Paul Donison (born 1977) is a Canadian-born American Anglican bishop. His primary role in ordained ministry is as rector and dean of Christ Church Plano, the largest church and provincial pro-cathedral of the Anglican Church in North America. Since 2024, he has also served as general secretary of Gafcon and assistant bishop in the Anglican Diocese of Gasabo.
Paul Donison | |
|---|---|
| Rector and Dean of Christ Church Plano Assistant Bishop of Gasabo | |
 | |
| Church | Anglican Church in North America Anglican Church of Rwanda |
| Diocese | Gasabo |
| Other post(s) | Rector and Dean, Christ Church Plano (2016–present) Gafcon General Secretary (2023–present) Vicar General, Texas Deanery, Anglican Diocese of the South (2024–present) |
| Orders | |
| Consecration | February 4, 2024 by Laurent Mbanda |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1977 (age 46–47) Canada |
Early life and education
editDonison was born in Canada and earned his B.F.A. in theatre from the University of Victoria.[1] After university, Donison worked as a professional actor,[2] including roles as Laertes in Hamlet[3] and Friar Lawrence in Romeo and Juliet.[4] He later attended Regent College, where he received an M.Div. and a diploma in Christian studies.[1]
Ordained ministry
editDonison began his ordained ministry in the Anglican Church of Canada, serving in the Diocese of Fredericton and the Diocese of Ottawa.[2] In September 2009, as part of the broader Anglican realignment, Donison stepped down as rector of the combined South Dundas parish of St. James, Morrisburg, and Holy Trinity, Riverside Heights. He voluntarily relinquished his license in the Diocese of Ottawa and joined the Anglican Network in Canada.[5] He joined the staff of St. Peter and St. Paul's Anglican Church in Ottawa as associate priest for discipleship and became rector in 2012.[2] Donison was shortlisted for the role of bishop of Pittsburgh in March 2016.[6]
In 2016, Donison was elected to succeed the Rev. David Roseberry as the second rector of Christ Church in Plano, Texas, which was the largest church in the ACNA and host of the investiture of Archbishop Robert Duncan in 2009. After immigrating to the United States, Donison was formally installed by Archbishop Foley Beach and Bishop Todd Hunter in January 2017.[2]
Donison and Christ Church hosted the ACNA Provincial Assembly in 2019. In 2021, Christ Church was designated the provincial pro-cathedral for the ACNA.[7]
Global role
editIn 2023, Donison was elected general secretary of Gafcon, succeeding Archbishop Benjamin Kwashi.[8] The Gafcon Primates Council determined that "the role of general secretary was episcopal in nature," so Gafcon Chairman Laurent Mbanda consecrated Donison as assistant bishop in the Diocese of Gasabo on February 4, 2024, at Holy Trinity Cathedral in Kibagabaga, Kigali.[9] On February 17, Donison was invested as vicar general for the Texas deanery in the Anglican Diocese of the South in addition to continuing his role as dean and rector at Christ Church.[10]
Personal life
editDonison is married to Monika; they have four children.[2] Donison is a board member at Trinity School for Ministry, where he pursued doctoral studies, and East African Christian College in Kigali.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c "The Very Rev. Paul Donison". Christ Church Plano. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
- ^ a b c d e "Christ Church Plano names new rector". Plano Star Courier. December 23, 2016. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
- ^ "UVic students do honest job with modernized Hamlet". Times Colonist. February 15, 1998. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
- ^ "Romeo and Juliet (1998, Phoenix Theatre, University of Victoria)". Shakespeare in Performance: Stage Production. Internet Shakespeare Editions. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
- ^ Donison, Paul (September 23, 2009). ""My dear friends in the Parish of Morrisburg – Iroquois – Riverside Heights"" (PDF). Anglican Network in Canada. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
- ^ "Pittsburgh nominees announced". Anglican Ink. March 7, 2016. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
- ^ Walton, Jeff (November 19, 2021). "Christ Church Plano's Paul Donison on new Anglican Provincial Cathedral". Anglican Ink. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
- ^ "New General Secretary for GAFCON". Anglican Ink. November 10, 2023. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
- ^ "Itorero Angilikani ry'u Rwanda ryimitse Paul Danison nka musenyeri wungirije muri Diyoseze ya Gasabo". YouTube (in Kinyarwanda). RwandaTV. February 4, 2010. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
- ^ "GAFCON secretary general elected assistant bishop of Gasabo". Anglican Ink. January 17, 2024. Retrieved 24 January 2024.