Bishop Andrew Asbil, former rector of the Church of the Redeemer and Dean of Toronto, was consecrated coadjutor Bishop of Toronto in a rousing two hour service last Saturday Sept 29, at St. James Cathedral in Toronto. Our Rev. Dr. Elizabeth was there and told us last Sunday that “a new era, a new wave is coming to the diocese.”
The service did well to represent the enormous cultural diversity in the Diocese. The worship included a Traditional Cree Smudge ceremony, the Gospel read in Cantonese, as well as beautiful, classical music, African-American Spirituals, and a live performance of U2’s Beautiful Day.
During the service Asbil, asked the congregation if they were ready to “row” referring to the spiritual “Michael Rowed the Boat Ashore”. The congregation replied with a resounding “yes”. “In a world full of cynicism, doubt, fear, greed and violence, to pull on the oar is to pull for life itself,” he said.
Bishop Asbil will formally become the Diocesan Bishop for the vast Diocese of Toronto when Archbishop Colin Johnson retires on Jan. 1, 2019.