Jane Alexander (Bishop)

Infobox bishopbiog


name = The Right Reverend
Dr. Jane Alexander
religion= Anglican Church of Canada
See = Edmonton
Title = Bishop of Edmonton
Period = 2008 — Present
Predecessor = Victoria Matthews
Successor = "Incumbent"
ordination = 2001
bishops =
post = Dean and Rector of All Saints' Cathedral | date of birth =
place of birth =

Jane Alexander is a bishop of the Anglican Church of Canada, and the current Bishop of Edmonton. [http://edmonton.anglican.org/ Anglican Diocese of Edmonton ] ] . She was installed on May 11th, 2008 at All Saints' Anglican Cathedral [http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/story.html?id=ef2374b4-3c33-4a71-a6e6-13a150735a7c New Anglican bishop ‘will play by the rules’ ] ] . Until her consecration she served as Dean and Rector of All Saints' Cathedral. She is the first female Diocesan Bishop to succeed another female Diocesan Bishop in the Anglican Communion.

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. [http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/story.html?id=f9bf4b8e-4784-4dd8-b910-6f86ce744f94&k=25382 Alexander elected Anglican bishop of Edmonton ] ] . It was not until she was 25 that she was baptized with her eldest child into the Church of England.

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.

Ministry

In 1998 Alexander was ordained a Deacon. She was ordained a Priest in 2001 after earned her Masters of Theological Studies from Newman Theological College, a private Roman Catholic Seminary. She worked at a number of parishes in the Diocese of Edmonton. In 2006 she was appointed Dean of All Saints' Cathedral in Edmonton [ [http://www.kennair.org/KEF/files/messenger03-07.pdf messenger_03-07_p1.indd ] ] .

Episcopate

In 2007 Bishop Victoria Matthews 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. Officials had been worried the election may gone on much longer, having pre-printed off eight ballots.

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, Pentecost Sunday.

On of Alexander's first acts as Bishop was state she would not bend the rules on the exchange of marital vows. "Basically, I'm a play-by-the-rules girl" she stated, further adding that the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada would revisit the issue in 2010.

Consecrators

* The Most Rev. John Robert Clarke, Archbishop of Athabasca and Metropolitan of Rupert's Land
* Rt. Rev. Gregory Kerr-Wilson, 11th Bishop of Qu'Appelle
** Formerly served as Dean of All Saints' Cathedral
* Rt. Rev. Victoria Matthews, Bishop-Elect of Christ Church
** 9th Bishop of Edmonton

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References