| Feature Article – May 2007 |
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During General Synod’s June meeting in Winnipeg, our lay and clergy delegates will participate in the election of a new Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada. By the time this article appears in print, we will know the names of the Bishops nominated to succeed Archbishop Andrew Hutchison in this office.
Someone said to me recently, “Does it really matter who is elected? Isn’t the Primate just a figurehead?” I believe it does matter—very much. Whoever is elected will have to deal with some huge challenges, the nature of which will depend in part on how General Synod votes on some of the matters on its agenda. In particular, sexuality issues could divide the church to the point of schism. The quality of our most senior leadership can make a huge difference in how events unfold in the years ahead.
Some of the challenges which the new Primate will face are built into the office itself. When Archbishop Andrew led our Diocesan Clergy and Spouse Conference in September 2005, he told us of the pain he felt at the Primates’ meeting earlier that year, particularly when he was reproached by a Primate from Africa for failing to discipline his Bishops. The African Primate may have such power, but ours does not.
To use the words of one of my seminary professors, the office of Primate of Canada is an “ecclesiological anomaly.” What this means is that the Primate is a Bishop without jurisdiction, a departure from historical practice. The Primate may be the senior Bishop of our Church, but no priest or bishop is directly accountable to him (or her). This has been so since 1971, when Ted Scott was elected Primate. All previous Primates retained their Diocesan responsibilities.
Bishops’ liturgical ministries traditionally focus on confirmation and ordination, but the Primate can only confirm or ordain at the invitation of a diocesan bishop, and then under the Diocesan’s authority. The Primate is accountable to the diocesan bishops, not vice versa. As former Primate Michael Peers used to say, “The Anglican Church of Canada consists of 30 head offices and one branch plant.”
So—if the Primate doesn’t do the usual “Bishop things,” what does the Primate do? The Primate is the chief public spokesperson for the whole church, and the chair of many of its most important bodies. The national church website gives a good summary of the Primate’s many roles at www.anglican.ca/primate/index.htm, ending with “In many ways, both at home and abroad, the Primate symbolizes and represents the Anglican Church of Canada.”
The Primate’s only direct authority is over the operations of General Synod, of which s/he is the chief executive officer. However, the day-to-day management of the business of the church is entrusted to the church’s General Secretary, leaving the Primate free to travel, both throughout the country and around the world.
The office has special demands, and therefore calls for a person with special gifts:
Before all this, as the most senior leader of our Church, the Primate should be a person of deep and visible faith. When people look to the holder of this office, we should expect that they would see one who takes up the cross daily and follows Christ in all things.
Let us pray that the Holy Spirit will guide the members of General Synod to elect a person who will fill the office of Primate with grace, dedication, and wisdom.