The Credential Board of Clergy Support Memorial Church was pleased to appoint Rev. Colleen Crawley to the Office of Appointed Designated Minister-Social Justice and Celebrations on July 21, 2025. Colleen brings warmth, compassion, and decades of dedication to serving others; we welcome her new ministry – Loving Kindness Outreach.

Academic Credentials

• Canadian Ministers Institute, Aug 2025
• University of Ottawa, Master of Arts, English Literature, 1994
• Mount Allison University, Bachelor of Education, 1990
• Mount Allison University, Honours Bachelor of Arts, 1989

A Few Words About Colleen

Rev Colleen has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to her Peterborough, ON community. For decades, she served as staff advisor for a school’s social justice group, organizing charitable drives, education campaigns, and speakers’ forums. She led three service-learning trips to Jamaica through the NGO Jamaica Self Help, where students volunteered in homes for the aged, orphanages, and inner-city schools. For ten years, she coordinated a local United Way campaign, organizing fundraising events to support local social service agencies.

Her dedication to helping others extends far beyond her professional life. Colleen has been actively involved with the Kawartha World Issues Centre, the YWCA Freedom Walk, the Market Hall Performing Arts Centre and the Coldest Night of the Year Walk. She helped support the “Women for Wishes” campaign of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, leading a group to fund wishes for critically ill children. Currently she is spending time volunteering weekly at her downtown food bank, and is loving it!.

Personal Growth

Coming from a traditional Newfoundland family, Colleen was raised Catholic and still finds great consolation in prayer, believing strongly in the messages of the gospels, particularly those emphasizing love, service, and discipleship. She practices daily prayer and meditation, incorporating gratitude and mindfulness into her spiritual life. For Colleen, the spiritual dimension extends to her connection with nature—she is in awe of the beauty of creation and feels a closeness to God in the natural world. She also finds spiritual consciousness through reading and writing poetry.

Closing Words

Colleen believes that service to the community, connection to others, spiritual practice, and creative endeavors are essential elements of a meaningful life. She approaches each interaction with genuine warmth and sees the privilege of walking alongside people during significant moments, bringing her natural compassion and decades of experience in supporting others to her ministry.