Diocese of Saskatchewan Holds Electoral Synod

The Bishop-Elect is congratulated by delegates Lloyd Young of Cumberland House and the Rev'd Wilfred SandersonOn December 6th, 2008, the Feast of St. Nicholas, the Diocese of Saskatchewan held our Electoral Synod. Our task for the day was to elect a new Bishop of the Diocese. The office has been vacant since Bishop Anthony Burton stepped down in September.

Delegates arrived at St. Alban’s Cathedral in Prince Albert for the Synod. After registering, they enjoyed coffee and muffins provided by the local Anglican Church Women’s group (ACW). There was a palpable sense of excitement in the air of the hall, and anticipation about what the day held.

All the delegates then made their way to the nave of the Cathedral, where the business of the day would take place. Acting Metropolitan Donald Phillips addressed the gathered delegates and observers, and walked us through the administrative details of making sure we had a quorum, calling the rolls of delegates, and formally nominating the three candidates.

Mary Brown, Bishop Donald Phillips and Hugh Harradence hard at workBefore the business of voting began, the delegates worshiped and prayed together in a service of Holy Communion. Acting Metropolitan Phillips was the celebrant. He was assisted by the Reverend Chris Harper of the Parish of Birch Hills, Kinistino and Muskoday, and by the Reverend Tracey Lloyd Smith, of St. Christopher’s Church, Christopher Lake. Lay Reader Eliza Sewap of Pelican Narrows read the epistle.

The delegates then divided into two houses for voting, one for Lay delegates and one for Clergy delegates. To win, a candidate needed more than 50% of the votes in each house. The anticipation mounted as the clerical and lay secretaries read the rolls and each delegate voted. The delegates were kept in suspense as the scrutineers counted the votes, but they were treated to a lunch provided by the ladies of St. George’s Church, Prince Albert.

Lynda Miller, Martha Constant and Lynn Meachem prepare lunch for the delegates
Acting Metropolitan Phillips announced the results of the first ballot at 1:20 pm, and declared that we had a winner: the Very Reverend Michael Hawkins, by a decisive margin in both houses. He is now our Bishop-elect. The news sparked a standing ovation among both delegates and observers.

Mr. Hawkins is currently the Rector of St. Alban’s Cathedral in Prince Albert, and the Dean of Saskatchewan, where he has served since 2001. Prior to moving to Prince Albert, he served in two rural parishes in the Diocese of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.

There was a long line of well-wishers for the Bishop-ElectThe Electoral Synod ended with a long line of delegates and observers from across the diocese. They all offered their congratulations, prayers and best wishes to the new Bishop-elect. The line of well-wishers reflected perfectly the mix of people we have in the diocese – young and old; men and women; from city, town, country and reserve; east, west and north. As they left the Cathedral at the end of the Synod, the delegates had the sense that we had successfully discerned the voice of God’s Spirit that day.

Bishop-Elect Hawkins will be consecrated as Lord Bishop of the Diocese of Saskatchewan on Friday, March 6, 2009. The service will take place at the (Roman Catholic) Sacred Heart Cathedral in Prince Albert at 7 pm. All are welcome to come and celebrate with the Diocese of Saskatchewan the beginning of the ministry of Bishop-Elect Hawkins.