Background
Hiltz was born in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia where he was also raised.
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. 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 Saint 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.