Welcome!
We hope that you will find the information about our Diocese useful and that you will find some helpful resources for ministry. We look forward to hearing from you and answering any questions you might have.
Our Diocesan Vision statement.
Please email us your thoughts and comments.
In the News...
2nd sitting of the 93rd Synod...
The 2nd sitting of the 93rd Synod of the Diocese of British Columbia will be held on Saturday, March the 27th. Location to be announced shortly.
NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release Monday, March 8th, 2010
1st Sitting of the 93rd Synod
of the Anglican Diocese of British Columbia
Victoria, BC ~ Following, in point form, are the Acts of Synod for the Anglican Diocese of British Columbia that were approved during the 1st sitting.
The 2nd sitting of the 93rd Synod will be held sometime prior to May 2nd, 2010.
Click here to go to the News page... for the remainder of the News Release.
93rd Synod becomes 1st and 2nd sittings...
Victoria, BC ~ The Anglican Diocese of British Columbia covering Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands, spent this weekend at the 1st sitting of the 93rd Synod (legislative body of the diocese) at Christ Church Cathedral School deliberating the Diocesan Transformation Team report recommendations that were tabled on Monday, January 25th, 2010.
There will be a detailed summary of what transpired during the 1st sitting of the 93rd Synod distributed Monday, March 8th, 2010 by 1:00pm.
Due to the volume of motions, it has been determined that a 2nd sitting of the 93rd Synod is necessary. The date of the 2nd sitting will be determined by the Bishop and the Diocesan Officers and will be on a Saturday prior to May 2nd.
Bishops James Cowan Charge to the 93rd Synod
On Saturday, March 6th, 2010 Bishop James Cowan delivered his Charge to the 93rd Synod. It highlighted the need for transformational change including following through on the Diocesan Transformation Team's report recommendations ... more
Camp Columbia... Summer Camp 2010 is on!!
Check out the upcoming events in April and May on the Camp Columbia Calendar and visit the Camp Columbia web site for the Summer 2010 program! The acting Camp Columbia Director is Ruth MacIntosh ~ Family Life Minister from Christ Church Cathedral. The Registrar is Gaile Sullivan.
General Synod 2010 Diocesan Representatives...
CLERGY ~ The Reverend Canon Christopher Parsons, The Reverend Lucy Reid, The Reverend Canon John Steele & The Venerable Brian Evans
LAY ~ Canon Dr. Martin Hendy, Mrs. Catherine Speechly-Pell, Mr Ed Norman & Mr. Jim Hamar
YOUTH ~ Mr. Grant Williamson
Meet the Diocesan Development Team... more
Sermon Shop...
There are several new sermons by The Reverend Dr. Gary Nicolosi including "It's time to tear down our church"... more
The Rev. & Mrs. Andrew Twiddy...
The Reverend Andrew Twiddy is on sabbatical from St. Anne & St. Edmund and is now in Belize as the first person to participate in the Anglican Church of Canada’s new national program, “Continuing Education for Global Ministry” along with his wife Sandy. “Andy and Sandy”, as their home parish of St. Anne and St. Edmund call the new duo, have both set up blogs to share their ministry experiences in Belize ... more
CBC Interviews...
The first interview is Bishop James Cowan and Canon Dr. Martin Hendy with CBC morning host for ON THE ISLAND ~ Gregor Craigie ... Listen Here
The second interview is with The Venerable Christopher Page of St. Philip Oak Bay with CBC morning host for ON THE ISLAND ~ Gregor Craigie ... Listen Here
Diocesan Transformation Team Report ... click here
Following are all the relevant reports & documents since the Bishop's Charge to Synod in 2004 which began the process to re-energize, re-focus and transform.
~ Diocesan Transformation Team News Release & Summary 2010
~ The McLean Final Report May 2009
~ Too Little Too Late Diocesan Congregational Development Team Report (May 2009)
~ Parish Annual Report Summary 2008
~ Parish Annual Report 2008 Breakdown by Growth & Budget
~ DMRIT Healthy Parishes Report (September 2008)
~ DMRIT FINAL Report (August 2008)
~ DMRIT News Release (April 2007)
~ DMRIT Interim Report (April 2007)
~ DMRIT Appendices (April 2007)
~ The McLean Final Report March 2006
~ DMRT Final Report (May 2006)
~ DMRT News Release (May 2006)
~ Times Colonist Commentary (The Ven. Logan McMenamie March 2006)
~ The McLean Final Report (March 2006)
~ DMRT Letter to the Bishop (February 2006)
~ Bishop's Charge ~ Synod 2004 (March 2004)
Women's Weekend Spring 2010!!!
Click here to view the poster and registration information. Cheques may be made out to The Diocese of British Columbia.
Bishop's Announcements of celebrations & people on the move...
"Please hold the following individuals, their families, their parish families and myselft in prayer during these times of transition." ~ + James
~ "This is to inform you that the Reverend Mark Davison of Brentwood Memorial Chapel has voluntarily relinquished the exercise of ministry according to Canon XIX of the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada effective March 1, 2010. Mark and some members of Brentwood Memorial Chapel (it is not known how many) will join the Network.
Please pray for the congregation that remains at this difficult time."
~ "The Reverend Michael Hemmings has accepted my appointed of him as Associate Priest at St. John the Divine, Victoria. This appointment is effective March 1, 2010."
~ "It is with great sadness that I write to inform you that I have accepted the resignation of The Reverend Susan Hayward-Brown as Incumbent (half-time) of St. Martin of Tours Parish. The effective day of this resignation is 30 April, 2010."
~ "It is with delight that I write to inform you that The Venerable Dr. Richard LeSueur has accepted my appointment of him as Incumbent of St. George, Cadboro Bay. The date of this appointment is June 1st, 2010.
At present, Richard is the Interim Priest-in-Charge of the Parish of St. Peter, Calgary, and Territorial Archdeacon of Bow Valley for the Diocese of Calgary; he has exercised ministry in the dioceses of Calgary, Toronto, and Jerusalem. Fr. LeSueur is married to Rhonde (pronounced Rondee), and together they have two adult sons."
~ "I have, with regret, accepted the resignation of Ed Lewis as
Chair and member of the Committee on Ordained Ministry and have
appointed Christopher Parsons as the Chair effective January 22nd, 2010."
~ The Bishop wishes to announce that, with regret, he has accepted the resignation of The Reverend Pam Orman as Incumbent of St. Mary, Saanichton. Pam has resigned in order to enter retirement effective April 30, 2010. Please remember Pam and John in your prayers as they prepare to enter a new phase in their lives.
~ The Bishop announces that The Reverend Canon John Alfred Steele has been appointed the Diocesan Ecumenical Officer. The appointment takes effect immediately.
~ "I have accepted the resignation of The Reverend David Howells as Co-Rector of the Parish of St. Michael and All Angels, Royal Oak, so he might accept the full-time position of Spiritual and Religious Care Coordinator at the Victoria Hospice Society effective January 1, 2010. And, I am pleased to announce that I have appointed The Reverend Lucy Reid as the full-time Rector of the Parish of St. Michael and All Angels, Royal Oak effective January 1st, 2010."
~ With pleasure I write to inform you that the Reverend Lincoln McKoen has accepted my appointment of him to be the next Incumbent of the Parishes of Christ Church, Alert Bay and St. Olaf, Quatsino. The effective date of his appointment is February 1st, 2010. Lincoln, who comes to us from St. Peter's Anglican Church in the Diocese of Toronto, is married to Tanya."
2010 Diocesan Synod...
"At the request of Bishop Cowan, Diocesan Council set the date for our 2010 diocesan Synod, namely, March 5th, 6th and 7th. Please share this email with your Wardens and mark these dates in your calendars.
The early date was chosen so that our elected delegates attending General Synod early in June 2010 will have time to make travel arrangements and to read and reflect on the materials they will receive.
This leaves you with three choices in holding your annual vestry meeting:
1. Keep the delegates you elected early this year; or
2. Hold a quick 15-minute vestry meeting in January to elect new delegates to attend the diocesan Synod; or
3. Hold your vestry meeting in January to elect delegates for the upcoming diocesan Synod with sufficient time to complete and send in your Parish Annual Returns."
Sisters of St. John the Divine...
Check out their upcoming events here or view their whole calendar here.