Rev. Paul Millward, Rector of Christ Anglican Church is
delighted with the choice of Right Reverend Linda Nicholls as the new co-adjutor bishop of the Huron Diocese.
“Our church has chosen well,” he said of the election that took place February 13. “It was clear right from the beginning that this was the direction we were heading.”
Millward, one of eight seeking the position, said he was somewhat disappointed but is blessed to remain in Chatham where he has served since 2004.
“Tracy (Rev. Millward’s wife) and I agreed that there were no bad outcomes,” he said. “We were either going forward to face the challenge or we would be remaining here where we have strong ties to the church and community.”
Rev. Nicholls is the first women to be elected to the co-adjutor bishop position in the diocese. She will become the 13th Bishop of Huron when the Right Rev. Bishop Robert Bennett retires.
She is currently bishop of Trent-Durham and bishop suffragan, Diocese of Toronto.
Rev. Millward said this election brought greater contact with members of the clergy and congregations than ever before.
“People had the opportunity to ask the candidates their opinions and have a real dialogue in Christ,” he said. “We used social media more than ever before. It’s a clear message that we need to move forward with more opportunities for dialogue whenever possible.”
Bishop Nicholls is co-chair of Anglican-Roman Catholic Dialogue in Canada, member of Faith Worship and Ministry Committee, Anglican Church of Canada, chair of Standing Committee on Religious Orders, Anglican Church of Canada House of Bishops, and episcopal member of Doctrine and Worship Committee, Diocese of Toronto.
The Huron Diocese stretches from Pelee Island to Tobermory and Windsor to Brantford with 185 congregations.
