Same top three leaders to carry on

Falby and Huskins vote against hearing “ex-gay voices”

Those in the three top elected positions in the Anglican Church of Canada have not changed. The Primate, Fred Hiltz, who was elected during General Synod 2007 in Winnipeg, has several more years to serve before his retirement.

The current Prolocutor, Robert “Bob” Falby, was elected on the second ballot in Halifax to continue in the position of Prolocutor for the next three years. Falby is a lay canon in the Diocese of Toronto, where he is Chancellor (chief legal officer).

The Prolocutor is the second highest elected official in the national church after the Primate. He is a member of the Council of General Synod (CoGS) which meets twice a year between the triennial national Synods. The Prolocutor is an alternative chair to both the Synod and CoGS.

Since Falby is a lay member, the Deputy Prolocutor must be a member of the clergy. Archdeacon Harry Huskins of Algoma Diocese was narrowly elected as Deputy Prolocutor on the third ballot. This is Huskins’ second consecutive term in the position.

Both Falby and Huskins voted against including “ex-gay voices” in the continuing sexuality discussions. The Primate does not have a vote.   

In 2006 Falby addressed the Anglican Consultative Council in Nottingham, arguing that the Anglican Church of Canada should not be disciplined by that Committee for allowing same-sex blessings in some of its dioceses. Despite his presentation and that of Archbishop Hiltz, the ACC did remove the Canadian Church (and the American) from its body as delegates. They remain only as observers.