From Ontario-
There was a day -- not too long ago -- when news of the election of a new Anglican bishop of Ontario would have been front page news, regardless of his roots or where he happened to be working at the time of his election.
Today, that news is relegated to the inside pages, three days after the fact, and frankly only given the space it is because the individual involved is one of our own. Well, at least, he is here currently if not born and raised.
Canon Michael Oulton, of Christ Church in Belleville, was elected on the third ballot at an electoral synod at St. George's Cathedral in Kingston Saturday. His consecration will take place June 11 at St. George's as he replaces Bishop George Bruce, who announced last October that he would retire effective Aug. 31, 2011.
Bishop-elect Oulton takes the helm of the diocese of Ontario, which has about 13,000 Anglicans in 44 parishes and which encompasses the counties of Frontenac, Prince Edward, Hastings, Lennox and Addington and Leeds and Grenville, at a time of struggle, not just for the Anglican church but for most mainstream churches.
Membership and attendance at Canadian churches have been in freefall for decades now. Statistics Canada reports that from 1985 to 2004, the number of Canadians who either have no religious affiliation or who have a religion but don't attend religious services increased from 31 per cent to 43 per cent.
More here-
http://www.intelligencer.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2977934
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