 |
Phil Barnett being Inducted as National Coordinator for Canada |
At the National Conference of the Canadian Christian Meditation Community held recently in Vancouver, Fr. Laurence Freeman welcomed Rev. Phil Barnett of Winnipeg as the new National Coordinator giving him an apron as a sign of service leadership to the Canadian Community.
Phil was born and raised in the United Kingdom where he married his wife Barbara and emigrated to Canada in 1965. He was employed as an engineer by Canadian General Electric then transfered to Atomic Energy of Canada Limited, working in the Computer Department at the Whiteshell Nuclear Research Establishment near Winnipeg Manitoba.
After a few years he answered the call to the priesthood and to that end, studied theology at St. John’s College in Winnipeg. In 1980 he was ordained a deacon in the Anglican Church and a priest in 1981. He served 3 parishes in the Winnipeg area, ending up at St. Peter’s where he has been priest for 16 years. He plans to retire in February 2008. He has served the Diocese of Rupertsland in many ways including serving as Archdeacon for 7 years and on many committees—too many to list. He is a Canon of St. John’s Cathedral. At the National Church level, he served as a member of General Synod for 9 years, as a member of the Stewardship and Financial Development Committee for 3 years and a board member of the Primate's World Relief and Development Fund for 6 years.
His wife Barbara is also an Anglican priest and they have 3 children and 6 grandchildren.
Phil has been meditating for about 15 years. For the last 4 years, he was the Regional Coordinator for Manitoba and Northwest Ontario, and a member of the editorial team for Newsnotes.
His interests are: cross-country skiing, curling, cycling, camping, hiking, birding, yoga, reading and photography.
Rev. Barnett replaces Michel Legault from Cantley QC, who will remain on the National Council.