Archbishop Hutchison to step down in 2007.Niagara Falls Niagara Falls, waterfall, United States and Canada Niagara Falls, in the Niagara River, W N.Y. and S Ont., Canada; one of the most famous spectacles in North America. The falls are on the international line between the cities of Niagara Falls, N.Y. , Ont. Archbishop Andrew Hutchison Andrew Sandford Hutchison L.Th., D.D, D.C.L. (h.c.) (born in Toronto in 1938), is a retired Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada. Prior to his election at the General Synod of 2004, he was the bishop of Montreal and metropolitan of the ecclesiastical province of Canada (which, , the primate, or national archbishop, of the Anglican Church of Canada, will step down at the 2007 General Synod The General Synod is the title of the governing body of some church organizations. Church of England In the Church of England, General Synod was instituted in 1970 and is the culmination of a process of rediscovering self-government for the Church of England that had governing convention because, he says, there are times he is "absolutely exhausted." Speaking at the spring meeting of the Canadian church's bishops, Archbishop Hutchison said that when he was elected at the 2004 General Synod, he said then that he would be a "one-triennium (three-year) primate." Since then, he said, some had urged him to stay through the 2008 Lambeth Conference Lambeth Conference, convocation at Lambeth Palace, London, that brings together all the bishops in the Anglican Communion. It meets about every 10 years at the invitation of the archbishop of Canterbury and is the principal instrument of international Anglican life, of the world's Anglican bishops, a year in which he would reach the mandatory retirement A mandatory retirement age is the age at which persons who hold certain jobs or offices are required by statute to step down, or retire. Typically, mandatory retirement ages are justified by the argument that certain occupations are either too dangerous (military personnel) age of 70. "Your prayers and God's grace have given me energy and strength, but when I get home (from travelling), I am absolutely exhausted. My wife is rattling around alone for a week or two in a big house and when I get home, I crash," he said. Looking toward 2007, he said that he will preside at the General Synod but that there will be a primatial election. According to church canons, or laws, the house of bishops will choose candidates, likely at their spring meeting in 2007, and the full convention will elect the next primate. He said he will not be a lame duck An elected official, who is to be followed by another, during the period of time between the election and the date that the successor will fill the post. The term lame duck generally describes one who holds power when that power is certain to end in the near future. , but "will continue to give this my very best between now and the General Synod." In an interview after his announcement, he said he had pondered his decision over Holy Week, then consulted with his family. Archbishop Hutchison and his wife, Lois, have a married son who lives on Vancouver Island, where the Hutchisons recently bought a house. He said that when he was elected, he was aware that the position would be taxing, with a great deal of travel, but really came to feel it physically. Now that it was announced, he said, he felt "a sense of relief," but emphasized that the decision was purely for personal reasons, adding, "I love the job." SOLANGE DE SANTIS STAFF WRITER |
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