Fred Hiltz

The Most Reverend Fred Hiltz
Primate Emeritus of the Anglican Church of Canada
Archbishop Hiltz in 2010
Church	Anglican Church of Canada
See	Extra-diocesan
In office	2007–2019
Predecessor	Andrew Hutchison
Successor	Linda Nicholls
Other post(s)	Bishop of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island (2002–2007)
Orders
Ordination	3 June 1977 (deacon) 29 June 1979 (priest)
Consecration	1994
Personal details
Born	Frederick James Hiltz (1953-12-03) 3 December 1953 (age 71) Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
Spouse	Lynne Samways
Children	1

Frederick James Hiltz (born 3 December 1953)[1] is a Canadian retired Anglican bishop. From 2007 to 2019, he served as Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada.[2]

Early life and education

Hiltz was born in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, where he was also raised. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree at Dalhousie University in 1975 (major in biology) and obtained his master of divinity degree at the Atlantic School of Theology in 1978. He received an honorary doctor of divinity degree in 2002 from the University of King's College, Halifax.[3]

Ordained ministry

Hiltz was ordained a deacon on 3 June 1977 and a priest on 29 June 1979.[4] He served in a number of parishes within the Diocese of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island: Christ Church, Sydney; Melford-Guysborough; Timberlea-Lakeside; The Cathedral Church of All Saints, Halifax; and St. John's Church, Lunenburg.[4]

In 1994, Hiltz was elected suffragan bishop (an assistant bishop without an automatic right of succession) of the Diocese of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. He was consecrated as a bishop the same year. He became diocesan bishop in 2002. Since 2007, he has been Anglican co-chair of the Anglican-Lutheran International Commission.

Primate

Hiltz presiding at an ordination in 2012

Hiltz was elected primate on 22 June 2007, and installed as primate on 25 June.[5] The Guardian newspaper described him as a "liberal-leaning bishop".[6] He is considered a moderate theological liberal and he opposes the death penalty.[7] He supports, and voted in favour of, the blessing of same-sex unions at the 2007 General Synod that elected him.

In recent years, Hiltz has undertaken a televised joint Christmas message with the National Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, carrying into greater fulfillment past declarations of Anglican–Lutheran solidarity. In October 2009, he was reportedly dismayed by Pope Benedict XVI's invitation to welcome groups of disaffected Anglicans into the Roman Catholic Church.[8]

Hiltz announced in January 2018 that he had submitted his notice of intention to resign as primate as of the conclusion of the 42nd General Synod in July 2019.[9]

Residential schools

In 2017, Hiltz issued a strongly-worded rebuke[10] entitled "There was nothing good: An open letter to Canadian Senator Lynn Beyak" who had stated that Canadians ignore the "abundance of good" that happened in residential schools.[11]

Personal life

Hiltz has described his hobbies as the care of animals (two Labrador retrievers and a cat), reading, gardening and woodworking.[3] He is married to Lynne Samways Hiltz.[12] They have one son, Nathan (age 35 as of 2016^[update]), who is a jazz guitarist and music teacher in Toronto.[12]

References

1. "Archbishop Fred Hiltz to Retire as Primate". Anglican Diocese of New Westminster. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
2. Primate bio Retrieved 7 July 2007
3. Hiltz bio Archived 9 February 2008 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 7 July 2007
4. Nova Scotia Diocese page Bishop Hiltz bio Archived 27 July 2007 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 7 July 2007
5. Fred Hiltz installed as 13th Primate Archived 5 September 2012 at archive.today Retrieved 7 July 2007
6. The world is watching the Anglican vote in Winnipeg Archived 29 June 2007 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 7 July 2007
7. Human Life is a Gift of God Archived 14 August 2007 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 30 November 2008
8. "Anglican primate dismayed by Pope's offer", CBC.
9. "Primate Fred Hiltz to resign on final day of General Synod 2019". 9 January 2018.
10. "There was nothing good: An open letter to Canadian Senator Lynn Beyak". 20 March 2017.
11. "National Post".
12. Lynne Samways Hiltz now looking forward to life in Toronto Archived 3 December 2008 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 7 July 2007

Anglican Communion titles
Preceded by Arthur Peters	Bishop of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island 2002–2007	Succeeded by Sue Moxley
Preceded by Andrew Hutchison	Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada 2007–2019	Succeeded by Linda Nicholls