Conferences & Ordinations

Primate Meets Clergy

By Catherine Dafoe Hall

photo lina crawford

HAPPY FACES — Bishop John Privett, The Rev. Christine Muise, Fred Hiltz, Primate of the Anglican Church, and Primatial cross bearer Martha Fish pose for a “photo op” after the ordination service at St. Andrew’s, Trail.

 

 

Thirty diocesan clergy gathered at St. Andrew’s in Trail to meet the Primate on June 18 and 19. Archbishop Fred Hiltz was only a week away from celebrating his first anniversary as Primate of the Anglican Church. He was visiting the parish at Kimberly as part of their anniversary celebration.

On the Wednesday the Primate listened to the clergy of the diocese. First of all the clergy arranged themselves on the floor of the church hall in geographic relationship and told the Primate about the regions of the diocese. Then, one by one, the clergy shared their challenges and the joys of their ministries in the Diocese of Kootenay. A number of clergy said that they learned a great deal about the diocese and its parishes in that time of sharing.

The highlight of Wednesday was the ordination that evening of the Rev. Christine Muise who is serving the parishes of Kaslo, Nakusp and New Denver. The Primate preached and conducted the ordination; it is a rare honour to be ordained by the Primate. Bishop John presided at the Eucharist in which Christine shared for the first time as an ordained member of the college of clergy of this diocese.

The people of the parish of St. Andrew’s and St. George’s in Trail had a significant challenge in hosting the Primate, the Bishop and thirty clergy for two days and also hosting an ordination. They rose to the occasion with gracious hospitality and wonderful food.

On the Thursday the clergy listened as the Primate shared something of his ministry over the past year. We learned of his passion for what he taught us to call “our beloved church.” He reminded us that the first Primate opened the first General Synod by telling the delegates that “our beloved church” was in crisis. This helped us to have perspective on our present circumstances and faith for the future.

Archbishop Hiltz told moving stories of encounters with people in his travels, shared his experience of hearing the government apology to the First Nations, and shared some of his plans for the future.

Ordination at All Saints, Vernon

By Peter Davison

On the evening of Trinity Sunday (May 18) the Reverend Dr. William Henry Harrison was ordained priest by Bishop John Privett at All Saints, Vernon. The Reverend Russell Ferrie and Lumby churchwarden Reg Saunders presented him. Bill’s wife, Rita, who is associate priest at All Saints sang the litany, and his two sons, Richard (8) and Charles (6) read the lessons. Deacon Heather Karabelas read the gospel, and Canon Peter Davison preached the sermon. Bill’s sister, Sister Jane Mary Harrison n/ssm (Society of St. Margaret, Boston), assisted him in administering Holy Communion. Bill is priest-in-charge of St. James-the-Less, Lumby. He is also a published scholar, and a member of the Anglican-United Church dialogue. Bill is also the moving spirit behind the forthcoming “Images of Incarnation” conference to be held at UBC Okanagan in June 2009. The conference will present “Histories of Anglicanism in Canada” from the viewpoints of native peoples, laity, women, and linguistic and cultural traditions other than the Anglo-Saxon stream.