The Canadian Press Published on Wednesday, April 20, 2022, 5:47 PM EDT Last Updated on Wednesday, April 20, 2022, 7:05 PM EDT
TORONTO – The Anglican Church of Canada has announced that an archbishop has resigned over allegations of sexual misconduct.
Mark MacDonald, 68, was the first national Anglican bishop to represent local church members when he was appointed in 2007.
MacDonald’s resignation is linked to an independent investigation and the charges are not criminal, said Joe Vexie, director of communications with the Anglican Church in Canada. The church leadership did not know who the complainant was, he added.
The church did not provide further details about the allegations.
The church is committed to jobs free of violence, coercion, discrimination and sexual harassment, the press release added.
The Rev. Linda Nichols, Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, said in a letter published on the church’s website that prayers should be addressed to the complainant.
The church is also reviewing its policy on sexual harassment to ensure it is effective and appropriate, the press release said.
MacDonald was appointed as part of the church’s efforts to heal the long-standing rift with the indigenous population.
“The effects of the waves … will be felt throughout the Church, both in Canada and internationally, but especially within the Holy Circle and the Anglican Indigenous Council,” Nichols wrote.
Bishop Sydney Black, the local bishop of the Treaty of 7 within the Diocese of Calgary, must complete the list in the meantime, Nichols said.
McDonald is a native of Duluth, Minnesota, and also served as bishop of the American Episcopal Diocese of Alaska. He is married with three children, according to the church’s website. Information about McDonald has since been removed.
At the time of MacDonald’s appointment, the church said it hoped he could help with the healing and reconciliation needed for the church’s role in resident schools.
Approximately 150,000 indigenous children have been forced to attend residential schools. About three dozen residential schools were run by the Anglican Church. The church also runs a number of day schools for indigenous children.
The Anglican Church of Canada apologized for the first time to survivors in 1993. Another apology was issued last year after the discovery of possible unmarked graves on the site of former residential schools.
During his tenure, MacDonald was outspoken about the rights, identity of indigenous peoples, and how the church should respond.
This report from The Canadian Press was first published on April 20, 2022.
“From Kelly Geraldine Malone to Winnipeg.”
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