Jane Alexander (Bishop)
Encyclopedia
Jane Alexander is a bishop
of the Anglican Church of Canada
, and the current Bishop of Edmonton. She was installed on May 11, 2008 at All Saints' Anglican Cathedral
. Until her consecration she served as Dean
of Edmonton and Rector
of All Saints' Cathedral
. She is the first female Diocesan Bishop
to succeed another female Diocesan Bishop in the Anglican Communion
.
.
Alexander graduated from the Newcastle University in 1980 with a Bachelor of Arts
with Honours, having done a thesis on English Liturgical Music from 1370–1430. She then worked as a music teacher, eventually specializing in special education
.
After moving to Canada
with her family in 1990 she earned a Master of Education
in 1993, followed by a Ph.D.
in Educational Psychology in 1996, both from the University of Alberta
. She then worked as a professor in Educational Psychology at the University of Alberta.
a Deacon
. She was ordained a Priest
in 2001 after earning her Masters of Theological Studies
from Newman Theological College, a private Roman Catholic college. She worked at a number of parishes in the Diocese of Edmonton
. In 2006 she was appointed Dean
of All Saints' Cathedral
in Edmonton.
resigned as Bishop of Edmonton
, and Alexander became Diocesan Administrator in her capacity as Dean of the Diocese
. She was elected Bishop on 8 March 2008 on the third ballot.
Alexander was consecrated as a Bishop
at All Saints' Cathedral
and formally installed as Bishop of Edmonton
in All Saints' Cathedral
on 11 May 2008 during the feast of Pentecost
.
Alexander's succeeding of Matthews as Bishop of Edmonton was the first case in the Anglican Communion in which a female Diocesan Bishop succeeded another in the Anglican Communion
. Matthews was Alexander's ordaining Bishop for her diaconal and priestly ordinations, and was a co-consecrator for her episcopal ordination.
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Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of the Anglican Church of Canada
Anglican Church of Canada
The Anglican Church of Canada is the Province of the Anglican Communion in Canada. The official French name is l'Église Anglicane du Canada. The ACC is the third largest church in Canada after the Roman Catholic Church and the United Church of Canada, consisting of 800,000 registered members...
, and the current Bishop of Edmonton. She was installed on May 11, 2008 at All Saints' Anglican Cathedral
All Saints' Anglican Cathedral (Edmonton)
All Saint's Anglican Cathedral is the cathedral serving the Anglican Diocese of Edmonton, which covers central Alberta. It serves as the episcopal seat of the Bishop of Edmonton, currently The Right Reverend Dr. Jane Alexander.-Building:...
. Until her consecration she served as Dean
Dean (religion)
A dean, in a church context, is a cleric holding certain positions of authority within a religious hierarchy. The title is used mainly in the Anglican Communion and the Roman Catholic Church.-Anglican Communion:...
of Edmonton and Rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of All Saints' Cathedral
All Saints' Anglican Cathedral (Edmonton)
All Saint's Anglican Cathedral is the cathedral serving the Anglican Diocese of Edmonton, which covers central Alberta. It serves as the episcopal seat of the Bishop of Edmonton, currently The Right Reverend Dr. Jane Alexander.-Building:...
. She is the first female Diocesan Bishop
Diocesan bishop
A diocesan bishop — in general — is a bishop in charge of a diocese. These are to be distinguished from suffragan bishops, assistant bishops, coadjutor bishops, auxiliary bishops, metropolitans, and primates....
to succeed another female Diocesan Bishop in the Anglican Communion
Anglican Communion
The Anglican Communion is an international association of national and regional Anglican churches in full communion with the Church of England and specifically with its principal primate, the Archbishop of Canterbury...
.
Early life and teaching career
Alexander grew up in England. As a child she was forbidden from attending any religious classes at school by her father. It was not until she was 25 that she was baptized with her eldest child into the Church of EnglandChurch of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
.
Alexander graduated from the Newcastle University in 1980 with a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
with Honours, having done a thesis on English Liturgical Music from 1370–1430. She then worked as a music teacher, eventually specializing in special education
Special education
Special education is the education of students with special needs in a way that addresses the students' individual differences and needs. Ideally, this process involves the individually planned and systematically monitored arrangement of teaching procedures, adapted equipment and materials,...
.
After moving to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
with her family in 1990 she earned a Master of Education
Master of Education
The Master of Education is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in a large number of countries. This degree in education often includes the following majors: curriculum and instruction, counseling, and administration. It is often conferred for educators advancing in...
in 1993, followed by a Ph.D.
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
in Educational Psychology in 1996, both from the University of Alberta
University of Alberta
The University of Alberta is a public research university located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1908 by Alexander Cameron Rutherford, the first premier of Alberta and Henry Marshall Tory, its first president, it is widely recognized as one of the best universities in Canada...
. She then worked as a professor in Educational Psychology at the University of Alberta.
Ministry
In 1998 Alexander was ordainedOrdination
In general religious use, ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is, set apart as clergy to perform various religious rites and ceremonies. The process and ceremonies of ordination itself varies by religion and denomination. One who is in preparation for, or who is...
a Deacon
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
. She was ordained a Priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
in 2001 after earning her Masters of Theological Studies
Master of Theological Studies
A Master of Theological Studies is a general academic degree that gives students an introduction to advanced theological studies. The M.T.S usually requires two years of program study to complete. The Latin equivalent for M.T.S...
from Newman Theological College, a private Roman Catholic college. She worked at a number of parishes in the Diocese of Edmonton
Anglican Diocese of Edmonton
The Diocese of Edmonton is a diocese of the Ecclesiastical Province of Rupert's Land of the Anglican Church of Canada. The diocese comprises almost 78,000 square kilometres of the civil Province of Alberta, consisting of a band across the central part of the province, extending to the borders of...
. In 2006 she was appointed Dean
Dean (religion)
A dean, in a church context, is a cleric holding certain positions of authority within a religious hierarchy. The title is used mainly in the Anglican Communion and the Roman Catholic Church.-Anglican Communion:...
of All Saints' Cathedral
All Saints' Anglican Cathedral (Edmonton)
All Saint's Anglican Cathedral is the cathedral serving the Anglican Diocese of Edmonton, which covers central Alberta. It serves as the episcopal seat of the Bishop of Edmonton, currently The Right Reverend Dr. Jane Alexander.-Building:...
in Edmonton.
Episcopate
In 2007 Bishop Victoria MatthewsVictoria Matthews
Victoria Matthews is Bishop of Christchurch in the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand, and Polynesia. At her ordination to the episcopate in 1994, she became the first ever female bishop in the Anglican Church of Canada.- Life :...
resigned as Bishop of Edmonton
Anglican Diocese of Edmonton
The Diocese of Edmonton is a diocese of the Ecclesiastical Province of Rupert's Land of the Anglican Church of Canada. The diocese comprises almost 78,000 square kilometres of the civil Province of Alberta, consisting of a band across the central part of the province, extending to the borders of...
, and Alexander became Diocesan Administrator in her capacity as Dean of the Diocese
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
. She was elected Bishop on 8 March 2008 on the third ballot.
Alexander was consecrated as a Bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
at All Saints' Cathedral
All Saints' Anglican Cathedral (Edmonton)
All Saint's Anglican Cathedral is the cathedral serving the Anglican Diocese of Edmonton, which covers central Alberta. It serves as the episcopal seat of the Bishop of Edmonton, currently The Right Reverend Dr. Jane Alexander.-Building:...
and formally installed as Bishop of Edmonton
Anglican Diocese of Edmonton
The Diocese of Edmonton is a diocese of the Ecclesiastical Province of Rupert's Land of the Anglican Church of Canada. The diocese comprises almost 78,000 square kilometres of the civil Province of Alberta, consisting of a band across the central part of the province, extending to the borders of...
in All Saints' Cathedral
All Saints' Anglican Cathedral (Edmonton)
All Saint's Anglican Cathedral is the cathedral serving the Anglican Diocese of Edmonton, which covers central Alberta. It serves as the episcopal seat of the Bishop of Edmonton, currently The Right Reverend Dr. Jane Alexander.-Building:...
on 11 May 2008 during the feast of Pentecost
Pentecost
Pentecost is a prominent feast in the calendar of Ancient Israel celebrating the giving of the Law on Sinai, and also later in the Christian liturgical year commemorating the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples of Christ after the Resurrection of Jesus...
.
Alexander's succeeding of Matthews as Bishop of Edmonton was the first case in the Anglican Communion in which a female Diocesan Bishop succeeded another in the Anglican Communion
Anglican Communion
The Anglican Communion is an international association of national and regional Anglican churches in full communion with the Church of England and specifically with its principal primate, the Archbishop of Canterbury...
. Matthews was Alexander's ordaining Bishop for her diaconal and priestly ordinations, and was a co-consecrator for her episcopal ordination.
Consecrators
- The Most Rev. John Robert Clarke, 10th Archbishop of Athabasca
- 15th Metropolitan of Rupert's LandEcclesiastical Province of Rupert's LandThe Ecclesiastical Province of Rupert's Land was founded in 1875 and is one of four ecclesiastical provinces in the Anglican Church of Canada. The territory covered by the province is roughly coterminous with the western portion of the former Hudson's Bay Company concession of Rupert's Land, as...
- 15th Metropolitan of Rupert's Land
- Rt. Rev. Gregory Kerr-WilsonGregory Kerr-WilsonThe Rt Rev Gregory Kerr-Wilson, is the current Anglican Bishop of Qu'Appelle and was consecrated as bishop in May 2006. He is a graduate of the University of British Columbia and was ordained into the priesthood in 1990, beginning his career as Curate of St Paul's, Toronto...
, 11th Bishop of Qu'AppelleAnglican Diocese of Qu'AppelleThe Diocese of Qu’Appelle in the Anglican Church of Canada lies in the southern third of the civil province of Saskatchewan and contains within its geographical boundaries some 50% of the province's population of one million.-History:...
- Previously Dean of Edmonton and Rector of All Saints' CathedralAll Saints' Anglican Cathedral (Edmonton)All Saint's Anglican Cathedral is the cathedral serving the Anglican Diocese of Edmonton, which covers central Alberta. It serves as the episcopal seat of the Bishop of Edmonton, currently The Right Reverend Dr. Jane Alexander.-Building:...
- Previously Dean of Edmonton and Rector of All Saints' Cathedral
- Rt. Rev. Victoria MatthewsVictoria MatthewsVictoria Matthews is Bishop of Christchurch in the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand, and Polynesia. At her ordination to the episcopate in 1994, she became the first ever female bishop in the Anglican Church of Canada.- Life :...
, then Bishop-Elect of Christ Church- 9th Bishop of EdmontonAnglican Diocese of EdmontonThe Diocese of Edmonton is a diocese of the Ecclesiastical Province of Rupert's Land of the Anglican Church of Canada. The diocese comprises almost 78,000 square kilometres of the civil Province of Alberta, consisting of a band across the central part of the province, extending to the borders of...
- 9th Bishop of Edmonton
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