History was made at Christ Church Cathedral, Vancouver when 300 delegates to a special Electoral Synod on Saturday, November 30, 2013, elected the first woman and also the first US citizen to be bishop of the Diocese of New Westminster and the first diocesan bishop in the province. Following the third ballot, at 2:20pm, Archbishop John Privett, Metropolitan of the Ecclesiastical Province of British Columbia and Yukon, announced that the Reverend Canon Melissa M. Skelton was elected the 9th Bishop of the Diocese of New Westminster, succeeding Bishop Michael Ingham who retired August 31st, 2013, after 20 years of servant leadership. Prior to the announcement, and after determining that Canon Skelton had received the majority of votes from both clergy and lay, the Archbishop contacted the four members of the Provincial House of Bishops and received their concurrence.
Preparations for the Electoral Synod began last June when pursuant to Canon 217, Diocesan Council at its June meeting elected the Search and Nominations Committee, consisting of 5 clergy and 5 lay:
Clergy – Rev. Marnie Peterson, Rev. Fr. Michael Fuller, Rev. David Price, Rev. Brian Vickers, Ven. John Struthers;
Lay – Helen Brown, Reinhard Rudersdorfer, Charles Nurse, Starr Allaby, Leslie Arnovick
The committee began its work in July, assembling a diocesan profile and sending out a call for nominations. The call for the first round of nominations closed October 18th at 4pm. On November 6th, the 8 nominees were announced and a website activated to share with Members of Synod the names, CV’s, written statements and video responses of the nominees:
Ven. Ellen Clark-King, Vicar, Christ Church Cathedral, Diocese of New Westminster (Ph.D., M.A., C.T., B.A.)
Rev. Canon Dawn L. Davis, Incumbent Priest, Trinity Church Aurora, Diocese of Toronto (CHRP, M.Div., B.A.)
Rev. John Hebenton, Vicar, Anglican Parish of Gate Pa, Tauranga, Diocese of Waiapu, Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia (M.Min, BSc, LTh [Hons], B.A.)
Rev. Richard G. Leggett, Incumbent Priest, St. Faith's Anglican Church, Diocese of New Westminster (Ph.D., M.A., M.Div., B.A.)
Ven. Lynne E. McNaughton, Incumbent Priest, St. Clement Anglican Church, Diocese of New Westminster (D. Min., M.Div., B.A.)
Rev. John Oakes, Hon. Assoc. Priest, All Saints Episcopal Church, Belmont, Diocese of Massachusetts, TEC and on leave with permission to officiate, Diocese of New Westminster (Ph.D., M.Div., M.A., M.C.S., Dipl. C.S., B.A.)
Rev. Canon Melissa M. Skelton, Canon for Congregational Development and Leadership & Rector, St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Diocese of Olympia, TEC (M.Div., M.B.A., M.A., B.A.)
Incumbent Priest, St. Philip's Anglican Church, Diocese of New Westminster (M.Div., B.Sc.)
Over the next three weeks, the nominees received many questions (which they answered) from individual Members of Synod, parishes, and parish ministry groups to help prayerfully discern and prepare for the choice they would be asked to make at the Electoral Synod. The Electoral Synod was composed of elected representatives from the 68 parishes of the diocese, eligible clergy, and members of Diocesan Council.There were no further nominations received by the Chancellor during the second call for nominations which closed November 19th, nor were they any nominations from the floor following the first ballot on November 30th, which is the third opportunity for nominations outlined in the Canons of the diocese.
This was also the first Synod of the Diocese of New Westminster to use electronic voting. Rob Dickson, business administrator for the diocese looked at many different kinds of electronic voting systems before deciding on a system available here in Vancouver from the audio-visual/convention and production supply company, AVW-Telav. The system consists of a PC laptop, a processing unit, individual handheld remote voting devices and a smartcard (the same kind of card as is used to contain information like a debit card) with the Member of Synod’s name programmed in but also connected to notes in a digital file listing whether they were clergy or lay and their parish or diocesan affiliation.In order to provide the best possible service, AVW-Telav digital voting specialist, Scott Richards was flown in from Calgary to work with: diocesan legal assessor/returning officer, Don Paul; assistant returning officer, Laurie Dye; computer tech, Martin Knowles; and producer, Randy Murray all under the direction of Chancellor, George Cadman, QC and Chair, Archbishop John Privett. The Synod Staff, under the direction of the Ven. Douglas Fenton, Rob Dickson and Rev. Eileen Nurse, with Synod Planning Committee Chair, Susan Magee and a team of volunteers, registered and de-registered the nearly 300 Members of Synod. For a first time, the new process worked very well and the feedback for electronic voting has been positive.
After registration, which officially opened downstairs in the Cathedral at 8am, the Electoral Synod got underway on schedule with the Very Reverend Peter Elliott welcoming Members of Synod and visitors to Christ Church Cathedral, and passing on a few housekeeping instructions. The 9am Eucharist began right on time with the procession of the worship team to the hymn, Jesus calls us o’er the tumult.
The preacher and presider for the Eucharist was the Chair of the Electoral Synod, Archbishop John Privett. He made a number of references in his homily to the two readings: Romans 10:8B-18 and Matthew 4: 18-22 and to the life and sacrifice of St. Andrew the Patron Saint of Scotland, represented by the cross shaped like an X and who’s feast day we celebrate in the church calendar on November 30th.
The core of the Archbishop’s message was to consider the task of the Electoral Synod as “an exercise in community discernment.” He said “We gather today as instruments of God’s Holy Spirit…an important part of faith is trust.” The Archbishop asked that Members of Synod “suspend” their initial conclusions about choices for bishop and “listen with expectation for the movement of the Spirit” particularly at this point in the day, now during worship while experiencing the words of Christ and his sacraments. He asked that each person pray for the nominees as “each one of them has offered themselves in good faith to this process.” An Episcopal Election is an extremely public event and the nominees have done a great deal for us by agreeing to come forward and offer themselves to this ministry. They have responded to the call of Apostolic ministry, “to be one with the Apostles” witnessing to Christ’s resurrection, to strive in all things and in all ways “to be faithful pastors to all.” Prior to re-reading the Collect for that morning he said, “the time has come, so in this day let God open our hearts.
The intercession was offered by four youth Members of Synod: Emily Galvani, Sarah Stephens and Amanda Bowie under the direction of Cameron Gutjhar, chair of the British Columbia Yukon Anglican Youth Association (BCYAYM). Their prayers were gentle and hopeful and provided another level of context to the spiritual preparation for the election.
The PWRDF’s direct aid to the victims of Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines were the recipients of the offering received at the Eucharist prior to the Episcopal Election, November 30th, 2013. The total collected from that offering was $6035.60.
After worship it was time to convene Synod. The Chancellor reported that a quorum had been achieved consisting of 118 clergy and 170 lay. There were about a half hour of formalities which followed, including instructions on the care of the voting devices from Synod Planning Chair, Susan Magee and thanks extended to the committees and volunteers from the Chancellor, George Cadman. He mentioned that the long line forming outside the Cathedral’s lower level entrance before 8am for registration might’ve led the people of downtown Vancouver to think that there was a Black Friday Sale going on at the Cathedral.
Upon the completion of the convening agenda it was time for Scott Richards of AVW – Telav to present the orientation information concerning the electronic voting devices. He proceeded with a demonstration of how to insert the smartcards, and then how to select the button that you wish to press. When the Members of Synod were instructed to insert the smartcards there was a chorus of ooh’s and aaah’s sounding from the nave of the Cathedral as 300 people saw their own names appear electronically in the window of their voting device with the word “WELCOME.”
After a few practice polls and some questions for clarification from a number of Members of Synod, Don Paul and Scott stressed to Synod that each ballot would be preceded by the poll question, “Are you clergy or lay?” (press button number 1 or 2) in order to set the filters to process the vote in the two houses.
Prior to calling the first ballot, Archbishop John Privett led Synod in the singing of John Bell’s, Come Holy Spirit. He did this prior to the second and third ballots as well. After the hymn, Synod moved into silence and the Archbishop offered a prayer for guidance. Five minutes were allotted for each ballot and the first ballot took place at 11am.The result of the first ballot was:
Clark-King – Clergy 17 Lay 25; Davis – Clergy 8 Lay 20; Hebenton – Clergy 4 Lay 6; Leggett – Clergy 12 Lay 11; McNaughton – Clergy 16 Lay 20; Oakes – Clergy 12 Lay 24; Skelton - Clergy 38 Lay 56; Stephens – Clergy 11 Lay 13.
The second ballot took place at 11:30 and the results were announced at 12noon.
Clark-King – Clergy 16 Lay 24; Davis – Clergy 3 Lay 11; Hebenton – Clergy 2 Lay 1; Leggett - Clergy 10 Lay 6; McNaughton – Clergy 17 Lay 16; Oakes – Clergy 12 Lay 23; Skelton – Clergy 54 Lay 86; Stephens – Clergy 5 Lay 6.
After the second ballot, the Reverend Canon Dawn Davis and the Reverend Dr. Richard Leggett requested to have their names removed from the ballot. During the lunch break 12:30-1:15 pm, the Venerable Dr. Ellen Clark-King and the Venerable John Stephens also requested that their names be removed.
The third ballot was called at 1:40pm after a number of voting devices were replaced due to battery wear. Following the singing of Come Holy Spirit and a prayer offered by the Archbishop the voting was opened.
Of 119 clergy and 173 lay voting on the third ballot the results were: Hebenton -Clergy 1 Lay 2; McNaughton – Clergy 25 Lay 21; Oakes – Clergy 12 Lay 24 and Skelton - Clergy 81 Lay 126. In order to be elected a simple majority must be obtained in both houses. Canon Skelton had received a substantial majority of the vote.
Canon Skelton was asked to join the Chair, Executive Archdeacon, Chancellor and two Secretaries on the platform, lead the singing of the Doxology and offer a blessing to Synod prior to adjournment, which she gladly did while being welcomed with enthusiastic applause.
The atmosphere in the Cathedral was joyful and hopeful. An impromptu line-up formed in front of Canon Skelton to offer congratulations and a group of three women priests of the diocese, dressed in red requested that a photograph be taken of them so they would have a tangible memory of this historic occasion.
Vancouver Sun reporter/columnist Douglas Todd who is one of the most respected authors on matters of spirituality in North America was present as a visitor at Synod and he quickly conducted an interview with the bishop-elect.
The announcement of the election results went out immediately around the world as every ballot had been posted on social networks; Facebook, twitter and Instagram. Synod computer tech, Martin Knowles took over Randy Murray’s @DofNWComm twitter handle and tweeted effectively and efficiently throughout Synod as Randy and Charles Nurse kept the Facebook and internet audiences informed. CKNW, the AM station with the Vancouver area’s largest audience were in touch with Randy all afternoon, getting updates and were keen to conduct an interview with Canon Skelton, which they did after she had returned home to Seattle that evening. She took time out from preparing her Advent I sermons to give the interview.
The Ordination and Installation of Canon Skelton as the 9th Bishop of the Diocese of New Westminster is scheduled for St. David’s Day, March 1st, 2104, with location yet to be determined. Bishop Michael Ingham’s ordination took place at St. Andrew’s – Wesley United Church on January 9th, 1994, he was installed as Bishop in the diocesan cathedral, Christ Church Vancouver.Currently, Canon Skelton is Canon for Congregational Development and Leadership; and Rector, St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Seattle in the Diocese of Olympia (The Episcopal Church [TEC]). Over the next few months, prior to March 1st we will find out much more about our Bishop-elect.
As of this writing on December 2nd, 2013, Canon Skelton asked that these words be shared through diocesan communications:“I am thrilled and honored to have been elected by the clergy and lay delegates at the Electoral Synod and am looking forward to being your bishop. I’m particularly heartened by the strong support from Synod during the election and the personal conversations I had with many of you before and after the election. In these conversations I heard a genuine desire to work together with a new bishop on the strengthening of congregational life and the sense of community among the congregations and people of the diocese. I am excited to begin this work together.”
Images: Homepage and Top, Bishop-elect Melissa Skelton and Archbishop John Privett lead the singing of the doxology prior to adjournment. 1. Clergy and Diocesan Council members register in the Parish Hall at CCC (Photo – Martin Knowles). 2. Lay Secretary and Anglican Archivist Melanie Delva models some voting devices(Photo -Martin Knowles). 3. Scott Richards of AVW-Telav was very diligent in keeping the voting devices charged. 4. Opening worship. 5. The Chair of Electoral Synod and preacher and presider at the Eucharist, the Most Reverend John Privett. 6. Emily Galvani and Amanda Bowie were two of four youth delegates who offered the intercession. 7. The procession out prior to the convening of Synod (Photo – Martin Knowles) 8. The Chair of Synod Planning, Susan Magee gives some instructions about caring for the voting devices. 9. Archbishop Privett announces the results of the third ballot. 10. The Reverend Canon Melissa M Skelton, is elected the 9th Bishop of the Diocese of New Westminster. She smiles as she is welcomed by Synod. BELOW, 11. Three women priests, dressed in red and absolutely delighted at the Electoral Synod outcome: The Reverend Georgina Harris, Rector of St. Mary, Sapperton; the Reverend Janice Lowell, Assistant Priest, St. Francis-in-the-Wood, Caulfeild; the Reverend Faun Harriman, Rector, St. Alban, Burnaby. 12. Much joy was present in the Cathedral as the Bishop-elect is called to the platform and received sustained and enthusiastic applause.(Photo – Martin Knowles)