IT WAS A pertinent question put by the Anglican Church and the Canon Stephen Fields, a Bajan, gave a straightforward answer.
“In one sentence, of fewer than 30 words, describe your vision for the Diocese of Toronto for the next five years?”
The cleric’s answer which was widely publicised on the Internet was succinct: “Seen as a relevant faith community, with urban and rural parishes shaped for more effective mission, our diocese will re-imagine and revitalise youth ministry and continue responding to social concerns.”
There’s a key reason why the Diocese posed the question to Fields and 11 other priests, six of whom are women seeking bishoprics. The aim is to enable Anglicans, especially those in Toronto to learn more about the clerics who are seeking to join the hierarchy of a religious institution that has been ministering to the needs of people for hundreds of years.
On September 17, the Diocese will convene an electoral synod to choose three bishops who will serve in different areas of the sprawling metropolitan area and Fields, who was born in St Phillip; grew up in St Patrick’s in Christ Church; attended Foundation School; trained for holy orders in the Caribbean and New York; and who has been a priest in Brooklyn, Barbados and Toronto for 35 years, has an excellent chance of being elected, according to observers.
And should that happen, Fields, the lone black candidate would be the second black bishop in the church’s long history. Interestingly, the first is another Barbadian, the Rt. Reverend Peter Fenty, a highly respected Suffragan Bishop who was chosen a few years ago.
“If elected, I would serve faithfully and eagerly,” said the 57-year-old man of the cloth. “Service to people and the church energises me.”
Fields, holder of a bachelor’s degree in theology from the University of the West Indies and a master’s in sacred and pastoral theology from General Theological Seminary in New York would bring to the bishopric vast experience in serving ethnically and financially diverse congregations at Holy Trinity Church in Thornhill and St. Stephen’s Church in Downsview.
The former Rector of Barbados’ St Augustine Church, who traces his call to the priesthood to when he was 14 years old and worshipped at St Patrick’s Anglican Church has made a name for himself and the church, as an outstanding pastor by reaching out to people where they live, work, study and play in Toronto, and that’s particularly true of the youth.
In a recent conversation, the Bajan reflected on his journey which has taken him a step closer to a bishopric.
“Growing up in Barbados, my faith was nurtured in an ecumenical context by a faithful, Pentecostal grandmother and a caring parish priest who supported my call and took me to the bishop at age 15 years,” he recalled.
By 18 years old, he was a student of Codrington College and in 1983, he was ordained a priest in Barbados.
And the rest, as they say, is history.
The father of two adult sons is married to a Barbadian, Lucy. He served at several churches in St George, St Peter and St Philip before emigrating to Canada in 1993.
“When I came to Canada 23 years ago, I saw a very diverse church family,” one whose “diversity was not reflected in the parish” in Toronto and in the “diocesan leadership.” He said he “felt called to respond”.
A vital chapter in his pastoral story is his work with Toronto’s financially challenged neighbourhoods with thousands of immigrants, many of whom were single mothers.
His ecumenical passion, interfaith connections, interest in youth development, support for women at all levels of the church, including the pulpit, and his firm belief that the church “is a place to build lasting and beneficial relationships” while extending a helping hand to those in need, make him eminently qualified to become a bishop, say many Torontonians.
He said his priorities as a Suffragan Bishop would be to emphasise youth ministry; missional engagement; liturgical innovation; empowerment and inclusion of lay members; intercultural work; and ecumenical and interfaith networking.
“I have served at every level of governance in our diocese thereby gaining a sound understanding of the diverse nature of the church, its challenges; priorities; needs and those of our community,” he said.
Tony Best is the NATION’s North American Correspondent. Email: Bestra@aol.com