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Following extensive conversations at both clergy day and with diocesan council, I am pleased to make the following announcements.  

Archdeacons   

As there is not always a clergy person in each region who has both enough ordained experience and enough experience in this diocese to serve as the regional archdeacon, going forward there will be an “archdeacon appointed for the region” instead of a regional archdeacon. Serving as an archdeacon will also involve having a renewable term and may involve being deployed to different regions as necessary.  

As we begin with this slightly altered system, I am pleased to announce that I have appointed The Rev. Kelly Duncan as an archdeacon and that she will be serving as the archdeacon appointed for the North Island. Kelly previously served as an archdeacon in the Diocese of New Westminster. She travels to Courtenay regularly to see family and looks forward to deepening her relationships with the parishes in that region and being with them at the regional meeting in the fall.  

Regional Deans  

The feedback from the clergy is that they miss having a colleague who convenes them for pastoral support and community building. The clergy also had suggestions as to which of their colleagues could serve in this role. As such, I am pleased to announce that:  

  • The Rev. Kirsten Evenden has been appointed regional dean for the North Island.  
  • The Rev. Theo Robinson has been appointed regional dean for the Mid-Island. 
  • The Rev. Christine Conkin has been appointed regional dean for the South Island.  

Regional deans will convene regular meetings of clergy but will not have a governance role and it will continue to be the archdeacon who convenes the regional meeting and who, as needed, is the bishop’s representative in the region.  

Parishes who need support from an archdeacon should reach out to the archdeacon appointed for the region:  

  • North Island – The Rev. Kelly Duncan  
  • Mid-Island – The Rev. Craig Hiebert*  
  • Greater Victoria – The Rev. Craig Hiebert* 
  • Western, Peninsula, and Gulf Islands – The Rev. Lon Towstego  

*Craig will take up this role in October when he returns from sabbatical. In the meantime, parishes should be in touch with Archdeacon Jenny Replogle.

Canon for Lay Worship Leaders 

I am also pleased to appoint The Rev. Ingrid Andersen as Canon for Lay Worship Leaders in recognition of the extraordinary work she has done training and supporting over 100 lay worship leaders both in this diocese and elsewhere in our ecclesiastical province.  

All of these appointments take immediate effect and will be formally recognized as part of the opening worship at the fall Synod.  

I am so grateful for everyone’s input and especially for those who have agreed to serve in these roles.

- Bishop Anna Greenwood-Lee