On behalf of Archbishop Anne Germond, I am pleased to announce the appointment of The Reverend Canon Matthew Griffin as secretary of The Advisory Committee on Postulants for Ordination (ACPO) for the Ecclesiastical Province of Ontario. This appointment was effective November 1, 2022.

The primary responsibility of ACPO is to assess for the wider Church on issues related to character, charisms, and call to ordered ministry. The secretary is appointed by and accountable to the metropolitan as well as to the Provincial House of Bishops and the episcopal chairperson, currently Bishop Susan Bell. The secretary implements ACPO policy and is responsible for planning and directing ACPO conferences, including appointing assessors.

Canon Matthew Griffin was ordained deacon in May 2008 and ordained priest later in the same year.  He currently serves as rector of the Church of the Nativity, Hamilton, as canon pastor for the Diocese of Niagara, and as past chair of the Board of Governors of Renison University College. Matthew holds a Bachelor degree from the University of Waterloo and a Master of Divinity (Honours) from Trinity College (University of Toronto). 

He succeeds The Reverend Canon David Linn, who has diligently served as ACPO secretary since 2009. His dedication and faithful leadership have served our dioceses, bishops and candidates well and we offer our gratitude as he lays down this ministry responsibility.

The Ecclesiastical Province of Ontario has an intentional focus on vocation, formation and ministry leadership for the coming triennium, building on our successful Vocations and Formations Conference in June. ACPO plays an important part of this key discernment process, both for our bishops and for the candidates and we look forward to working with Matthew in this new role as we seek to renew our structures for the Church’s ministry in the future.

Please join me in holding Matthew and his family in your prayers as he assumes this new role. May the Spirit of hope, and the anticipation of Advent, inspire us all for this important ministry

Blessings and peace,

The Right Reverend Michael Oulton

Commissary for the Metropolitan for the Ecclesiastical Province of Ontario