About this video

• Video Title: Public Meeting - St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Kanata | Sunday, February 15, 2026
• Channel: Ottawa Anglican
• Speakers: Jamie Tomlinson, Reverend Katherine Asuka, Brian Keelk, Monique Stone, Katherine Utley, Charlie, Paul Dro, Pat McN, Brian, Katherine, Monique, Brian, Katherine, Monique, Brian, Katherine, Monique, Brian, Katherine, Monique, Brian, Katherine, Monique, Brian, Katherine, Monique, Brian, Katherine
• Duration: 1:51:20

Overview

This video is a public meeting for the Episcopal election of 2026. It includes an opening prayer, introductions of nominees, and each nominee answering questions about their God-given gifts and how they would serve as Bishop of Ottawa. The meeting also includes a Q&A session with the audience.

Key takeaways

• The meeting is a public forum for the Episcopal election process, aiming to discern God's will for the next bishop.
• Nominees Brian Keelk, Katherine Utley, and Monique Stone shared their perceived God-given gifts and how they would apply them to the ministry of Bishop of Ottawa.
• The Q&A session covered various topics including the role of movements within the diocese, vocational deacons, proposed changes and initiatives, relationships with government and the private sector, community ministries, and engaging with young people outside the church.
• Housekeeping items such as washroom locations and mobile device silence were communicated.
• The moderator emphasized the importance of respectful conduct during the meeting, with no applause for individual nominees.

Here's an outline of the key points made by each candidate during the meeting, based on their responses to the posed questions:

Brian Keelk

• God-given gifts and ministry as Bishop:
  • Gifted at leading communities through change and transition, which would be valuable for connecting with parishes and helping them evolve.
  • Relies on creative problem-solving and building relationships, honed through experience in parish transitions and diocesan strategic planning.
  • Believes in enabling and activating the gifts of others, emphasizing teamwork.
  • Has a positive outlook on the church's future, drawing on experience in rural and small-town ministry, believing solutions can be found in these areas.
  • Offers a calm pastoral presence to navigate divisive situations and build trust.
  • Values integrating theology with practice and grounding himself in tradition.
  • Aims to lead the diocese through changes and address organizational structures.
  • Sees his gift in fostering relationships as a foundation for ministry.
• On movements and formation:
  • Found a personal path to faith through diocesan youth service, which was formative.
  • Views movements as "levers" that help achieve more than individuals can alone, lifting people, ideas, and relationships.
  • Acknowledges movements are transient but their effects can last.
• On vocational deacons:
  • Found the role of vocational deacons to be "fuzzy" but believes they could be a vital part of responding to the world's needs.
  • Wonders if a vocational diaconate could have been a different path for his own vocation.
  • Suggests exploring vocational diaconate to help the church equip itself to meet needs.
• On church structures and change:
  • Suggests exploring alternative structures beyond the current Canon, Bylaws, and Regulations (CBRs) framework.
  • Believes the church is in a "mega time shift" and will be forced to explore new structures, potentially more monastic or community-led.
  • Mentions St. James Franktown as a parish on the cusp of such change.
• On government relations:
  • Believes relationships with all three levels of government are critical, particularly at the municipal level due to its direct interaction with parish activities.
  • Recalls positive experiences working with local mayors and council, emphasizing partnership and offering solutions rather than just complaints.
  • Understands the importance of provincial and federal interactions, noting the role of the provincial synod.
  • Shares an anecdote about a positive interaction with a Member of Parliament at a business opening, highlighting the potential for connection.
• On private sector engagement:
  • Joined a local business association in Bell's Corners, which created a useful network of relationships.
  • Learned that businesses often share the same goals as the church for community well-being and recognize the need to address social issues.
  • Draws on personal experience of being married to a small business owner.
  • Recalls a positive experience with a former MP at a business opening.
  • Believes in leveraging relationships with businesses for community benefit and finding partners for projects.
• On bishop's ministry and frustration:
  • Recalled a time when a bishop was reluctant to attend a diocesan youth event (CIO Altraa), which he found frustrating.
  • Believes the bishop's presence, even without full agreement, is important.
  • Hopes to avoid such a situation by being open to the spirit and the bishop's call to be present.
• On community ministries:
  • Has a long relationship with community ministries, having served as chair and remained on the committee.
  • Views strengthening community ministries as fostering deeper relationships and finding more funders and partnerships.
  • Supports the idea of "arms coming together" to hold the world in their care, finding it powerful.
  • Believes in getting leadership from community ministries to address churches directly to communicate needs and impact.
  • Emphasizes the importance of the ministry's origins in parishes and reminding parishes of their ownership.
  • Highlights the need to address rural parishes' feelings of being cut off and their own needs.
  • Sees the need to assess and structure ministries for long-term sustainability, potentially through partnerships.
• On engaging youth outside the church:
  • Believes the current approach to youth ministry (focusing on youth within the church) is not saving the church.
  • Suggests outreach into communities where youth are, creating ministries that work there, such as skateboard church.
  • Asks if the bishop should be present in these outreach ministries or if community ministries should look into them.
  • Believes youth are looking for meaning and purpose and may not think to look to the church for it.
  • Suggests a bishop needs a team to help reach outside church boundaries for youth engagement.
  • Believes a bishop's priority for youth ministry needs to be set at the diocesan level.

Monique Stone

• God-given gifts and ministry as Bishop:
  • Emphasizes grace, trust, respect, joy, and humility as foundational gifts for ministry.
  • Believes in being open to God's grace, which empowers individuals amidst complex issues.
  • Profoundly trusts that the diocese is in God's hands and that all are God's beloved children doing God's work.
  • Values honoring stories, lamenting, calling to truth and reconciliation, and transformation.
  • Respects the future church that God is calling into, even if it causes discomfort.
  • Believes joy enables embracing ministry with fellowship and hope, marveling at community and mission gifts.
  • Leads with humility, recognizing interdependence and not existing in isolation.
  • Has extensive leadership experience from various roles inside and outside the church.
• On movements and formation:
  • Views movements and formation opportunities as critical to her own faith journey and falling in love with the Anglican Church.
  • As a leader, she aims to continuously discern ways to introduce and sustain people in faith, being inclusive of diverse theological expressions and entry points into the church.
• On vocational deacons:
  • Advocates for exploring diverse ways people offer their gifts to the church, pushing back against the idea that leadership must be priestly.
  • Sees the vocational diaconate as one such way to be inclusive and adaptive.
  • Suggests a bishop should have an attitude of exploring diverse leadership roles, ordained or not, to create team environments.
• On church structures and change:
  • Focuses on cultural change, aiming for a bishop who is involved in community and fosters collaboration and trust across clergy and laity.
  • Highlights six mandates: encouraging hope, creating collaboration and trust, ensuring vibrancy, honoring interdependence, increasing response capacity, and working on structures.
  • Advocates for structures that allow for open conversations and shared decision-making, moving beyond just reporting and voting.
• On government relations:
  • Considers engagement with all three levels of government incredibly important.
  • Has extensive experience navigating relationships with municipal government, planning, and development departments from years at city hall.
  • Understands the language of government and its impact on church property and projects.
  • Believes in advocacy, particularly around homelessness and societal vulnerabilities.
  • Advocates for awareness and involvement in political platforms, mentioning the issue of taxing churches.
  • Stresses the importance of having a voice at diocesan, provincial, and national church levels.
  • Volunteered for the Canadian Food Grains Bank and participated in advocacy on Parliament Hill.
• On private sector engagement:
  • Believes businesses want to support community initiatives and that the church should leverage these relationships.
  • Has personal experience working with private developers, engineers, and planning specialists, speaking their language.
  • Highlights the need for conversations with the private sector on areas of mutual interest, recognizing opportunities for partnership and information sharing.
  • Proud of her role in installing a war memorial in Carleton Place, which involved collaboration with the private sector.
  • Emphasizes the need for society to thrive through partnerships between private, public, and non-profit sectors.
• On bishop's ministry and frustration:
  • Reflects on a parishioner's comment that a bishop "only shows up for confirmation or chaos."
  • Believes a cultural change is needed for bishops to be present for community and relationship-building, not just in times of crisis.
  • Advocates for trusting God to lead the church and for collaborative, grace-filled leadership.
  • Suggests avoiding the mindset that all responsibility rests solely on the bishop's shoulders.
• On community ministries:
  • Points to the "Shaping Parish Ministry" initiative and its priority of "engagement with the world" as a foundation for community ministries.
  • Believes it's time to discuss the future of these ministries and how they engage with the world.
  • Highlights that community ministries are now organizations requiring administrative focus and sustainability planning, often dependent on municipal funding.
  • Stresses the need to care for employees within community ministries and maintain connections.
  • Advocates for rethinking sustainability and seeking expertise from those involved in community ministries.
• On engaging youth outside the church:
  • Notes that the diocese's canons do not mention youth, criticizing the lack of prioritization and respect for youth in the church.
  • Researched other dioceses' canons to find wisdom on youth engagement and governance.
  • Believes filling youth groups isn't enough; new ways are needed to engage young people and people of all ages as authentic seekers.
  • Shares her own experience of coming to faith at age 30, suggesting there are ways to engage adults who are not yet part of the church.
  • Advocates for breaking down barriers and engaging in spiritual care within schools.
  • Emphasizes respecting people at all ages and recognizing their validity and needs.
  • Stresses the importance of listening to and respecting young people, understanding their needs, and not imposing her own perspective.

Katherine Utley

• God-given gifts and ministry as Bishop:
  • Practices "non-anxious leadership," believing a bishop's calm presence can settle atmospheres and empower responsive actions.
  • Values collaborative work and equipping God's people by encouraging their ideas and recognizing their contributions.
  • Has a gift for recognizing leadership qualities in both clergy and laity, essential for raising up leaders.
  • Fosters partnerships, drawing on experience connecting with other dioceses, bishops, clergy, and laity, as well as non-profit, for-profit, ecumenical, and interfaith partners.
  • Possesses a gift for setting direction, mapping courses, setting clear goals, and making accountable decisions.
  • Offers the gift of perspective, gained from experience across the diocese (rural, suburban, urban) and from wider church contexts.
  • Believes in the bishop's role in teaching and sharing the joy of learning.
  • As chief pastor, offers gifts of listening, presence, prayer, and support, including setting healthy boundaries.
  • Reminds people that as people of faith, they are called to abundance and to risk new ideas.
• On movements and formation:
  • Her experience at CIO (which she cites as a formative experience outside her parish) broadened her perspective and sense of belonging to a larger family.
  • She sees organizations like the Anglican Fellowship of Prayer, CIO, and Alpha as valuable for connecting people and providing wider perspectives.
• On vocational deacons:
  • Views vocational deacons as those who proclaim the gospel and bring the needs of the world to the church.
  • Acknowledges that there isn't one way deacons work, as it's contextual depending on where they are called and the diocese's needs.
  • Suggests deacons can serve in various ways, such as starting ministries (e.g., Center 105), supporting affordable housing projects, or engaging with local communities and retirement homes.
  • Advocates for expanding understanding of diaconal ministry and being responsive to community needs and the call of those who feel called to it.
• On church structures and change:
  • Believes bishops work at the behest of synod directives and wants to facilitate that work.
  • Emphasizes the need for better communication within the diocese and to the wider community about who they are and what they do.
  • Wants to live out existing diocesan mandates and priorities rather than creating new ones, focusing on teaching, learning, and listening.
• On government relations:
  • Considers relationships with all three levels of government very important.
  • Has experience working with government on projects like affordable housing and meeting the needs of vulnerable populations.
  • Learned on provincial council the importance of working with representatives from all parties, approaching issues with partnership and proposing collaborative solutions.
  • Believes in approaching government by stating what the church is doing and asking how they can partner.
• On private sector engagement:
  • Her church in Westboro has a good relationship with the local Business Improvement Association (BIA).
  • This relationship has led to significant support for their food bank and other community initiatives, including events and fundraising auctions.
  • They play games outside with businesses in the summer, fostering recognition and connection.
  • Businesses are seen as valuable partners who want healthy and thriving communities and are often willing to support church initiatives.
• On bishop's ministry and frustration:
  • Recounted an experience where she disagreed with a bishop's decision that affected her parish.
  • While frustrated that the bishop didn't agree with her viewpoint, she appreciated being listened to carefully and having multiple meetings.
  • Learned about the bishop's position and the importance of being listened to, even without agreement.
  • Hopes to extend that same graciousness as bishop, being open to listening and learning from mistakes.
• On community ministries:
  • Has experience serving in various capacities related to community ministries.
  • Believes a bishop should work with the Director General of Community Ministries and the boards to listen to their vision and support it.
  • Stresses the importance of reminding parishes of the origins of community ministries and fostering a sense of ownership.
  • Addresses the perception that rural parishes might feel disconnected and suggests finding ways to support them and their unique needs.
  • Believes in partnerships and collaborative efforts to strengthen community ministries and their impact.
• On engaging youth outside the church:
  • Believes the bishop has a role in connecting with youth through confirmation preparation but also acknowledges the challenge of reaching those not currently in the church.
  • Suggests building a team focused on young people to reach out to those outside the church community.
  • Proposes the bishop, through communiques or newsletters, could help convey that the church is a welcoming place for young people seeking meaning and purpose.
  • Acknowledges this is a challenge given the bishop's many tasks and suggests a team approach would be beneficial.