Victoria’s own Very Rev. Logan McMenamie was elected the 13th bishop of the Anglican Diocese of British Columbia on Saturday.
The diocese consists of 43 parishes on Vancouver Island and their 8,000 parishioners. Sixty-one clergy and 110 laypeople voted. Six priests were nominated. The decision was made on the third ballot.
“I’m a bit overwhelmed but excited about the possibilities,” said McMenamie at Christ Church Cathedral on Quadra Street, where the election was held.
McMenamie was on sabbatical researching Celtic Christianity when he was nominated for the new role. He returned for the election.
Originally from Scotland, McMenamie began his ministerial work on Vancouver Island in Port Alberni in 1980 and has served in the diocese since. He became rector of Christ Church Cathedral in 2006. He is also Dean of Columbia for the diocese.
“I know the issues in this diocese and the challenges we face,” he said, citing finances, closing parishes and a lack of young people.
He said he has faith in the gifts and skills of the church community to address important issues such as the environment, a focus on relationships with First Peoples, homelessness and spiritual paths.
“We live in a society where people say ‘I’m not religious, but I’m a spiritual person,’ ” he said, adding he’d like to see the church “make contact and see what they mean and what we can bring to them.”
McMenamie will be consecrated as bishop in a ceremony at the cathedral on March 2, 2014. His new role will take him around the diocese but he will lead services at Christ Church for Easter, Christmas and ordinations.
He replaces Rev. James Cowan, who retired on Aug. 31 after nine years. When he retired, Cowan was 61, nine years ahead of mandatory retirement age for the bishop.
