Matthews Elected Canada's First Woman Diocesan Bishop
Episcopal News Service. May 9, 1997 [97-1757M]
(ENI) On May 31, Victoria Matthews will become the Anglican Church of Canada's first woman diocesan bishop in a "Welcoming and Seating" service at All Saints Cathedral in Edmonton. Matthews, who became Canada's first woman suffragan bishop three years ago, will be the sixth woman among the world's 525 Anglican diocesan bishops. She was elected to lead the Edmonton Diocese on the fifth ballot at a special synod meeting last month. When she was advised of her election, she said: "The church has prayed; the Spirit has led us; the church has called me; I accept." According to the Anglican Journal, the Edmonton Diocese has 13,500 Anglicans in 58 parishes and 62 congregations, served by 65 active clergy and chaplains. Matthews said that the election came as a complete surprise. "My total experience of Edmonton was for five days two years ago," she said.