After a series of ballots at an electing synod, the Diocese of Toronto in the Ecclesiastical Province of Ontario of the Anglican Church of Canada has today elected three new bishops suffragan to serve in the diocese. In the diocese of Toronto bishops suffragan serve in a different capacity than in other Anglican dioceses around the world. They are similar to bishops suffragan in the Church of England in that they serve episcopal areas within the diocese. Dio Toronto is made up of four episcopal areas.
From the diocesan website;
Area bishops in our diocese function somewhat differently from those in other dioceses that use the same title. The role of the area bishop is an organizational one created to help the diocese operate more effectively.
In creating the role of the area bishop, the diocesan bishop granted certain episcopal duties and authorities upon the area bishops that normally reside in the role and person of the diocesan bishop. Therefore, an area bishop is a different type of bishop, not with respect to order, but with respect to jurisdiction.
Also, the creation of the area bishop role shifted the primary working relationship of the clergy from the diocesan bishop to the area bishop. In that respect, an area bishop’s role is distinctly different from that of the suffragan bishop in most other dioceses.
The suffragan bishops elected today are the Rev. Riscylla Walsh Shaw, the Rev. Canon Kevin Robertson and the Rev. Canon Jenny Andison. By following the link for each of their names you may read their CV and watch a short video as the candidates answered questions for the membership of the diocese to better know each of them.
This news was announced today on the diocesan website.