What a gift she has been!
Heavenly Father, we thank you for the ministry of Archbishop Linda Nicholls, the Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada since 2019 and ordained priest since 1984. We prayerfully acknowledge your steadfast presence in her ministry of compassion, reconciliation and trailblazing.
A first-hand witness to the struggles and triumphs of women’s role in ordained ministry, Archbishop Linda challenged the church to do the hard work of improving broken relationships through anti-racism practices and active listening and responding to Indigenous voices within the community. We give thanks for this challenge and pray that with God’s help we will continue this important work. We also give you thanks Gracious God for the wisdom and guidance you instilled in Archbishop Linda through which she made many great contributions to the church here in Canada and abroad.
In recognition of her role as a “beacon and pathfinder for the ministry of women here, and overseas”, the House of Bishops seeded a new Theological Education Fund in Archbishop Linda’s honour. It will provide bursaries for theological education to lay or ordained women. In gratitude and thanksgiving, she expressed her delight with this tribute and prayed “that this fund will enable more women to live into their God-given gifts for the good of the whole Church and the world.” We pray that those who were touched by Archbishop Linda’s sincere and fruitful ministry will join the Bishops and give generously to this initiative.
Gracious God, we implore you to instill in Archbishop Linda permission to rest and to savour this well-deserved break from responsibility. This transition can be hard for such dedicated people. We know that with you by her side, she will discern new pathways where she can “enjoy walking with God’s people, not as a leader, but as a friend, teacher and mentor alongside opportunities that allow her soul to sing—literally and figuratively.” We humbly pray that this singing goes on and on and on.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Valerie Bennett & Stacey Neale
The quoted statements are from articles posted to anglican.ca and anglican.foundation.org. Specific references are available upon request.
