NEWS RELEASE
CONTACT:
The Venerable Dr. Myles A. Calvin
Executive Archdeacon
Anglican Diocese of the West
915-383-4422
chaplainmcalvin@gmail.com
TWO SUFFRAGAN BISHOPS ELECTED TO
CANA ANGLICAN DIOCESE OF THE WEST
Suffragan Bishops to serve large, diverse Anglican diocese in U.S.
Houston, Texas – January 14, 2020 – The Right Rev. Dr. Felix Orji, Missionary Bishop of the Convocation of Anglicans in North America (CANA), has announced the election of The Venerable Dr. Scott Seely and The Venerable Celestine Ironna as Suffragan Bishops-Elect of CANA’s Diocese of the West (Church of Nigeria). They will be consecrated as Suffragan Bishops during formal ceremonies scheduled for later this year. The announcement was made following the Suffragan Bishops’ formal election by the House of Bishops of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) at their annual retreat held earlier this month. “I am honored that the House of Bishops allowed me to recommend these two men as Suffragan Bishops for the Diocese of the West within the Convocation of Anglicans in North America, and I am very proud they were elected,” said Bishop Orji. He continued, “Dr. Seely and Venerable Ironna will now assist me in Diocesan mission and ministry, and I look forward to their support in our geographically large and diverse, multicultural diocese. These two men are committed to Christ and will represent our Diocese and CANA well.”
The Venerable Dr. Scott Seely is currently the rector of Three Streams Anglican Church in San Antonio, Texas and also serves as Diocesan Officer for Church Planting for the Diocese of the West (CANA). He was ordained as a deacon in The Convocation of Anglicans in North America in 2009 and was ordained a priest the following year. He was appointed an Archdeacon of the Diocese of the West (CANA) in 2016. Prior to his service as rector of Three Streams Anglican Church, Dr. Seely served as youth minister at the Church of Reconciliation in San Antonio and as worship leader at Christ Church in the Hill Country in Bulverde, Texas. He was named rector of Three Streams Anglican Church in 2010.
The Venerable Dr. Seely received a B.A. degree from Texas Lutheran University and also holds an M.A. degree in Theology. He also earned a Master of Divinity with research honors from the Trinity School for Ministry. He received his Doctor of Ministry degree, cum laude, from Nashotah House Theological Seminary. Dr. Seely resides in San Antonio with his wife and two children.
The Venerable Celestine Ironna is the rector of Christ Anglican Church in Marietta, Georgia. He also serves as the Diocese of the West (CANA) Regional Archdeacon for Atlanta, Georgia. He was ordained as a deacon in the Diocese of Orlu, a diocese in the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) and was ordained a priest in December 2000. He was appointed Canon in the Church of Nigeria’s Diocese of Ideato and was named an Archdeacon of the Diocese of the West (CANA) in 2012. Prior to his service as rector of Christ Anglican Church, The Venerable Ironna served as vicar for Emmanuel Anglican Church, curate for St. Peter’s Anglican Church, and parish priest for St. Stephen’s Anglican Church — all three churches located in Ideato, Imo State Nigeria. After arriving in the U.S., The Venerable Ironna served as associate priest at All Saints Anglican Church in Irvington, New Jersey. In 2004, he was named associate priest for Christ Anglican Church in Irvington and was subsequently appointed rector of Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Marietta. He was named rector of Christ Anglican Church in 2008.
The Venerable Ironna received a Diploma in Theology from Trinity Theological College in Umuahia, Abia Nigeria and a Bachelor of Education Degree from the University of Nigeria in Enugu, Nigeria. He earned a master’s degree in Social Work from Kennesaw State University. Outside of his Church and Diocesan duties, The Venerable Ironna works as a therapist, clinician, and counselor for a number of behavioral health programs in Marietta, Atlanta, and Canton, GA. He lives in Marietta with his wife and four children.
