Victoria Matthews resigns her position as Bishop of Christchurch

After ten years of leadership of the Anglican Diocese of Christchurch Bishop Victoria Matthews will step down from the Diocese on 1 May this year.

Bishop Matthews describes her time here in Christchurch as “an extraordinary privilege.”

“I want to thank the people in this Diocese for their faithful service. This beautiful Diocese has been through many challenges brought about by earthquakes, wind, fire and floods. But through it all, people have been their best selves by helping others, working together and finding new ways of doing things.”

Looking to the future, she says, “I am going to take some time to reflect on what it is that God is now calling me to do. I’m not retiring and I’m not in ill health, I am merely following where my Saviour is leading me, wherever that may be.”

Archbishop of the New Zealand Dioceses, the Most Rev’d Philip Richardson says, “I am deeply grateful for the courage and tenacity Bishop Matthews showed when she led the Diocese through a very challenging and unprecedented period”.

In reflecting on her time here in Canterbury, Bishop Matthews says, “I am happy the Cathedral reinstatement is going ahead. I am particularly pleased we opted to put restoration of our relationship with the wider community in first place.”

Diocesan Chancellor Jeremy Johnson advises that when a Bishop resigns, the mission and ministry of the Diocese continues.

“In May, Archbishop Philip Richardson becomes, in effect, ‘acting Bishop’. He will be assisted in this role by the Diocesan Standing Committee and senior leaders of the Diocese. Archbishop Phillip will meet with all concerned shortly.

“The Diocese will also begin the work of choosing a new Bishop. This will be by election where the voting clergy and lay members of Synod will meet to pray, discuss and discern who should be the next Bishop. This process is called an electoral college. From there, the nominee will be put forward to be ratified by the provincial House of Bishops and the General Synod/Te Hinota Whanui.

Further detail on the electoral process will be made available in due course.

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