Rev. Dr. Kimberly Heath next Moderator of The United Church of Canada
Born in Lusaka, Zambia, and raised in small Canadian towns, Rev. Dr. Kimberly Heath studied history at McGill University and earned her Master of Divinity at Emmanuel College. Ordained in 1999, she began her ministry in Claresholm-Stavely Pastoral Charge in Alberta and has served Wall Street United Church in eastern Ontario since 2007.
Rev. Dr. Heath has contributed to the wider church through leadership roles including Chair of Pastoral Relations in Foothills Presbytery, President of Bay of Quinte Conference, and member of the Eastern Ontario Outaouais Regional Council Transition Commission. She has also lead retreats, workshops, and preaching conferences to support clergy and nurture faith.
In sharing her hopes for the church, she says, 'As Moderator I will help to build up the church by deepening faith in Jesus, strengthening what is small and encouraging life-giving connections.'
The installation service is at Knox United Church, 506 4 St. SW, Calgary, Alberta, on Monday, Aug. 11 at 7 p.m. MT. It is open to anyone who would like to attend in person, and is also available on the United Church YouTube channel, with live interpretation in English and French.
Five nominees stood for selection by the Commissioners of General Council 45.
The Moderator serves as the spiritual leader of The United Church of Canada, heartening and strengthening the whole of the church. They also preside at meetings of the General Council and its Executive and visit regions and congregations throughout the United Church, connecting communities of faith to one another.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
18 hours ago
- The Sun
Nur Syafienaz makes history as first Orang Asli in TESL at IPG Kota Bharu
KOTA BHARU: Nur Syafienaz Nazri, an 18-year-old from the Temiar tribe, has become the first Orang Asli student to study Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) at the Institute of Teacher Education (IPG) Kota Bharu. The Gua Musang native, who hails from Kampung Lambok, Kuala Betis, aims to use education as a tool to transform her family's future. 'Since childhood, I dreamed of becoming a teacher, especially in English, as few in my village master the language,' she said. She scored 8As in her Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) last year and immediately applied to IPG. 'Alhamdulillah, my application was accepted,' she shared during a press meet at the IPG Kota Bharu Campus in Pengkalan Chepa. The eldest of four siblings, she credits her English proficiency to self-learning via TikTok and YouTube, along with teacher support. 'I am grateful to pursue a Bachelor of Teaching (Hons) in TESL for Primary Education here,' she added. She urged other Orang Asli youth to embrace education and step out of their comfort zones. Her mother, Siti Norsyakila Kamarzaman, hopes she adapts well and excels in her studies. IPG Kota Bharu Campus director Dr Narita Mohd Noor confirmed Nur Syafienaz is the first Orang Asli student in the TESL programme. 'This is remarkable, as English is rarely chosen by Orang Asli students, who typically prefer Bahasa Melayu,' she said. This year, IPG Kota Bharu enrolled 529 new students, a significant increase from just over 200 in 2024. - Bernama
Borneo Post
a day ago
- Borneo Post
26,000 Year 6 pupils to sit for Sarawak's first UP-DLP test this October
Dr Annuar (centre) presents an MRP cheque to a recipient as others look on. SIBU (Aug 11): The inaugural Dual Language Programme Sarawak Assessment Test (UP-DLP) for Year 6 pupils, scheduled for Oct 15 and 16, will be carried out professionally to ensure integrity, transparency, and strengthen parents' confidence in the system, said Deputy Minister of Education, Innovation and Talent Development Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee. According to him, about 26,000 pupils from 1,050 schools statewide, excluding Chinese primary schools (SJKC), will sit for the test, which covers three core subjects: Mathematics, Science, and English. Dr Annuar said the test papers are developed locally and vetted by Cambridge University Press and Assessment (CUPA) to ensure quality and credibility. 'We want to safeguard the integrity of the examination, and therefore the papers will be treated as highly confidential,' he said. Dr Annuar, also the Nangka assemblyman, told this to reporters after presenting the Minor Rural Project (MRP) grants to 12 schools under the constituency, in a ceremony held at SMK Agama Sibu yesterday. He further highlighted that the examination papers will be printed outside Sarawak – with three sets prepared – one kept as standby. 'Marking will be carried out by assessors from Swinburne University, University of Technology Sarawak, and Curtin University, covering the southern, central, and northern region respectively.' 'Markers will not be allowed to bring the examination papers out of the examination room. 'Papers will be tagged for each school, stored in a secure school safe, and delivered under police escort to prevent leaks,' he said. The grading system will not follow the Cambridge International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) model, he added. 'Pupils will not be graded by the number of A, B, or C results achieved. In other words, we only want to know the overall performance of pupils and schools,' he explained. 'We will not announce the top-performing schools, but we will inform schools of how many pupils scored excellent results and how many performed below average. This, he noted, is to allow the ministry to identify and assist schools that need support. Outstanding pupils may be offered places at the Yayasan Sarawak International Secondary School (YSISS) based on their UP-DLP performance. Dr Annuar acknowledged there may be challenges during the first implementation, especially in rural areas. 'Examinations start at 9am, so teachers in the interior may need to spend the night at schools to ensure they can start on time.'
The Star
a day ago
- The Star
A landmark celebration of faith and community
Strong foundation: Congregants marking the 130th anniversary of St Mark's Church in Butterworth. — CHAN BOON KAI/The Star BUTTERWORTH: For university student Joel Cephasraj Harris, St Mark's Church is more than a place of worship – it is part of his family's story. The 20-year-old said the church has been central to three generations, from his grandfather to his father and now himself. 'Practically my whole family worshipped here, from my grandfather to my generation,' he said during the church's 130th anniversary celebration yesterday. Joel, who has volunteered there for several years, described the church as a melting pot of English, Bahasa Malaysia and Tamil speakers. 'It goes beyond religion – it's about shaping people into better individuals and strengthening the community,' he said. Engineer S. Prabakaran brought his wife and two children from Seberang Jaya for the occasion. 'It's a proud day for us. The church has evolved into more than just a religious institution – it's where the community comes together,' said the 44-year-old. Prabakaran said he took advantage of the weekend holiday to bring his family to join the anniversary celebration. 'It's not every day you get to witness a 130-year celebration. I wanted my children to see and appreciate the church's history and the role it plays in our lives,' he said, adding that he also met up with his friends there. His wife, K. Kavitha, 40, said it is heartening to see people of all ages sharing stories and celebrating a place that has stood the test of time. Even non-members joined in the celebration such as Butterworth resident Eduard Lim, 25, who came to support friends and neighbours. 'I've always admired how the church opens its doors to everyone, regardless of background. It's part of what makes this community special,' he said. Lim added that the event is also a chance to appreciate the church's history, noting that such heritage buildings are rare and should be preserved for future generations. Yesterday's celebration drew hundreds of congregants and community members who came together to mark the anniversary with prayers, hymns and cultural performances. The event also offered a variety of community services, including free dental check-ups provided by the Health Ministry, medical screenings by Polyclinic Bagan, blood pressure and glucose tests, eye examinations and a blood donation drive by Hospital Baling. Children were treated to games and activities, adding a festive atmosphere to the occasion. Anglican Churches' Bishop of the Diocese of West Malaysia Rev Canon Dr D. Steven Abbarow led the service. The church also launched a fundraising drive for RM180,000 to buy a new van for its children's ministry, replacing a 20-year-old vehicle. Vicar Rev Anthony Jude said the van is essential for transporting Sunday school students. 'Our existing van is becoming too costly to maintain,' he said. The church also set a target of raising between RM30,000 and RM40,000 yesterday. Present during the anniversary celebration were Bagan MP Lim Guan Eng, Bagan Dalam assemblyman K. Kumaran, Bagan Jermal assemblyman Chee Yeeh Keen and senator Dr Lingeshwaran R. Arunasalam. Founded in 1893 by Rev Hubert C. Henham, the Church of St Mark the Evangelist began as a wooden chapel seating 70 and was completed in 1894 on a government-granted land along Jalan Bagan Luar. It was consecrated in January 1895. In 1929, the church moved to a larger site to serve a growing congregation, and the brick building consecrated that year gave Jalan St Mark its name. Today, the church stands in a Butterworth enclave known as a 'street of harmony', near Hindu and Buddhist temples and a Gurdwara, reflecting the town's interfaith heritage. St Mark's remains under the Anglican Diocese of West Malaysia, holding services in English and Tamil.
