Dorian Baxter

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Dorian Baxter (born 3 April 1950 in Mombasa Island, Kenya) is currently recognized by the Government of Ontario as the Archbishop of the Federation of Independent Anglican Churches of North America. He was consecrated in the tradition of the Church of England in Canada on March 9, 2003. Not only is he licensed to perform marriages in Ontario but he as head of the newest religious body of Anglicans in North America is licensed to license his own bishops and clergy to perform weddings in Ontario.

Baxter was baptized and confirmed by the first Black Bishop of Mombasa in Mombasa Cathedral. His father Arthur Baxter was a Major in the British Army and his mother Ena Baxter was a Corporal also in the British Army. Baxter came to Canada on 28 March 1968. He obtained his B.A. from York University and his Master's Degree from the University of Toronto. He has been an educator for 33 years commencing his career as a classroom teacher with the then York county Board of Education in 1970. In 1972, he was invited by the Headmaster of saint George's College, Mr. Jack Wright to join his staff. Baxter taught grades 4 through to 10 academics, coached the school swim teams and ran the Independent Schools Athletic Association (Swimming) in Ontario.

In June 1980, he resigned to enter Theological studies at Wycliffe College, Toronto School of Theology, University of Toronto and was ordained in Saint James Cathedral on May 15, 1983 after serving as Head of Divinity, elected by the student body at the College. He served as a priest with the Anglican Church of Canada at Saint Paul's Anglican Church in Thunder Bay, Ontario and as Priest-in-charge of the Anglican Church of the Holy Spirit in Manitouwadge, Ontario.

Baxter is the Founding National Chairman of NAPPA (The National Association for Public and Private Accountability).[1]

In the 2004 federal election, he was a candidate in Newmarket-Aurora for the Progressive Canadian Party. He placed fifth with over 1,000 votes. Baxter ran again in the 2006 federal election and finished with 729 votes which placed him in fifth out of six candidates.

A social conservative, Baxter is pro-life and has criticized the consecration to the episcopate of the Episcopal Church USA of Gene Robinson, a gay priest.[2].

[edit] Controversy

In 1980, having taught at Saint George's College for eight years Mr. Baxter resigned after he had expressed disappointment in the behaviour of the new Headmaster Mr. Allen. In anger Mr. Allen attempted to fire Baxter before the end of the school year. Over 400 parents protested and Baxter was immediately reinstated and an apology letter was written to him by Mr. Allen.^{[citation needed]}

In 1996 Baxter won the Canadian Showstopper at the Collingwood Elvis Festival. In 1997 he won the Grand Champion of Showstoppers at that same festival. In 1998 he led a delegation to the Collingwood Town Council to protest the dismissal of Billy Cann, Founder of the Elvis Festival. He requested the reinstatement of Mr. Cann as Festival Organizer and that Collingwood repay Mr. Cann over $20,000.00 they owed him for financing the festival. They refused so Baxter refused to return to Collingwood in spite of repeated requests for him to do so.^{[citation needed]}