Introduction
Frederick James "Fred" Hiltz (born 1954) is a Canadian Anglican bishop. Since 2007, he has been Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada.
Early life and education
Hiltz was born in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia where he was also raised. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree at Dalhousie University in 1975 (major in biology) and obtained his Master of Divinity degree at the Atlantic School of Theology in 1978. He received an honorary doctoral Doctor of Divinity degree from the University of King's College, Halifax in 2002.
Ordained ministry
Hiltz was ordained a deacon on 3 June 1977, and a priest on 29 June 1978. He served in a number of parishes within the Diocese of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island: Christ Church, Sydney; Melford-Guysborough; Timberlea-Lakeside; The Cathedral Church of All Saints, Halifax; and St. John’s Church, Lunenburg.
In 1994, Hiltz was elected suffragan bishop (an assistant bishop without an automatic right of succession) of the Diocese of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. He was consecrated as a bishop the following year. He became diocesan bishop in 2002. Since 2006 he has served as Anglican co-chair of the Anglican-Lutheran International Commission.
Primate
Hiltz was elected Primate on 22 June 2007, and installed as the 13th primate on 25 June. The Guardian newspaper described him as a liberal-leaning bishop. He is considered a moderate theological liberal and he opposes the death penalty. He supports and voted in favour of the blessing of same-sex unions at the 2007 General Synod that elected him.
In recent years Hiltz has undertaken a televised joint Christmas message with the National Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, carrying into greater fulfillment past declarations of Anglican–Lutheran solidarity. In October 2009, he was reportedly dismayed by Pope Benedict XVI's invitation to welcome groups of disaffected Anglicans into the Roman Catholic Church.
Personal life
Hiltz has described his hobbies as the care of animals (two Labrador retrievers and a cat), reading, gardening and woodworking. He is married to his wife of 30 years, Lynne Samways Hiltz. They have one son, Nathan (age 35 as of 2016), who is a jazz guitarist and music teacher in Toronto.