Clergy and lay deputies to the triennial General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada elected the Rt. Rev. Fred Hiltz, Bishop of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, Friday to be the next primate.

In April, the Canadian House of Bishops announced a slate of four for the election of a successor to the Most Rev. Andrew Hutchison. In Canada, the House of Bishops nominates candidates for primate and clergy and lay deputies to General Synod elect unless a deadlock is declared, in which case voting for primate reverts to the House of Bishops.

Bishop Hiltz received 60 clergy votes and 81 lay on the decisive fifth ballot. His only remaining challenger was the Rt. Rev. Victoria Matthews, Bishop of Edmonton. She received 56 lay and 56 clergy votes on the fifth ballot.

The other two nominees - The Rt. Rev. George L.R. Bruce, Bishop of Ontario, and the Rt. Rev. Bruce H.W. Howe, Bishop of Huron – withdrew after the second ballot.

Bishop Hiltz is a graduate of Dalhousie University and Atlantic School of Theology. He attended the College of Bishops at the General Theological Seminary of The Episcopal Church as part of his continuing education.

Bishop Hiltz served a variety of parishes in Nova Scotia from 1978 until he was elected Bishop Suffragan of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island in 1995. In 2002, he was elected Bishop of the diocese.

In a statement about primacy published along with his biographical profile, Bishop Hiltz stated the job of Canadian primate “involves what someone once described as ‘pushing the boat out from the shore,’ launching out into the deep. It’s about raising sights, broadening horizons. It’s about ‘drawing the circle wide, drawing it wider still.’ It’s about the work of respecting the dignity of every human being, building a just society, and announcing the reign of God.”

Bishop Hiltz will be installed as primate on June 25 during the service marking the conclusion of the General Synod legislative session.

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