The Ecclesiastical Province of Ontario as part of its spring meetings this week hosted a dinner reception to honour the Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, Archbishop Linda Nicholls, in advance of her retirement later this year.

"It was a wonderful occasion filled with laughter and many, many good stories about Archbishop Linda’s gifted ministry in our Church," said Archbishop Anne Germond, metropoiltan. "A mentor and spiritual guide to so many of us, Linda embodies humility in her walk with God and shows integrity in all she does."

Each of the seven diocesan bishops offered greetings and best wishes to the Primate, in addition to several notes that were shared during the course of the reception.

A friend and colleague of the primate's from the Anglican Roman Catholic International Commission spoke of the high regard that ecumenical group has for Archbishop Linda as she goes about her work on that commission. “It is nice to be able to tell a group of Canadian bishops how well their primate represents them in international Anglican and ecumenical spaces," wrote Father Marin Browne. "And always, with dedication, determination and grace. Let us thank God for Her Grace, and for Her Grace’s grace and graciousness!”

The evening ended with Archbishop Linda reflecting on her vocation as a deacon, priest, and bishop and sharing moving stories of her ministry over time and space. She observed that in all things, her task “was to answer God’s call to the best of my ability and to leave space for those around me to discern its value.”

In honour of her extraordinary ministry, donations to the Archbishop Linda Nicholls Bursary Fund can be made online at the Anglican Foundation of Canada or by mailing a cheque to AFC with Archbishop Linda Nicholls bursary on the memo line. The Bursary will support theological education for women - lay or ordained.