Richmond, Canada - Anglican Church of Canada electors chose staunchly conservative Bishop Terrence Buckle of the Yukon as the metropolitan and archbishop to head one of the denomination's four provinces.
Buckle's new responsibilities include discipline of bishops in his region of British Columbia and the Yukon.
A losing candidate, Vancouver's liberal Bishop Michael Ingham, provoked an international uproar in 2002 by authorizing blessing ceremonies for same-sex couples.
Vancouver parishes that spurned Ingham's action asked Buckle to be their substitute bishop and he agreed. After Ingham barred Buckle and the now-retired metropolitan threatened Buckle with disciplinary action, he withdrew.
The Anglican Church of Canada faces a 2007 showdown on gay policies.