Many factors have influenced our life in Qu’Appelle, principally among these is the decline in churchgoing population which had been underway for some time prior to 1997. The litigation over residential school abuse only served to accelerate this trend.

In 1997 the diocese had 45 parishes (26 rural and 19 urban) served by 43 clergy, 38 of whom were stipendiary. In 2005 there are 36 parishes (22 rural and 14 urban) with 33 clergy, 22 of whom are stipendiary. Ministry is sustained to some degree through the willingness of retired clergy to step into the breach when needed.

Early in 1998, the diocese became involved in litigation around allegations of abuse in Indian residential schools. For the most part, it was drawn in after being named as third party by the federal government. Qu’Appelle was involved with the Gordon Residential School where one supervisor was charged and found guilty of sexual abuse.

Nevertheless, some of the stories that emerged from the diversity of experiences of Aboriginal people at residential schools are indeed horrific and it is not surprising that they took so long to become public. Other stories told of the pain experienced by the children by being separated from their families, and of the abuses they experienced.

The diocese approached the litigation as an issue of justice. Our primary concern was to achieve healing and reconciliation and secondarily to manage the financial challenges. Like the Diocese of Cariboo, bankruptcy was an imminent prospect though, in the end, it did not happen in Qu’Appelle. However, our financial resources have been greatly depleted.

A settlement was reached in 2003 between the Anglican Church of Canada and the federal government in which the church agreed to establish a settlement fund of $25 million to which all dioceses would contribute. In Qu’Appelle, people have contributed generously to this fund and the diocese is committed to paying our full share of $400,000 over five years. (Since the original settlement agreement, the size of the fund has been reduced to $16 million.)

In response to the residential school abuse the diocese has understood this as primarily an issue of justice and responded with several initiatives.

• The Bishop made numerous visits to Gordon First Nation to meet with leaders and other stakeholders.
• Money was allocated to support full-time ministry at Gordon and surrounding First Nations and two Aboriginal clergy were appointed.
• In 2000, a cleric was appointed to a two-year half-time position to explain, interpret, inform, discover and listen throughout the diocese. Most parishes were visited. The cleric also represented the diocese at mediations and was extensively involved in the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) process.
• • Successive diocesan synods made provision to hear and respect Aboriginal voices and listen to stories.
• Some parishes have explored partnerships with St. Luke’s at Gordon First Nation.

While there is still considerable anger and hurt and many stories have yet to be heard and responded to, healing has begun and so too has the long journey of reconciliation.

Since 2000, the diocese has spent considerable time and energy on implementing initiatives, structures and processes to move us forward as a viable, self-sustaining entity.

In 2005, the Right Rev Duncan Wallace announced his retirement and in 2006 Gregory Kerr-Wilson was consecrated as the 11th Bishop of Qu'Appelle

Our diocese continues to build energetically and faithfully on the strong roots of our history. Respect for the ministry of all the baptized, openness to liturgical reform, the centrality of the Eucharist, and finding ways to address creatively the diverse needs of our changing prairie landscape are all principles of our past that form part of who we are today as the Diocese of Qu’Appelle.