“My brother go forth, to plant, and to water and to strengthen the cause of Christ and never forget that it is God and God alone who gives.”
That solemn reminder was delivered to Canada’s first Black Anglican Bishop, the Rt. Reverend Peter Fenty, a Bajan and it came today from West Indies Anglican Archbishop John Holder during a two-hour service of consecration in a crowded St Paul’s Cathedral in Toronto.
But that wasn’t the only reminder Archbishop Holder, also the Bishop of Barbados delivered to the 61-year old cleric who made history in April 6 when he was elected Suffragan in the Diocese of Toronto.
“On behalf of the Diocese of Barbados, the church and the Province of the West Indies and every Barbadian, they are a lot of us here and there, every Barbadian, may God richly bless you on this day and throughout your Episcopal ministry,” said the way the West Indies primate in the global Anglican communion.
Holder urged Fenty never allow the authority and influence of being a Bishop to “weaken” his links with “God’s people.” That wasn’t all. “Never let go of compassion.”
After a moment of silence that allowed the congregation and the worldwide audience of the consecration to reflect on the Archbishop’s advice the new Bishop with his Barbadian wife sitting nearby declared “I Peter Fenty, chosen Bishop of the church, suffragan of the See of Toronto, solemnly declare that I do believe the Holy Scriptures, the old and the new testaments, to be the word of God and to contain all things necessary to salvation.”
He then “solemnly” promised to conform to the doctrine, discipline and worship of the Anglican Church of Canada” and he pledged “ myself to render myself due obedience to the Metropolitan of Ontario and to his successor.”
Archbishop Fred Hiltz, Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, the Bishops of Ontario and four visiting West Indian Bishops led laid their hands on Bishop Fenty’s head and later presented him with symbols of his office, a pectoral cross, an Episcopal ring, a staff and a mitre. The service featured a choir, steel pan and piano music.
