The Office of Public Affairs announced yesterday that two new senior staff are ready to begin work with Presiding Bishop-elect Curry when he takes office on November 1.
The two staff positions – Canon to the Presiding Bishop for Ministry Within The Episcopal Church, and Canon to the Presiding Bishop for Ministry Beyond The Episcopal Church – will serve as part of a larger senior-leadership team at the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society. Bishop Sauls, in his role as Chief Operating Officer, will function as chief of staff to Bishop Curry and will oversee the leadership team.
“The role of the Presiding Bishop, as set forth in our constitution, canons, and history, is enormously broad in its scope, both within and beyond The Episcopal Church,” said Bishop Sauls. “These roles include those of Presiding Bishop, Primate, and Chief Pastor, and encompass such functions as ecumenical and interfaith officer, primary teacher, and chief evangelist. Bishop Curry’s plans involve two canons supporting him in these responsibilities, which are part of an even broader portfolio that also includes his role as chair of the Executive Council and president of the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society.”
The Canon to the Presiding Bishop for Ministry Within The Episcopal Church will be the Rev. Canon Michael Buerkel Hunn. Hunn is Curry’s Canon to the Ordinary for Program and Pastoral Ministry in North Carolina.
Canon Hunn will be responsible for supporting the ministry of the Presiding Bishop among Episcopalians. This includes supporting the Presiding Bishop’s role as president of the House of Bishops, chief pastor to the Church’s 108 dioceses and the areas of special jurisdiction for the Presiding Bishop, and chief theological educator and evangelist.
“This is an exciting time to be an Episcopal follower of Jesus!” said Canon Hunn. “Don’t we have something beautiful to say to our aching world? I am eager to assist Bishop Curry and excited about the conversations and adventure we all will share together in the years to come. I hope to be useful to our beloved church.”
“Canon Hunn and I have worked together for nine years in the Diocese of North Carolina,” said Bishop Curry. “He really is a person of prayer, penetrating insight, deep wisdom and experience in helping us to live fully into that calling in our time as part of the Jesus movement.”
The Canon to the Presiding Bishop for Ministry Beyond The Episcopal Church will be the Rev. Canon Charles K. Robertson, Ph.D.. Robertson has served as Canon to Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, and will stay on to work with Presiding Bishop Curry.
Canon Robertson will be responsible for supporting the ministry of the Presiding Bishop among those who are not members of The Episcopal Church. This includes supporting the Presiding Bishop’s role as Primate of The Episcopal Church (one of 38 member Provinces of the Anglican Communion) and in the Presiding Bishop’s capacity as chief ecumenical and interfaith officer for the Church.
“I am deeply grateful to be asked by the Presiding Bishop-Elect to serve the Church in this role,” said Canon Robertson. “It is a privilege to be engaged in the work of building bridges and strengthening partnerships for the sake of the gospel and the growth of the Church. And I look forward to the opportunity to work together with Canon Michael Hunn.”
“Canon Robertson and I have worked together in a variety of efforts for all the years he has served as Canon to our Presiding Bishop,” said Bishop Curry. “I know him to be a deeply faithful person, a trusted colleague in the gospel ministry, with wide experience in building and nurturing relationships with our brothers and sisters in the wider Anglican Communion as well as the ecumenical and interfaith communities. We are truly blessed to have Canon Robertson and Canon Hunn working as a team to assist and facilitate the ministry of the Presiding Bishop as we seek to engage this mission moment together as The Episcopal Church.”
You can read more about the appointees in the Public Affairs Office press release here.
Photo: left, the Rev. Canon Michael Buerkel Hunn; right, the Rev. Canon Charles K. Robertson, Ph.D.