June 27, 2025
Dear Clergy and People of our Diocese,
Our journeys in faith often bring us to a place where we are faced with a decision to relinquish our own hopes, desires, and plans because God is calling us to something else. This is the way of Christ. This happens frequently in small ways, as we make day to day choices about how we will speak and act toward others, or how we will use our money or skills. Occasionally this happens in big ways, where we become aware that God is calling us far beyond ourselves, to serve God in a new way.
One of my favourite “call” stories in the Bible is Moses and the burning bush. Poor Moses keeps responding to God’s persistence and accommodations by saying “BUT” and offering more excuses—until God finally had enough and compelled Moses to accept. Moses’ personal life was forever changed as he accepted the call to lead God’s people.
The call for me to allow my name to stand for the office of Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada became increasingly strong over the last several months. Like Moses, I kept pushing it away, reasoning that my commitment to our diocese and any number of heartfelt concerns were far more important than such a monumental disruption. In the end, during the Eucharist before the election on Thursday, resisting became too great, and I accepted, deep in my heart, that I needed to relinquish and entrust my life to God, and allow the General Synod, guided by the Holy Spirit, to decide. When the call for additional names came from the floor of Synod, I consented to let my name go forward, and so I became the Primate-elect of the Anglican Church of Canada.
I write to help you understand what has happened and to assure you that there will be a measured and orderly transition over the next several months. I have complete confidence in our diocesan church: we have excellent staff and lay and clergy leaders, and we have done fine work to guide change and place our diocese in a good place as we face the future. All shall be well.
In due course, more details about the transition will be shared. For now, I ask for your prayers, courage, and trust as we, together, accept and faithfully respond to all the implications of God’s call.
With kindest blessings,
The Right Reverend Shane A.D. Parker
Bishop of Ottawa
From our Bishop
A letter to the clergy and people of our diocese
June 27, 2025
Dear Clergy and People of our Diocese,
Our journeys in faith often bring us to a place where we are faced with a decision to relinquish our own hopes, desires, and plans because God is calling us to something else. This is the way of Christ. This happens frequently in small ways, as we make day to day choices about how we will speak and act toward others, or how we will use our money or skills. Occasionally this happens in big ways, where we become aware that God is calling us far beyond ourselves, to serve God in a new way.
One of my favourite “call” stories in the Bible is Moses and the burning bush. Poor Moses keeps responding to God’s persistence and accommodations by saying “BUT” and offering more excuses—until God finally had enough and compelled Moses to accept. Moses’ personal life was forever changed as he accepted the call to lead God’s people.
The call for me to allow my name to stand for the office of Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada became increasingly strong over the last several months. Like Moses, I kept pushing it away, reasoning that my commitment to our diocese and any number of heartfelt concerns were far more important than such a monumental disruption. In the end, during the Eucharist before the election on Thursday, resisting became too great, and I accepted, deep in my heart, that I needed to relinquish and entrust my life to God, and allow the General Synod, guided by the Holy Spirit, to decide. When the call for additional names came from the floor of Synod, I consented to let my name go forward, and so I became the Primate-elect of the Anglican Church of Canada.
I write to help you understand what has happened and to assure you that there will be a measured and orderly transition over the next several months. I have complete confidence in our diocesan church: we have excellent staff and lay and clergy leaders, and we have done fine work to guide change and place our diocese in a good place as we face the future. All shall be well.
In due course, more details about the transition will be shared. For now, I ask for your prayers, courage, and trust as we, together, accept and faithfully respond to all the implications of God’s call.
With kindest blessings,
The Right Reverend Shane A.D. Parker
Bishop of Ottawa
The Rt. Rev. Shane Parker is the Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Ottawa.
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