2008 Companions of the Centre

The Centre for Christian Studies
2008 Companion of the Centre Co-awardees are

Shelley Davis Finson Feminist, Adult Educator, CCS graduate and former Academic staff

Ken DeLisle Diaconal Minister, Advocate for those on the margins

to be conferred at the 2008 Annual Service of Celebration
April 6, 2008, 3:00 pm CST
at St. Matthew’s Anglican Church, Winnipeg
and across the country via a telephone link up

Shelley Davis Finson
Shelley Finson was the prime mover of the Canadian Christian Feminist movement through her coordination of the Movement for Christian Feminism. She opened eyes, raised consciousness and called women to action. Although she was perceived as too radical by many in the institutional church, she served on the national United Church Task Force on Men and Women and through that work and her myriad of other influences and undertakings she profoundly shaped the United Church. Indeed she holds a place in the church and feminist halls of fame for all of North America. She supported women across Canada in their struggles against sexism and introduced them to feminist theologians around the world.

Shelley has also had a remarkable influence on theological education. She served on the CCS Academic staff from 1978 to 1985 as the Director of Field Education where she worked with both the students in the program and the many field supervisors who were then part of the program. She was said to have “put them through their paces”, developing local educators throughout parishes and congregations. She was active in the North American Association of Theological
Field Educators. After leaving the Academic Staff of CCS she was Professor in Pastoral Theology at the Atlantic School of Theology. She continued in association with CCS through her years in Halifax in many ways. In 2002 she became a member of the CCS Program Committee, providing excellent leadership in the development of many policies and program developments, seeing through a major program review and revision. She also served on the national United Church Education for Church Leadership Coordinating Committee and several of its task groups, where she was an advocate for diaconal ministry and perspective, for CCS and for experiential and praxis education.

Shelley is a remarkable mentor for many, many people. She is a gifted facilitator, a wonderfully compassionate teacher, a critical and analytical thinker, a committed and articulate Christian. She has a clear and vital passion for a vision in which God’s fullness is known for all and she does not shy from her determination to work out of that passion. She does not mince words in the face of inequality and injustice. She is an advocate of the disempowered and a voice for the voiceless. She will speak truth to power, despite the discomfort of that action, and she does it with courage and above all with a genuine, deep and wonderful humour.

Shelley became a student at CCS in the fall of 1962 and graduated in 1964. She was commissioned by the United Church as a Deaconess in 1965. After completing her MDiv she was ordained.

Shelley has numerous degrees: Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Masters of Religious Education (M.R.E.), Diploma in Christian Education Centre for Christian Studies, Master of Social Work, Doctor of Ministry (D.Min) and an Honorary Doctorate - United Theological College, McGill University. Shelley is widely published.

Shelley was born in England, south of London, spent three years in Jamaica and arrived in Canada in 1956 and made her home in Toronto. Later she moved to Halifax, where she has retired. She lives there with her partner, Diane Tingley.

Shelley has pancreatic cancer and is in palliative care. The presentation of her award is planned for April, 2008, but may need to be adjusted in response to her health.

Ken DeLisle
Ken DeLisle is a courageous and noted advocate for those on the edges of society. As an out gay man in ministry, he has led by example, spoken out and put himself at risk to move the church toward a more just and compassionate witness with and to gay, lesbian, transgender and bi-sexual people.

Ken was commissioned by the United Church in 1994 after completing the Western Field-Based Diaconal Program, and was the first person in the United Church to undertake and complete ministry preparation as an openly gay man. Ken has been a committed volunteer and served many roles with Affirm United including representing Affirm United at several UCC General Councils and on a number of UCC committees. He has been a contributor to several church and other publications.

At the Centre for Christian Studies Ken has served as co-chair of Central Council, on the Executive, Volunteer Recruitment & Support and Program Committees, and Task Groups on Conflict of Interest, Affirming, Governance and St. Stephen’s-St. Andrew’s College. His good humour, attention to detail and thoroughness have served to strengthen CCS and its ministry in the world.

Ken grew up in Ontario and moved to Manitoba in the 70s. He has a BA in Arts, Political Science; a Master of Arts, International Affairs; and a Masters in Theological Studies in Diaconal Ministry.

Before ministry Ken worked with the City of Winnipeg. He was commissioned and settled at the Winnipeg Church of the Deaf, then moved on to Rainbow Ministry, Chaplain at the University of Manitoba, followed by Interim Ministry at two churches in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan and currently is working at Cloverdale-Selkirk Pastoral Charge in Selkirk in team with another Diaconal Minister.

Ken and his partner John Robertson live in Winnipeg.