Last week marked the end of another triennium for the Canadian Council of Churches. With the end of a triennium comes a change in leadership, and in a ceremony at St. Paul’s University last Thursday the CCC saw the induction of a new executive committee for the CCC’s Governing Board.
Outgoing CCC President Lt. Col. Jim Champ of the Salvation Army, and General Secretary Karen Hamilton, welcomed the new executive in brief but meaningful ceremony on Thursday evening, after a program which included a workshop on the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, and the introduction of Cesar Jaramillo, new executive director of CCC agency Project Ploughshares.
Members of the new executive include Larry Brennan, treasurer; Bishop Ron Fabbro (Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops), Vice President; the Rev. Canon Alyson Barnett-Cowan (Anglican Church of Canada), President; the Rev. Stephen Kendall (Presbyterian Church in Canada), Vice President; the Rev. Dr. Willard Metzger (Mennonite Church Canada), Vice President; Lt. Col Jim Champ (Salvation Army), outgoing President; the Rev. Dr. Karen Hamilton, General Secretary.
Members of the new executive include Larry Brennan, treasurer; Bishop Ron Fabbro (Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops), Vice President; the Rev. Canon Alyson Barnett-Cowan (Anglican Church of Canada), President; the Rev. Stephen Kendall (Presbyterian Church in Canada), Vice President; the Rev. Dr. Willard Metzger (Mennonite Church Canada), Vice President; Lt. Col Jim Champ (Salvation Army), outgoing President; the Rev. Dr. Karen Hamilton, General Secretary.
“It was with great excitement and a deep sense of thanksgiving that the Past-President of the CCC and I installed the new executive,” says Rev. Dr. Hamilton.
“The new President, The Rev. Canon Dr. Alyson Barnett-Cowan brings to the CCC and Ecumenism in Canada tremendous ecumenical depth and experience both nationally and internationally.
“The Rev. Stephen Kendall brings depth and experience also, particularly in the areas of Truth and Reconciliation with First Nations and Governance.
“The Rev. Dr. Willard Metzger is the first Mennonite Officer of the CCC since its inception in 1948 and has a particular passion for the faithful stewardship of God’s creation.
“Bishop Ron Fabbro has also ministered extensively in the area of reconciliation.
The new officers bring to the CCC their wisdom, their experience, their commitment to ecumenism in Canada and around the world and the grace to witness and minister with creativity, energy and a sense of joy.
Thanks be to God!”