The Most Rev Terrence O. Buckle, Archbishop of Yukon, Metropolitan of the Ecclesiastical Province of BC & Yukon, announced this morning that he has decided to remain in office after none of the four candidates in yesterday’s diocesan synod received the required majority of votes to succeed him.

Thirty-five delegates at Yukon Diocese’s special episcopal synod deliberated, prayed, and voted all day and into the evening at Christ Church Cathedral, Whitehorse. In the end, however, the synod adjourned without selecting a coadjutor bishop to serve alongside and then replace Archbishop Terry Buckle, who had announced his intention to retire at the end of this year.

This morning at the cathedral, Archbishop Terry spoke to the assembled congregation before the commencement of the worship service. He said he went home yesterday evening wondering if the Holy Spirit is saying that there should be no change in diocesan leadership, that this is not the time for him to retire. Awaking with that same thought on his mind, he spoke to trusted advisors and friends and heard the same message. He is now convinced that God’s will for him and the diocese at this time is that he should stay on as archbishop.

The congregation was filled with joy and excitement when we heard this. May God bless Archbishop Terry and his family as he continues to serve our risen and ascended Lord in Yukon.

The voting rules require a winning candidate to receive a simple majority in each of the two houses of clergy and laity, as well as an overall two-thirds majority. As we have just seen, that can be quite difficult to achieve with several candidates and a total of only thirty-five voting delegates. Seven ballots were held yesterday and, at one point, a candidate came within two votes of success, but it was not to be.

There is some talk of revising the voting rules, but that will have to wait until a general diocesan synod.

c/p: Magic Statistics