According to all reports the 2014 edition of the Diocese of New Westminster's Diocesan School for Leadership held July 13-19 at the Rosemary Heights Roman Catholic Retreat Centre in South Surrey was a huge success.
This was of course the first year where the School's Director and Founder, Melissa Skelton is also now the Right Reverend Melissa Skelton, Bishop of the Diocese of New Westminster.
Of the more than 50 students attending the week long program, 8 were in their graduation year. This year's grad class was pretty heavy on the clergy contingent with 6 of the 8 grads priests of the diocese.
Bishop Melissa and key organizer/instructors, the Reverend Marnie Peterson and Tasha Carrothers both members of Synod Staff were delighted with this year's School and are already planning for next year's program. The 'School' will take place again at Rosemary Heights July 26th - August 1st, 2015.
Joining with the Bishop, Marnie and Tasha were Diocesan School for Leadership Instructors, the Reverend Jeremy Clark-King, rector of St. Mary's, Kerrisdale; David Swan, the Chair of the Diocesan Mission and Ministry Committee who is also a parishioner at St. Mary's, Kerrisdale; the Venerable Dr. Lynne McNaughton, rector of St Clement's, North Vancouver, Archdeacon of Capilano; and the Reverend Louie Engnan, rector of St. Michael's, Surrey.
Image: Colleen Butterly of St Stephen's, Burnaby, the Reverend Wilmer Toyoken, priest-in-charge of St Michael's, Vancouver; Bishop Melissa Skelton; the Reverend Vivian Lam, rector of St Matthias and St. Luke, Oakridge; the Venerable Elizabeth Northcott, rector of All Saints, Ladner and Archdeacon of Westminster; the Venerable Stephen Rowe, rector of the Anglican Parish of the Epiphany, Surrey and Archdeacon of Fraser; the Reverend Dale Yardy, rector of Holy Trinity, New Westminster; the Reverend Stephanie Shepard, rector of St. Timothy's, Burnaby and Regional Dean of Tri-Cities/North Burnaby; and Linda Bourne, St. Paul's, Vancouver. PHOTO - Marnie Peterson