Three suffragan bishops elected in diocese of the Arctic

The diocese of the Arctic elected three new suffragan bishops at its diocesan synod on March 28.

The new bishops are Annie Ittoshat, Lucy Netser and the Joey Royal. Each was consecrated at a ceremony on March 31.

The diocese held three separate elections for suffragan bishop of the Arctic. Royal was elected in the first election on the fourth ballot, Ittoshat was elected in the second election on the fourth ballot, and Netser was elected in the third election on the first ballot.

Ittoshat became the first female Inuk priest in Nunavik, after completing her Master of Divinity within the diocese of the Arctic. Most recently, she has served as a priest at the Church of the Epiphany in Verdun, Que. Ittoshat previously worked as Aboriginal community minister for the diocese of Montreal. Originally from the northern community of Kuujjuarapik, she is an alumnus of John Abbott College and Wycliffe College and a current member of the Anglican Council of Indigenous Peoples (ACIP).

Netser is lead pastor at St. Francis’ Church in Arviat, Nunavut and regional dean for the Kivalliq deanery. Prior to becoming a priest, she was an active participant in the Woman’s Auxiliary/Anglican Church Women of Canada for three decades.

Royal has served as director and primary instructor at the Arthur Turner Training School, following the school’s 2016 reopening at St. Jude’s Cathedral in Iqaluit, Nunavut. Royal was previously the rector at Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Yellowknife, N.W.T. A graduate of Winnipeg-area Providence University College and Theological Seminary, he is a regular contributor to Covenant, the blog of the Living Church Foundation.