Anglicans Appoint National Indigenous Bishop
Friday, January 05, 2007 at 15:28
The Anglican Church of Canada has introduced its first bishop representing Aboriginal people.
Duluth, Minnesota native Mark MacDonald has been chosen to fill the church’s new position of National Indigenous Bishop on March 1st.
MacDonald will have pastoral oversight over Native Anglicans throughout Canada.
MacDonald’s new role is intended to give Aboriginal people in the church a figure of central leadership.
His appointment is the result of an international search, which also included candidates from the church’s First Nations community.
The move follows a petition submitted in 2005 by the Sacred Circle, a national convocation of the church’s Aboriginal people in Pinawa, Manitoba.
Bishop Charlie Arthurson of La Ronge likes the idea of a national Aboriginal bishop. However, Arthurson, who speaks Cree, isn’t sure if MacDonald knows an Aboriginal language — and he thinks that might limit MacDonald’s effectiveness.
Archbishop Terry Finlay says the church hopes MacDonald can help in the task of healing and reconciliation as the federal government seeks to compensate former Aboriginal residential school students who suffered abuse.
(with files from the Canadian Press)