints Cathedral. Bishop Moxley, who began an academic career in 1974, teaching at Dalhousie University’s department of physical, health and recreation education, was ordained in 1985. She was elected suffragan in 2004.
• Canon Frank Cluett was awarded an honorary doctor of divinity degree on May 2 by Queen’s College, St. John’s, Nfld. It was the first honorary degree awarded in the 164-year history of the college. Mr. Cluett served for 17 years as provost of Queen’s College. He built a relationship with Memorial University, where the college is located. Before coming to Queen’s College, Mr. Cluett served in parish ministry at various locations in Newfoundland.