Dr Nicholls, Primate of Canada, to retire

THE Primate of Canada, Dr Linda Nicholls, is to retire on 15 September, a month before her 70th birthday (the mandatory retirement age), she announced on Wednesday. Dr Nicholls was elected on 13 July 2019 — the first woman to hold the office in Canada, and the second female Primate in the Anglican Communion. Previously, she was Bishop of Huron (2016-19), and Area Bishop of Trent-Durham, in the diocese of Toronto (2008-16), where she spent almost 20 years as a parish priest. Dr Nicholls said in her announcement: “To see God at work bringing healing and hope in the midst of the sorrows, pain and joy of daily life for individuals, families, communities and our wider world is a privilege that cannot be measured.” A new Primate is to be elected by the General Synod in 2025. Until then, the Metropolitan of Ontario and Archbishop of Algoma and Moosonee, the Most Revd Anne Germond, will serve as Acting Primate.

WCC prayers in wake of Taiwan earthquake

THE general secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC), the Revd Professor Jerry Pillay, has sent his condolences to the bereaved in Taiwan, after a 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck the country on 3 April, killing at least ten people. About 1000 were injured. Rescue efforts continue. Professor Pillay also expressed his “pain” that the Yushan Theological Seminary — owned by the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan — was damaged. The tremors also triggered landslides, covering villages near by in dust.

Search for new Anglican Alliance director begins

THE executive director of the Anglican Alliance, Canon Rachel Carnegie, has announced that she is stepping down in mid-October — after a decade of leadership — to take up other international church and development work. A search for a new executive director has begun. The closing date for applications is 6 May. The Alliance was launched in 2011, on the recommendation of bishops at the 2008 Lambeth Conference. It convenes relief and development agencies based in Churches around the world, and collaborates with ecumenical partners in humanitarian work. Canon Carnegie was part of the team developing the Anglican Alliance from 2009, when she served as the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Secretary for International Development.