The Diocese of Newark announces that the Rev. Andrew R. Wright will be the new canon to the ordinary beginning July 1:
Andrew’s duties will include serving as Chief of Staff; staff liaison to Diocesan Council, Trustees, and Standing Committee; clergy licensing, wellness, formation and continuing education; training and oversight of church consultants; and Title IV clergy misconduct matters.
Andrew has served a variety of congregations and dioceses since his ordination in 1995. Since 2013, he has been at Trinity Episcopal Church in Fort Worth, serving alongside Bishop Carlye Hughes until her departure in 2018. For his first five years at Trinity, Andrew ministered primarily to children, youth, families, and young adults as the Associate Rector. In 2018, he was asked to step into the role of Interim Rector, following Bishop Hughes’ election.
In the Diocese of Fort Worth, Andrew was elected Secretary of the Diocese and appointed Chair of the Constitution and Canons Committee, serving in those roles for the last four years. He also served on the Commission on Ministry, as the Diocesan Youth Coordinator, and on the Board of Examining Chaplains.
Matthew Townsend is a Halifax-based freelance journalist and volunteer advocate for survivors of sexual misconduct in Anglican settings. He served as editor of the Anglican Journal from 2019 to 2021 and communications missioner for the Anglican Diocese of Quebec from 2019 to 2022. He and his wife recently entered catechism class in the Orthodox Church in America.
