Welcome

It is my pleasure to welcome you to the website of the Anglican Military Ordinariate of Canada. This is a new initiative designed to share with you something of another unique ministry of our beloved church. The ordinariate, while not a diocese, is composed of all of the Anglicans in the Canadian Forces and while we are linked to bases, wings and formations many of us are also members of parishes within dioceses as well as being members of military chapels. We are proud to be a part of the ministry of the Anglican Church of Canada and to be in touch and to be mutually encouraged is a blessing.

Bishop Coffin visits the troops

I have been the Bishop Ordinary to the Canadian Forces since late 2004. Having come from a military family and having some military service myself I found myself right at home with a close-knit community that works with dedication and professionalism in the cause of establishing peace and justice in the world in which these things are elusive. The Forces stand by to assist in times of emergency at home and abroad  from security, flood and ice storms, search and rescue and humanitarian aid overseas. They stand into danger overseas. They spend long times at sea where 85% of the world’s commerce travels. They, the members of the Forces and their families, make considerable sacrifices, including risk and separation from loved ones, to do the things that Canada asks them to do. I  join other Canadians in being proud of and grateful for  the men and women in uniform and their families and loved ones. I am proud that by God’s grace and often in the midst of turmoil we can witness to the presence of our Lord who even in darkness brings peace such as the world cannot give. May he continue “to guide our feet into the way of peace”.

I am proud of our chaplains. In the Regular Force there are 45 and in the Reserve Force there are 35,  at last count, which means that our church contributes significantly to the chaplaincy of the Canadian Forces–approximately 22%. These chaplains come from dioceses across the country and we are grateful that they have been made available for this ministry. We are also grateful to parishes that allow their clergy to take some time for duties in the Reserve Force and regard this a part of their parish ministry. We hope to share some of their stories. I bid your prayers for them always–the chaplains of all denominations and faiths serving in the Chaplain Branch as well as our own.

Anglican Military Ordinariate Bishop's throne, Christ Church Cathedral, Ottawa

We are grateful for the support of our Primate and for all of you for your encouragement and prayers  and we thank you for visiting this window into our life and ministry. May you feel that it is a part of your ministry and first and foremost the ministry of Jesus in which, to quote the Collect for the Feast of All Saints, “we are knit together into one holy Church, the mystical Body of Christ.”

Grace and Peace
+Peter

The Right Rev. Peter R. Coffin,
Anglican Bishop Ordinary to the Canadian Forces

Address:

The Right Rev. Peter Coffin
Anglican Military Ordinariate
CFSU Ottawa – Uplands Site, Bldg 468,
Ottawa, ON, K1A 0K2