Mark MacDonald (bishop)

Mark Lawrence MacDonald (born 15 January 1954) is an Anglican bishop. Since 2007, he has served as the National Indigenous Anglican Bishop (Archbishop, from 2019) for the Anglican Church of Canada;[1] as such, he has pastoral oversight over all indigenous Canadian Anglicans. He previously served in the Episcopal Church (United States) as the Bishop of Alaska (1997 to 2007) and as the assistant bishop of the Navajoland Area Mission (2007 to 2009).

The Most Reverend Mark MacDonald
National Indigenous Anglican Archbishop
Church	Anglican Church of Canada
In office	2007–present
Other posts	WCC President for North America (2013–present) Bishop of Alaska, Episcopal Church (1997–2007)
Orders
Ordination	1 August 1979 by Robert Marshall Anderson
Consecration	13 September 1997 by Edmond L. Browning
Personal details
Birth name	Mark Lawrence MacDonald
Born	15 January 1954
Denomination	Anglicanism

Ordained ministry

Episcopal ministry

MacDonald was consecrated as a bishop on 13 September 1997.[2] From 1997 to 2007, he served as Bishop of Alaska in the Episcopal Church (United States).[3][4] In 2006, it was announced that he had been appointed assistant bishop of the Navajoland Area Mission, and he was affirmed in that appointment in 2007.[5] He held the appointment co-currently with his Canadian bishopric until his term as assistant bishop ended in 2009.[6]

In January 2007, it was announced that he would become the first National Indigenous Anglican Bishop in the Anglican Church of Canada.[7] As such, he has pastoral oversight over all indigenous Canadian Anglicans.[7] He took up the appointment on 22 June 2007.[5] He has also been World Council of Churches (WCC) President for North America since 2013.[2] His post was elevated to the status of an archbishopric in 2019.[8]

Personal life

On 11 November 1989, MacDonald married Virginia Sha Lynn.[3] Together they have three children; two daughters and one son.[3]

MacDonald is classified as a non-status Indian in Canada.[9] He has native ancestry through both his parents.[10]

Honours

In February 2013, MacDonald was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in recognition of his "spiritual leadership while serving Aboriginal communities and his contributions to environmental awareness of Canadians".[10]

References

1. "Biography: Bishop Mark L. MacDonald". Anglican Church of Canada. The General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
2. "Assembly elects new WCC presidents". World Council of Churches. 3 November 2013. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
3. "Biography: Bishop Mark L. MacDonald". Anglican Church of Canada. The General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada. 4 January 2007. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
4. "CANADA: Mark MacDonald begins ministry as first national indigenous bishop". The Episcopal Church. The Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society. 7 September 2007. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
5. Snyder, Dick (18 June 2007). "Mark MacDonald affirmed as bishop for Navajoland Area Mission". The Episcopal Church. The Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
6. "Navajoland convocation approve plan for September election". Church of St. Matthew. Episcopal Diocese of Arizona. 14 June 2009. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
7. "Primate presents Bishop of Alaska as new National Indigenous Anglican Bishop for Anglican Church of Canada". Anglican Church of Canada. The General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada. 4 January 2007. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
8. "Biography: Archbishop Mark L. MacDonald". The Anglican Church of Canada. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
9. Sison, Marites N. (1 February 2007). "National native bishop named". Anglican Journal. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
10. Sison, Marites N. (1 February 2013). "Canada: Bishop Mark MacDonald to receive Queen's Jubilee Medal". Episcopal News Service. The Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society. Retrieved 11 March 2017.