The Anglican Diocese in New England is pleased to announce that Bishop Murdoch has appointed Rev. Canon Ross Kimball a Canon to the Ordinary, effective January 1, 2019. Canon Kimball will serve as the bishop’s chief of staff and representative in administrative and pastoral matters. Working closely with the bishop, Canon Kimball will be responsible for overseeing diocesan staff, supporting diocesan clergy, providing guidance and resources to new congregations seeking to affiliate with the diocese, supporting and assisting existing congregations in the process of clergy searches, administering the diocesan ordination process, and other matters as requested by the bishop. Canon Kimball was ordained to the diaconate by Bishop Murdoch and to the priesthood by Kenyan Archbishop Nzimbi in 2008. He is a senior canon in the diocese and has been part of the Diocese since its formation. He served on the first Standing Committee and served as Chancellor from the inception of the Diocese until 2017. He served as interim clergy for several congregations before serving as co-interim rector of All Saints Cathedral with Canon Susan Skillen from June 2013 to July 2014.
Canon Kimball looks forward to working with Bishop Murdoch, Bishop-elect Williams, and all the diocesan clergy and laity as we continue to pursue our mission to reach New England with the transforming love of Jesus Christ.
This appointment by Bishop Murdoch is somewhat surprising and a bit confusing given that Bishop elect Drew Williams will be consecrated in a month’s time in mid March and Bishop Murdoch will retire come late spring. A charitable assumption is that Drew Williams was consulted and approved of the appointment but that is nowhere stated in the announcement. Would it not have been better for AD-NE to have Drew Williams appoint his own Canon to Ordinary once Bishop Murdoch stepped away as the Diocesan?
I had the same thought.
That is, in fact, a true assumption. Having a guy around who knows the diocese intimately from the vantage Ross has had from the beginning makes him very helpful. Plus, He’s a heck of a great guy…
That is great. I am glad that Ross will be of great help to Drew. One short sentence in the announcement would have made this entire discussion unnecessary.