New Rector of Christ Church Cathedral Announced!

On March 15, 2020, Rector's Warden, Emily Pritchard and People's Warden, Liz McCausland were happy to announce that Archbishop Melissa Skelton has appointed the Venerable Christopher Pappas, Rector of the Parish of Christ Church Cathedral effective June 1, 2020.

Archdeacon Pappas, who was born, raised and educated in the United States has spent a considerable portion of his career in ministry in the Diocese of Edmonton where currently he is Rector of Holy Trinity, Edmonton. He began his ministry at Holy Trinity in 2010.

Archdeacon Pappas, who has had and continues to have a very active and diverse career in ministry supplied diocesan communications with the following biography:

In addition to being the Rector of Holy Trinity Anglican, Chris is the Diocesan Archdeacon for Congregational Development. He recently completed a Doctor of Ministry in Congregational Studies at Church Divinity School of the Pacific, in Berkeley CA, on the characteristics of leadership in transformational congregations.

Chris received a B.S. in Biology from Trinity College in Hartford, CT, and a Ph.D. In Biomedical Science: Neuroscience from UConn.  His area of research was glial physiology, with a focus on astrocyte ion regulation.  He received a M.Div. from Yale Divinity School & a Certificate in Anglican Studies from Berkeley Divinity School at Yale.   He also received a D.Min from Church divinity School of the Pacific with a dissertation topic on Leadership in Transformational Parishes.

He was ordained a deacon in the Episcopal Diocese of Eau Claire and priest in the Anglican Diocese of Edmonton. Chris has previously served as a regional dean, a member of executive council and as a territorial archdeacon. He has also been involved in church growth and has served on various community and church committees, including Executive Council, co-chair of the National Worship Conference, and the Vital Healthy Parishes initiative, and the Alberta Government Working Group on the Banning of Conversion Therapy.

Chris has also served in the Episcopal Diocese of Rhode Island where he was a member of the Diocesan Congregational Development Commission and as a seminarian in CT.  After growing up in the Greek Orthodox Church, he brings with a deep love and reverence for the mystery of our faith, and enjoys the rich liturgy and symbolism of the Anglican Church.   Chris is a strong proponent of ecumenism, and interfaith activities; serves the soldiers of the South Albert Light Horse at the regimental church, is active in community organizing and in the Church’s mission in the world.

He is an avid reader of Science Fiction/ Fantasy as well as enjoying history and current events.  Although retired from rugby and riding a motorcycle, he still enjoys yoga, cardio and weight training, bike riding, squash, snow shoeing as well as other physical activities.  Chris is a big fan of Monty Python, the New York Yankees, the Boston Celtics, and the University of Connecticut Huskies basketball teams and a soccer fan.  He is also a big fan of theatre and the arts and has acted in a number of Fringe Production at Holy Trinity and has been host of the monthly Open Stage. He is active in promoting the Arts, supporting artists and providing good, life affirming art for the community.

People's Warden, Liz McCausland read the following message to the Christ Church community from Archdeacon Pappas during the announcement.

Dear sisters & brothers in Christ,

I am very excited to be called to be your rector and by the endless possibilities that lie before us to be beacons of light in the world through proclaiming God’s Kingdom. After reading about your hopes and dreams in your profile and speaking to the outstanding people on your search committee I can’t wait to meet the rest of you and be part of such a passionate and creative faith community. I look forward to meeting each of you over a cup of coffee or other suitable beverage and hearing your stories, your ideas and your dreams for helping to make the World as it Is more like the World as It Should Be. I feel that I have been called to the best ministry in the entire North American Church and I can’t wait to see where God is taking us!

When asked for comment, Archbishop Melissa Skelton had this to say about the appointment of Archdeacon Pappas:

I’m delighted to appoint the Venerable Chris Pappas as Rector of Christ Church Cathedral. Chris brings a wealth of skills and experience in parish development that the Cathedral will benefit from as it looks forward to continuing its vibrant congregational life and its strong relationships within the broader Vancouver community.  Chris is collaborative and creative and is ready to work with our fine Cathedral staff and with me in this exciting and challenging time for the Church.

Archdeacon Pappas succeeds the Very Peter Elliott who retired after a 25 year incumbency as Rector of Christ Church Cathedral, September 30, 2019. In the interim the parish has been served by the Canon Richard Lesueur working in conjunction with the cathedral's outstanding clergy, lay leadership and staff.

Diocesan Communications and Christ Church Cathedral Communications staff will post and circulate information about the Celebration of a New Ministry Eucharist as it becomes available.

IMAGES

• The Venerable Christopher Pappas
• Rector's Warden, Emily Pritchard makes the announcement at the 8am Eucharist, March 15
• People's Warden, Liz McCausland offers more information about the appointment and reads a message from the newly appointed rector.