January 2006
New Bishop for the Diocese of Qu’Appelle
front row: Vicki, Sheba the dog, Asha, Kyla. back row: Bishop-elect Greg, Jeremy
REGINA - Electors in the diocese of Qu'Appelle, meeting on November 12 at St. Paul's Cathedral, chose Dean Greg Kerr-Wilson, rector of All Saints Cathedral and dean of the Diocese of Edmonton, as their 11th bishop. He was elected on the third ballot. Five persons stood for election: Dean Peter Armstrong, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island; Archdeacon Helena Rose Houldcroft, Qu'Appelle; Dean Robin Walker, Brandon, Dean James Merrett, Qu'Appelle; the Reverend Cheryl Toth, Qu'Appelle and Dean Kerr-Wilson. There were 148 electors voting. Archbishop John Clarke, Metropolitan of the Ecclesiastical Province of Rupert's
Land, chaired the election. Since 1998 Kerr-Wilson has served as rector of All Saints' Cathedral and Dean of the Diocese of Edmonton. During that time he also served as chief examining chaplain for the Diocese of Edmonton, responsible for advising the bishop on vocations to ordained ministry. From June 2004 to January 2005 he was commissary for the bishop, responsible for overseeing the diocese while the bishop was away on sick leave. Other activities of Mr. Kerr-Wilson include his interest in liturgy. One area of this interest is his connection to Liturgy Canada (previously The Hoskin Group). Here he was a founding member and for
five years was managing editor. At present he is a regional editor. Liturgy Canada is an independent organization committed to the renewal of the life of the church in worship and mission. The group publishes a quarterly publication and has published several books such as Let Us Give Thanks: A presider's manual for the BAS eucharist, which Kerr-Wilson coauthored. As well, in 1994 he served as chair of the liturgy planning committee for the Archbishop of Canterbury's visit. Kerr-Wilson has worked with youth including serving for many years as councilor and chaplain to Base Camp, the Diocese of Edmonton's camp for junior high teens.
He holds a Bachelor of Applied Science from the University of British Columbia and in 1989 was awarded the Master of Divinity cum laude from Nashotah House, a seminary of the Episcopal Church, Wisconsin, USA. which included a year at Trinity College, Toronto. He served as assistant curate, St. Paul's Bloor Street, Toronto, 1989-1991 and incumbent at the Church of the Holy Family, Brampton, Ontario, 1991-1998. Mr. Kerr-Wilson is married to Vicki and has three children: Jeremy, 16, Asha, 13 and Kyla, 11.
Walking in someone else's shoes: using empathy to heal conflict By Penny McKinlay SASKATOON - Over 80 people gathered at Mount Royal Mennonite Church on November 15 to participate in a restorative justice workshop organized by the Prairie Centre for Ecumenism. Workshop sessions included Bullying, the Restorative Circles Initiative, Victims of Crime and a New Start for Young Offenders. Mary Rose Boyer, a teacher
and consultant, gave the keynote address. Mary Rose says that she did not find it hard to develop empathy. As the oldest of nine children, she learned to be sensitive to what could hurt her siblings and this initiated a highly-developed sense of responsibility to young people. However, it took her many years to find a process that would allow her to help someone in crisis to help themselves.
The Circle of Courage, a child-rearing philosophy based on First Nations practices, provided Ms. Boyer with a process. Circle of Courage believes that human beings have four basic needs. The first is mastery - to be really good at something and to use our talents. The second is the need to belong; the third to give back to our community; and the fourth is a need to grow towards independence. Destructive
behaviour is a result of these needs not being met. Ms. Boyer emphasized how resilient children are, even in difficult environments. An encounter with one positive adult, even for a very brief time, can help lead them forward. “It's a scary responsibility as you realize you are being watched all the time ... (Please see Empathy on p. 3)