2009 Companions of the Centre

The Centre for Christian Studies
2009 Companion of the Centre Co-awardees are

Elizabeth Brain Physician, Chaplain, CCS graduate and former Academic staff

Dorothy Naylor Diaconal Minister, Mentor and Advocate for social justice

to be conferred at the 2009 Annual Service of Celebration
March 29, 2009, 3:00 pm CST
at St. Matthew’s Anglican Church, Winnipeg
and across the country via a telephone link up

Elizabeth Brain
Elizabeth was born in England and moved to Canada with her husband Michael, both physicians.

Elizabeth was Medical Editor and Director of Learning Resources in the Program for Educational Development at McMaster University Health Sciences School. She first learned about CCS when CCS staff attended one of their Workshops on Problem Based Learning and was attracted by CCS’s principles and educational methodology.

Elizabeth began her studies with CCS in Toronto in 1989. Following graduation in 1993, she became an assistant chaplain at the Joseph Brant Memorial Hospital in Burlington, ON later moving to Calgary where she is still an active Lay Pastoral Minister in her church.

During the Centre’s transition from Toronto to Winnipeg, Elizabeth was a member of the Transitional Central Council and played an intricate role in identifying and rallying people to put appropriate supports in place. Her vision and her willingness to move forward despite obstacles were a catalyst in getting people involved.

Elizabeth served as Co-Chair of Central Council (98-04) and has been invaluable as an active member on several committees including: Communications, Development, Volunteer Recruitment & Support, the Endowment Working Group as well as on the Executive. In September, she agreed to be a member of the newly formed Development Task Group. She has, for the last several years, served on the Diocesan Committee to support the Diaconate (especially the permanent Diaconate) and its successor, the Candidates Committee.

Elizabeth has a passion for the work of the Centre seeing it as one of the places on the margins of our ecclesiastical world in Canada. She believes CCS performs a central role in the development of sincere competent justice oriented ministers to serve in our complex world and society. Undergirding her passion is a sense of the tremendous importance and sometimes sadly latent opportunities for diaconal ministry within both denominations.

Elizabeth’s response to her nomination:
“…thank you all again for the great honour in naming me a companion of the Centre. It is a very real and utterly unexpected honour to join the ranks of such a very distinguished community of companions.”

Dorothy Naylor
Dorothy graduated from CCS in 1959 and moved to the USA to accompany her partner, Garth Mundle in 1962. According to the rules of the church at that time, when a woman stopped working she was disjoined. It wasn’t until she returned to Canada in 1973 that she commenced working again and was reinstated as a diaconal minister.\

Dorothy’s earliest recorded volunteer work with CCS begins in 1994 when she organized a reception in Edmonton for the visit of then Principal, Trudy Lebans. She has been part of the Communications Committee, the Tapestry Editorial Committee, and acted as Editor of Tapestry for at least 6 years. Dorothy has mentored 4 students (1 in the Western Field Based Program and 3 in the CCS program). She has been part of interview teams, acted as a resource person for CCS and recently co-led a CCS Global Study Tour with Garth to Ireland.

Dorothy has served as President of Conference for Alberta Northwest, worked on the Conference Sexual Harassment Committee, new church development in North Edmonton, chaired a committee of the Division of Mission in Canada and worked successfully in fifteen different team ministries.

In Edmonton, Dorothy along with Mary Thomas (U60) were one of the earliest all female teams in ministry which proved to be a very formative time for Dorothy. Together they offered progressive teaching and encouraged others to strive for justice for all.

Dorothy empowers others to move beyond fear to transformation and accompanies and encourages those who feel weak and disempowered. She has been a wonderful mentor and source of wisdom to many.

Dorothy has made an incredible contribution to the United Church and has always promoted CCS. Her commitment to justice has taken her to the edge of the church like her work on behalf of the marginalized in community and church.

Dorothy “walks the talk” and has that vision and courage to see that we do possess the power to alter systems and to change the way things are done. She strategized with others to ensure diaconal ministry was more visible and recognized in the United Church and committed to the formation of DUCC.