Kimberly Heath elected as United Church's next moderator

“Holy kadoodle!”

So exclaimed Rev. Kimberly Heath in her first address to the General Council, speaking as the new moderator-elect of The United Church of Canada.

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Heath, who was nominated by Eastern Ontario Outaouais Regional Council, was elected on the third ballot, which took place on Saturday evening. Following the announcement by General Secretary Rev. Michael Blair, a motion was moved and seconded by fellow nominees Rev. Samuel Dansokho and Rev. Sungmin Jung that the results be declared unanimous. Once carried, outgoing Moderator Rt. Rev. Carmen Lansdowne offered a prayer for Heath and the mission ahead.

In a speech following the announcement of her election, Heath said that many of her calls, including the call to allow her name to stand for moderator, have been akin to a dandelion seed that lands on one’s shoulder, almost without notice.

“But dandelions are tenacious,” she said, explaining that once that seed grows into your heart and gut, it is challenging to pull out. “When you choose to follow Jesus, you choose to follow that nudge and that call.”

Heath has served in active ministry for 25 years, including 18 years at Wall Street United in Brockville, Ont., where she is lead minister. She studied history at McGill University in Montreal, before earning a masters of divinity at Emmanuel College in Toronto. She holds a doctorate in ministry studies with a focus on preaching. Following her 1999 ordination, she ministered in the southern Alberta communities of Claresholm and Stavely. In 2007, she and her family made their home in Brockville. She was the last president of Bay of Quinte Conference and contributed to the transition team that established the Eastern Ontario Outaouais Regional Council.

Looking to the future of the church in a pre-recorded introduction video which was both played for in-person attendees in Calgary and livestreamed on Thursday evening, Heath explained there is plenty of hope for the next 100 years of The United Church of Canada.

“We are called as church to go deeper into our faith,” she said, noting that people are longing for a deeper spirituality and that young people are seeking spiritual practices that will hold them “when all hell breaks loose.”

“We, as congregations, as communities of faith, as the church, can offer genuine space for people to connect in a divided and disconnected world.”

Heath encouraged delegates to “vote with hope, not with fear” as they proceed through the remaining decisions of General Council 45.

The 45th moderator will be installed on Aug. 11 at 7 p.m. Mountain time.

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Leslie Sinclair is a journalist in Toronto.

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