Blog

Full Index

Everything we post on a regular basis in our website in different categories, appears in this index by chronological order, newest entries at the top.

Ted Dodd

Ted Dodd

“The diaconal community offers accountability for growth-oriented and prophetic questioning, non-hierarchical inclusivity, consultative collegiality, mutuality in accompaniment and I continue to long to be officially a part of this kind of ongoing, intentional feedback and responsible discerning.”

Caryn Douglas

Caryn Douglas

Profiles  Year Commissioned, location Owen Sound, Toronto Conference, 1989 Program of Formation I spent 3 amazing (tough and wonderful) years at CCS in the residential program from 1986 to 1989.  I actually lived in residence for 2 of the 3 years and that was a...

Eleanor Ethel Ferguson

Eleanor Ethel Ferguson

In Memorium  “Eleanor Ferguson was a woman of iron will who had a very kind and compassionate way about her, all at the same time,” writes Joel Den Haan, a former minister. “She became a really good friend to my son Eric who was still a preschooler when we moved...

Florence Poole

Florence Poole

In Memorium  Florence Elizabeth Fitzpatrick Poole entered the United Church Training School in 1951 in a special 8 month program designed to short track women into new church development work.  The rapid post war expansion of suburban Canada, with thousands and...

Jean Macdonald

Jean Macdonald

In Memorium  Jean Macdonald was a spirited woman.  She loved life.  She had a passion for learning.  She worked hard, led with enthusiasm and bore a positive attitude.  Her faith was deep and abiding.  She served God in everything she did, and notably in 30 years...

Frances (Lodge) Steele

Frances (Lodge) Steele

In Memorium  Frances Steele was by nature a humble woman.  She didn’t like to draw attention to her own accomplishments; rather, she took pleasure in letting the sun shine on others.  She was wonderfully creative, hard-working and energetic.  Frances could have...

Jean (Baynton) Shilton

Jean (Baynton) Shilton

In Memorium  Born October 8, 1918 in Brandon, Manitoba, Jean Irving Shilton was the daughter of Eric and Elsie Baynton and the sister of Harold Baynton. She grew up in Brandon, Moose Jaw and Regina, Saskatchewan, weathering the “dirty thirties” in the heart of a...

Once Upon a Spiral

By Lori Stewart, 2011 Once upon a spiral: the story of the Centre for Christian Studies Action/Reflection Model  EdD, International University of the Caribbean with University of Sheffield 2012 A gathering together of the narratives of the “spiral” in the life of the...

Audrey Cornell

Audrey Cornell

In Memorium  Graduating from the United Church Training School in 1952, Gladys “Audrey” Cornell was a member of the largest class the school had ever had (picture of class).  She came to the school with the hope of a career as a Deaconess, but circumstances...

Lillian ‘Lil’ Taylor

Lillian ‘Lil’ Taylor

In Memorium  Lillian Jean Marie Taylor was a woman of good humour and great compassion.  She was practical and forthright in offering her service, motivated by a deeply inherent love for God, whose face she saw in all those in need. From an early age Lillian...

Lawrence Moon

Lawrence Moon

In Memorium  Certified Churchman/Diaconal Minister, Lawrence Moon was gracious and gentle and demonstrated a positive manner with everyone around him. He never wavered in his conviction that the Spirit of God held him and all of us in loving arms. Lawrence was...

Evelyne “Evie” Gilmour

Evelyne “Evie” Gilmour

In Memorium  Evelyne "Evie" Gilmour, while teaching in Toronto, became involved in community ministry through her church, and eventually enrolled in a Social Services program at Ryerson University. After ehr marriage to Lorne Hefflefinger, the family eventually...

Sharilynn Upsdell

Sharilynn Upsdell

Profiles  Commissioned 2003 at Salmon Arm BC and settled to Lax Kw‟alaams (Port Simpson) – a small Tsimshian fishing village on BC‟s far north coast) Program of Formation CCS  4 year program community based program What called you to Diaconal Ministry? As a young...

Florence Cochrane Butler

In Memorium  Florence Cochrane Butler was born on October 21, 1923.  While a student at the United Church Training School, Florence had a summer placement at Leask,  Saskatchewan. She met her partner George, also from Leask, at Bloor Street United Church in...