NEW ARCHDEACON FOR THE CANADIAN FORCES
Bishop Ordinary to the Canadian Forces, Peter Coffin lays his hands upon the head of the new Archdeacon, Padre John Fletcher while the Chaplain General, Archdeacon Emeritus Padre Karl McLean looks on. Photo: Art Babych, Editor, Crosstalk – used with permission.
On 1 November 2010, the Feast of All Saints, our Bishop Peter Coffin announced that he had appointed Canon John Fletcher as the Archdeacon of the Anglican Ordinariate. Our former Archdeacon, Karl McLean, has been assumpted to the rank of Brigadier General and made the Chaplain General of the Canadian Forces and along with the pressures and workload associated with that office there were also some ‘conflict of issue’ concerns, and so it was with great delight that our Bishop Peter announced that Padre McLean would become Archdeacon Emeritus of the Ordinariate, but that the yoke of the Archdeacon’s office would be passed to Canon Fletcher.
John was installed as Archdeacon at our home Cathedral, Christ Church Cathedral, Ottawa – the cathedral of the Diocese of Ottawa and the Anglican Ordinariate – on November 14th, 2010 at the morning service.
Colonel the Venerable John Fletcher has been a leader with the Ordinariate and the wider Anglican Church of Canada for many years. He was appointed Canon Pastor by the Bishop in 1999 and given the special role of providing pastoral care to Anglican chaplains and advising the Bishop on pastoral issues arising within the Ordinariate. He was elected to on several occasions to represent the Ordinariate at General Synod, and served for one three year period as a member on the Council of General Synod (COGS). It is COGS that, along with the Primate, House of Bishops, and the National Office Staff conduct much of the “business” of the Anglican Church of Canada. COGS oversees, delegates and receives work from the various departments, committees and councils of the National church structure. John also served for two triennia on the Communications, information and resources Committee of our National Church, and continues to serve as a member of the Board of directors of the Anglican Journal.
So what is an Archdeacon? Yes, an archdeacon is a senior clergy position – but the Bishop has several specially designated advisors called Canons. An archdeacon is often responsible for administration within an archdeaconry, a territorial area within a diocese. Many dioceses also have an Administrative Executive Officer who assists the bishop and this position too may be an Archdeacon. The most senior diocesan priestly position, the Archdeacon is often called the Oculus episcopi, the bishop’s eye. In the absence of the bishop, due to illness or travel, or following the bishop’s retirement and prior to a new Bishop’s appointment, the Archdeacon is often named as the Episcopal Commissary – with full authority to act in the Bishop’s stead. It is analogous with the Roman Catholic honorific “Monsignor”.
| NEW ARCHDEACON FOR THE ANGLICAN ORDINARIATE___ | NOUVEL ARCHIDIACRE DE L’ORDINARIAT ANGLICAN | |
| 1. After conversation with our Chaplain General, Archdeacon Karl McLean, I have decided to appoint him as ‘Archdeacon Emeritus’ of the Anglican Military Ordinariate thus freeing him from certain duties so that he can devote all of his energies to the whole Branch. He will, however, continue to be a member of ‘Chapter’ which, with the Bishop Ordinary, oversees the Anglican Military Ordinariate. We will, therefore, continue to receive Karl’s wise and gracious counsel. In June Karl finished a three year term on the Council of General Synod, the Anglican Church of Canada’s senior governing body, where he was held in deep esteem which resulted in a deeper appreciation for all of our military chaplains. | 1. Après une conversation avec notre aumônier général, l’archidiacre Karl McLean, j’ai décidé de le nommer « archidiacre émérite » de l’Ordinariat militaire anglican, le libérant ainsi de certaines tâches afin qu’il puisse consacrer toute son énergie à l’ensemble de la branche. Il continuera, cependant, à être membre du « chapitre » qui, avec l’évêque ordinaire, supervise l’Ordinariat militaire anglican. Nous allons donc continuer à recevoir les conseils judicieux et aimables de Karl. En juin, il a terminé un mandat de trois ans au sein du Conseil du Synode général, organe de direction principal de l’Église anglicane du Canada, où il était tenu en très haute estime, ce qui a eu pour résultat une meilleure appréciation de tous nos aumôniers militaires. | |
| 2. I, Peter, have appointed Canon John Fletcher as the Archdeacon of the Anglican Ordinariate effective on the Feast of All Saints being November 1st, 2010. John will be installed in this position at Christ Church Cathedral, Ottawa – the cathedral of the Diocese of Ottawa and the Anglican Ordinariate – on November 14th, 2010 at 1030h. | 2. Je, Peter, nomme le chanoine John Fletcher archidiacre de l’Ordinariat anglican à compter de la fête de la Toussaint, le 1er novembre 2010. John sera installé dans ce poste à la Cathédrale Christ Church d’Ottawa – la cathédrale du diocèse d’Ottawa et de l’Ordinariat anglican – le 14 novembre 2010, à 10h30. | |
| The Rt. Rev.Peter R. Coffin
Anglican Bishop Ordinary to the Canadian Forces |
Le très révérend Peter R. Coffin
Évêque ordinaire anglican des Forces canadiennes |
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