As the Diocese of New Westminster seeks its ninth bishop, its nominees include two priests born in the United States, a British-Canadian priest serving in Massachusetts, and a priest from 7,000 miles away in New Zealand.
The new bishop will succeed the Rt. Rev. Michael Ingham, prominent as an advocate for gays and lesbians in the Anglican Church of Canada, who was a liaison for several years to the Executive Council of the Episcopal Church. Ingham retired August 31, and an electing synod will meet on November 30 at Christ Church Cathedral in Vancouver. The diocese will receive any names for nominees by petition until November 19.
The eight nominees are:
- The Ven. Ellen Clark-King, vicar, Christ Church Cathedral, Diocese of New Westminster; member of Virginia Theological Seminary’s adjunct faculty of Virginia Theological Seminary, teaching Doctor of Ministry courses in ministry development, educational leadership and Christian spirituality (20013-onward)
- The Rev. Canon Dawn L. Davis, incumbent priest, Trinity Church Aurora, Diocese of Toronto; steering committee member, Fresh Start, Episcopal Church (2001-05) and planning team member, Conference of Diocesan Executives, Episcopal Church (2002)
- The Rev. John Hebenton, vicar, Anglican Parish of Gate Pa, Tauranga, Diocese of Waiapu, Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia
- The Rev. Richard G. Leggett, incumbent priest, St. Faith’s Anglican Church, Diocese of New Westminster; alumnus of the University of Denver, Nashotah House Theological Seminary, and the University of Notre Dame
- The Ven. Lynne E. McNaughton, incumbent priest, St. Clement Anglican Church, Diocese of New Westminster; earned Doctor of Ministry from Columbia Theological Seminary, Decatur, Georgia
- The Rev. John Oakes, honorary associate priest, All Saints Church, Belmont, Diocese of Massachusetts, on leave from the Diocese of New Westminster, with permission to officiate; serving as a postdoctoral fellow at Harvard Divinity School
- The Rev. Canon Melissa M. Skelton, canon for congregational development and leadership, Diocese of Olympia, and rector, St. Paul’s Church, Seattle
- The Ven. John R. Stephens, incumbent priest, St. Philip’s Anglican Church, Diocese of New Westminster; continuing education in liturgy at St. Gregory of Nyssa Church, San Francisco, and with the Very Rev. Alan Jones, former dean of Grace Cathedral, San Francisco
Image: From the cover of the Diocese of New Westminster’s profile [PDF] for the election.
