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"The diocese over the years has had a number of clergy who came out from Britain," Bishop Williams added. "In fact, I am the fourth diocesan bishop and all my predecessors were from Britain. It used to be the custom by the bishops of the Arctic to go over to Britain from time to time on a recruiting trip. I haven't done that as much because I was interested in building up indigenous ministry.

"I think we have done that quite successfully. There are 16 Aboriginal leaders in the diocese at present—either paid or non-paid ordained positions. Of that number, two are bishops. We have four bishops in this diocese—I am diocesan bishop and there are three area bishops."

There are three Aboriginal students at the diocese's training school in Pangnirtung.

"Their three-year course will be finished at the end of this year," the bishop said. After six months internship they would take on parishes of their own.

Bishop Williams expects to retire in 2002 when his present term of office ends. "We are looking to stay here in Yellowknife. I am a Canadian citizen now. Canada is our home, and our children consider themselves Canadian."Copyright © 2000 Ecumenical News International. Used with permission.

Though the Anglican Journal article referenced above is apparently not available on the newspaper's Web site, an earlier article on the diocese, " Change on Arctic Horizon," is.

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January (Web-only) 2000, Vol. 44