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Making history at Christ Church

Congregation welcomes the Right Reverend Melissa Skelton on Sept. 7
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The newly elected Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of New Westminster will visit Christ Church in Hope on Sept. 7.

Right Reverend Melissa Skelton is coming to Hope in September to preach and celebrate holy communion.

Last November, Skelton became the first woman and the first American to be elected Bishop of the 135-year-old Anglican Diocese of New Westminster. During her years in graduate school, Skelton earned a masters degree in business administration and a masters degree in divinity, preparing and studying for both degrees at the same time. Prior to ordination she was a brand manager at Procter and Gamble, thus distinguishing her as the first bishop of the Diocese of New Westminster to have had a career outside of the church prior to ordination.

On March 1, 2014, she was ordained bishop at the Vancouver Convention Centre and then later that day at Christ Church Cathedral in downtown Vancouver she was installed as the ninth bishop of the Diocese of New Westminster. Since her ordination, she has been visiting the communities of faith that make up her new diocese.

Skelton is a respected leader in the field of congregational development leading workshops and learning sessions throughout North America. The congregation tripled during her nine-year incumbency at her last ministry post, St.Paul’s Episcopal Church in one of Seattle’s urban neighbourhoods.

Reverend Gail Newell and the Christ Church congregation invite the public to the service on Sept. 7 at 10 a.m. and the potluck luncheon that follows.