Bishop Miller elected Metropolitan

by Ana Watts

Claude Miller, our diocesan bishop, was elected Metropolitan (chief pastor) of the Ecclesiastical Province of Canada on Saturday, Sept. 12 at a session of Provincial Synod held in Gander, Newfoundland & Labrador. He now bears the title of Archbishop of the Diocese of Fredericton and continues to function as bishop. His extra duties as Metropolitan include presiding over the provincial house of bishops, synod and council; presiding over the election and consecration of bishops; and provision of pastoral care throughout the province, especially to the bishops of the dioceses in his province; and responsibility for the Advisory Committee on Postulants for Ordination (ACPO).

“I am delighted to be able to serve as metropolitan,” said Archbishop Miller in an interview in Fredericton on Monday, Sept. 14. He looks forward to his job with relish.

“We are already talking about sharing and collaborating, especially sharing educational resources, post ordination training for all clergy, including vocational deacons; we’re talking about lay education, looking at standards of education for theological students, and partnering with youth to ensure they are an integral part of our ministries and mission. As bishops we are already planning to partner with one another. I will be going to the Diocese of Western Newfoundland, and Bishop Cyril Pitman from Eastern Newfoundland and Labrador will be here for a week in the spring. And we see communication as vital and hope to have effective links from all our diocesan websites to the provincial website.”

But it is talk of the big picture, work in the real world, that really excites Archbishop Miller. “We need to speak as one voice on important issues, from H1N1 and gambling to sexuality and the cod fishery.”

As senior bishop in the Province, then-Bishop Miller was appointed acting Metropolitan last spring upon the retirement of Archbishop Bruce Stavert of Quebec. In his acting position he presided over a meeting of the Provincial House of Bishops and Provincial Synod meetings in Gander Sept. 10 – 13. He offered a stirring presidential address to the 45th Provincial Synod.

“We are a representative body bearing our local concerns, while at the same time, endeavoring to define God’s apostolic mission beyond ourselves.

“In the recent history of our church we have never been better positioned to make a real difference. We will regain our relevance when God’s mission is seen to be done. God’s love is a commodity always in demand, and we will witness to this need as we are sent into God’s world in the true Apostolic sense.”

All diocesan bishops in the province are automatically nominated for the position of Metropolitan. Although Archbishop Miller is the senior bishop by tenure, he is by no means the senior tenured cleric in the group. He came to the priesthood following a successful career in civil engineering, real estate appraisal, development and property management.

He was granted a Bachelor of Theology by the Atlantic School of Theology in 1988 and ordained a deacon in June of that year by Archbishop Harold Nutter. He was raised to the priesthood the following year by Bishop George Lemmon. He served in the parishes of Kingston and Bathurst. In 1995 he was made a Canon of Christ Church Cathedral and appointed Archdeacon of Chatham.

In 2000 Bishop Bill Hockin chose him to be his executive assistant and diocesan archdeacon. During his time in those positions he entered a Doctor of Ministry (DMin) program at Bangor Theological Seminary. He graduated in May of 2003, shortly after his election as coadjutor bishop of Fredericton in March. He became diocesan bishop in November of that year.

Diocesan Communications

15 September 2009