Bishop Coadjutor Elect - The Reverend John Stephens

At approximately 2pm, Saturday, October 3, 2020, Archbishop Melissa Skelton announced that the Reverend John Stephen's currently Rector of St. John's, Shaughnessy had been elected Coadjutor Bishop of the Diocese of New Westminster.

Rev. Stephens took an early lead on the first ballot. The three ballot results are available below. The Electoral Synod voted using an online platform, Simply Voting that is connected  through Data on the Spot (DOTS) a company that allows delegates to vote remotely from anywhere using their smartphone, tablet or laptop ensuring that the vote is secure and auditable. Some Synod Members did have some problems exercising their franchise, but on the whole the system worked well.

The Electoral Synod convened at 11am. Present at Christ Church Cathedral to oversee the election were: the Returning Officers, Susanne Stockdill and Ken Storozuk; the Officers of Synod: Executive Archdeacon, the Venerable Douglas Fenton; Legal Assessor, Jennifer Dezell, ODNW;  Chancellor, George Cadman, QC, ODNW; Vice-Chancellor, Kevin Smith; Archbishop and Chair, the Most Reverend Melissa Skelton; Clerical Secretary to Synod, the Reverend Justin Cheng; Lay Secretary to Synod Leah Starr and Chair of the Episcopal Election Committee, the Venerable Richard Leggett.

Following the announcement of the results of the third ballot, Rev. Stephens joined the live stream via Zoom to express his gratitude. He specifically thanked his fellow nominees: the Venerable Allan Carson; the Reverend Philip Cochrane; the Reverend Philippa Segrave-Pride and the Right Reverend Riscylla Shaw for their courage in being willing to disrupt their lives in order to offer the gift of servant-leadership to the Diocese of New Westminster.

There are still a number of questions that come up about the role of Coadjutor Bishop, Archdeacon Richard Leggett was kind enough to offer these words of explanation and clarification:

“When Archbishop Skelton announced her intent to retire on February 28, 2021, she could have called for an election after her actual retirement.  In that case there would have been a hiatus between her departure and the beginning of the next Bishop’s ministry.  Instead of this path, the Archbishop chose to call for the election of a Coadjutor Bishop before she retires.  This allows for a smoother period of orientation and transition from one episcopal ministry to the next. 

            “In the coming months Archbishop Skelton remains our Diocesan Bishop.  The Coadjutor Bishop-elect, the Reverend John Stephens in the months ahead will work closely with the Archbishop in preparing for the next chapter in our life as a Diocese.  On March 1, 2021, seven years to the day since the consecration of Archbishop Melissa, the Rev. Stephens will become the Bishop of New Westminster. Prior to that he will be consecrated (Ordained through the laying on of hands) on Saturday, January 23, 2021.”