The Rev. Canon Linda Nicholls will be joining General Synod staff as the Coordinator for Dialogue, focusing on ethics, congregational development and inter-faith relations, in the department of Faith, Worship and Ministry.
Ms Nicholls will begin work on Feb. 1, 2005. She will replace Canon Eric Beresford who has been appointed president of the Atlantic School of Theology in Halifax and who will assume his new position Dec.1, 2004.
For the past 13 years, Ms Nicholls has served as incumbent at Holy Trinity church in Thornhill, Ont., in the diocese of Toronto. She holds degrees in music and education, as well as a masters degree in Divinity from Wycliffe College and a doctorate in Ministry from the Toronto School of Theology.
She has been involved in pastoral ethics and healing ministries, serving as chair of the board of directors of the diocese of Toronto’s Miriam Dobell Healing Centre. She is currently a member of the General Synod’s Partners in Mission Committee and brings international experience from her years of teaching in India.
Canon, Alyson Barnett-Cowan, director of Faith, Worship and Ministry, who announced the appointment, said Ms Nicholls was among several applicants to the position. “I am delighted that there was such a wonderful response,” she said. “Linda brings to a complex job a deep commitment to Christ, community and thoughtful reflection,” she said.
“One major focus of the her job for the next while will be on coordinating the work that is already underway across the church on matters relating to human sexuality, while another is bringing together expertise in the area of congregational development.” said Ms Barnett-Cowan.