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To be read at all services and distributed via all online channels to the Parish of St John the
Divine, Courtenay, on July 12, 2020

Friends,
With pleasure, I write to announce that the Rev. Alastair Hunting has accepted appointment as
incumbent to St John the Divine, Courtenay, effective November 1, 2020.
Some of you may remember Alastair and his wife, Alison, from when they were parishioners at St
John the Divine between 2012 and 2016 while they were working in the Comox Valley and
Alastair completed his studies.
Alastair graduated with a Master of Divinity from the Vancouver School of Theology in 2015; he
was ordained to the deaconate in June 2016 and to the priesthood in June 2017. Before his
ordination, Alastair worked in street ministry as a chaplain, street youth worker and case manager,
and also in hospital chaplaincy. Alastair has spent the last four years as the incumbent at St
Columba, Port Hardy, and St John, Port Alice, where he established a well-attended youth
program, offered workshops and retreat weekends in conjunction with VST, and worked to build
relationships with the local First Nations communities.
In his application, Alastair spoke of being drawn to the diversity of the congregation at St John,
and to how as a past parishioner and through the parish profile, he witnessed how God’s love in
action was at work through the ministry at St John the Divine. He expressed his excitement at
being involved with a “place of healing and encounter” that already reflected his passions.
I wish to thank the members of the Bishop’s Consultation Committee for their prayers,
commitment, and hard work in the past few months. I have asked the Committee to stay together,
for several months at least, to be an informal guide to Alastair as he enters parish life. Because of
the relationship they have already established together through this discernment process, I think
Alastair will benefit from their guidance and mentoring.
Please pray for Alastair and Alison as they prepare for this transition, and for yourselves, as we
continue our mission and ministry together in the parish and the diocese.
In Christ,
\
The Ven. Barry Foster
executive officer

Letter attached below

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