Atkinson oversees a church planting initiative in Canada called Via Apostolica and has been in partnership with the Anglican Network in Canada since their synod in 2014.
Born in Canada, Atkinson came to faith in Christ as a teen. Upon reaching majority age, he moved to the United Kingdom to train with a British evangelist and ended up at Oxford University where he studied theology and philosophy. In 2003, Atkinson made a permanent move back to Canada and in 2012 he was consecrated a bishop. He and his wife, Cheri, currently live in Lethbridge, Alberta. They have three children.
“This is a big day so I’m a bit emotional. This is a promised land that I’m very privileged to have entered into,” Atkinson explained. “I say this to all the people in the ACNA: You’ve got something really good. The way God is reconstituting Anglicanism and making it an absolute force for missions, there’s just so many good things here! There’s a lot of health, a lot of really good things!”
The Rt. Rev. Charlie Masters, Diocesan Bishop of ANiC, shared his excitement: “Via Apostolica has an intense love of the Lord, a high view of the work of the Holy Spirit, and a love of the Anglican Way. I’m delighted that I was able to commend Bishop Todd to the College of Bishops today. I was honored by that, kind of like Barnabas bringing Paul to the Apostles. It was a serious time of discernment on behalf of the College of Bishops. They never lightly do anything. There was a great sense of joy. It was a great morning.”
The Most Rev. Dr. Foley Beach, Archbishop of the Anglican Church in North America, said, “I am thankful for Bishop Atkinson’s heart for mentoring and discipleship. As a College we have come to know him over the last few years and are now blessed to welcome him home into the Anglican Church in North America.”
