Edmonton Diocese Welcomes Deacon and Priest

Bishop Jane Alexander received the Rev. Eric Kregel and the Rev. Lorne Manweiler into the “Anglican branch of the Jesus Movement” Friday evening, on the Feast of St. Bartholomew, at All Saints’ Cathedral, Edmonton.

Kregel recently served as an intern with St. George’s Church in Fort Saskatchewan and Christ Church in Edmonton. He was ordained to the diaconate and has been appointed interim deacon-in-charge of St. George’s, Fort Saskatchewan, beginning September 4.

Manweiler is a Studio Instructor (Organ), and sessional professor of liturgy and dogmatics at Concordia University of Edmonton; and a sessional instructor in systematic theology and liturgy at Concordia Lutheran Seminary, Edmonton. He was received as a priest in the Church of God and serves as an honorary assistant at Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Edmonton.

“Creation occurs through a song of love,” said the Ven. Christopher Pappas in his homily address.

“St. Bartholomew sang a part in the great song of creation while he lived, and the ripples created by his singing continue to echo to this very day. His Feast is an outstanding day to be ordained and received into the Anglican Branch of the Jesus Movement,” said Pappas who sits in the stall of St. Bartholomew.

All of God’s children are invited to sing in God’s song at all times and in all places, Pappas continued. Additionally, some are called to sing a specific part in God’s song that emphasizes the life, teachings and values of Jesus. Tonight, we are celebrating the parts that Eric and Lorne are called to sing in a song that doesn’t conform to society’s values. It won’t always be easy, even the uber disciples sometimes strove for the world’s values instead of Jesus', but like them we’ll continue to be refined in our service to the song.

Our ordinal says that both a deacon and a priest are called by God to special ministries. Central to both is making Christ and his redemptive love known, by word and example, to those among whom they live and work and worship.

Our role as clergy is also to sing the song of God’s redemptive love in the midst of our culture. Not apart from the world but in it, engaging it, and taking its story, its words and integrating them into Jesus’ melody, leading to transformation of the world…

Although “relatively new to Anglicanism,” Kregel ministered in the Baptist church for more than 20 years. Originally from California, he was ordained within the Southwest General Conference Baptist Association and served as a youth minister in the LA area. He moved to Canada with his wife Catherine in 2005 and served for 9 years as High Prairie’s Baptist pastor. He then pastored with the Evangelical Free church in Edmonton

“I was drawn to Anglicanism about a year and a half ago, seeing how the liturgy of our services can shape our daily cooperation with God in His mission,” says Kregel, also a published science fiction writer, who loves to play the banjo and tell stories. “My desire is to be a priest in our diocese, leading a parish from ‘the Altar to the neighbourhood.’ I love the grace of God, as it is expressed by the eucharist and our heritage.”

The Kregels have two daughters and a dog. Their eldest Carys (10) read the First Lesson during the service Friday evening.

Manweiler hails from Vernon, BC. An alumnus of the University of British Columbia and Concordia Lutheran Seminary, Edmonton, he has served Lutheran Church–Canada parishes in Medicine Hat, Calgary, Vulcan, Wetaskiwin, and Edmonton.  He is a sought-after international recitalist, clinician, facilitator, and lecturer in church music, liturgy, doctrine and Christian identity.

In his spare time, he is an avid spin class addict, coffee lover, music listener, bookworm, Trekkie, and computer nerd.

“The song of Love continues to create and we have our parts,” said Pappas. “Tonight we recognize two more singers, praying that though their names will one day be forgotten, the ripples they make will continue to play a role in Jesus’ transformative mission forever.”