Credentials 

The Clergy Support Memorial Church Board was in full and unanimous agreement to ordain the Rev. Gail to the Office of Ordained Minister on June 23, 2024. Gail has had a long life of ministry in several capacities wherever she has lived. One could say that Gail is not herself if she is not serving others, especially those who are less fortunate, on the fringes of society, the oppressed and disadvantaged. From her experience in different faith traditions, Gail has gathered a breath of knowledge and wisdom, and she puts it all at the service of whoever may need it. Gail enters this new facet of her life of service as an ordained minister with a renewed spirit, acknowledging the calling and strength she receives from almighty God to love and serve all those whom God loves. 

Academic Credentials 

• Canadian Ministers’ Institute, Credentialed to preside over the Sacrament of Baptism, Marriage, Funerals and Celebrations of Life – May 3, 2021 
• University of Toronto, True Colours Accredited Facilitator – 1995 
• Fanshawe College, Social Service Worker Diploma – 1988 
• Humber College, Rehabilitation Services – 1976 

Awards and Memberships 

• Life Membership Award, Kinsmen and Kinette Clubs of Canada, Cambridge ON, 1994. 
• Distinguished Alumni Award Winner Fanshawe College / Premiers Award Candidate Provincial, Fanshawe College, London, ON, 1999. 
• Recognized for 25 Years of Service – Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada, BBBSC and  
  BBBS, Ingersoll-Tillsonburg & Area where she volunteered for over 30 years, 2013. 
• Mary Smith Outstanding Volunteer Award, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ingersoll, Tillsonburg and Area, 2016. 
• Cliff Hall National Mentoring Award – Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada, Toronto, 2016. 

Pastoral Care 

First and foremost, Gail is a woman of the people who will go out of her way to help anyone in need to the best of her abilities, no matter what the circumstances. She also finds the ministry of bereavement and grief counselling of paramount importance to her. Bereavement touches all lives, families and cultures. Weddings might have a re-do or another life. A funeral / Celebration of Life is a once in a lifetime rite of passage that must be done well in order to allow the families to begin their healing journey. It is such a privilege to honour a life no matter the circumstance of death. Gail is also a big advocate of people with all sorts of disabilities as a small example of the work she does for those in need. 

Study Groups

Rev. Gail belongs to several groups who explore spirituality from different lenses. One is in ways of being a spiritual warrior, learning to walk life’s path in integrity and in keeping true to the best of all culture’s teachings with a hue to the Indigenous teachings. Another group she meets with is a group lead by Dan and Mary Lou Smoke from London where they meet on the new moon, to learn the teachings of the moon and the cultural practice of Indigenous culture and honour the Creator and offer prayers. Gail also has a small group of like-minded spirituality-oriented people who meet to discuss about practices in the world, ways to keep growing and learning, so they may walk the red road in honour and respect. 

Worship 

Rev. Gail is a solid support in the spiritual groups she belongs to, doing the work, offering help and resources and participating meaningfully in sharing faith and caring. She believes she is practicing acts of worship when she performs weddings, Baptisms and funerals. Even in times when they are asked to be performed without a religious overview, Gail always quietly and personally invites God to be there with her, to guide her words in the ways that provide comfort and healing and hope and to sit in the hearts of those who need God’s strength, even when they don’t know that. Gail does this respecting those she is supporting but knowing that they are in fact purveyors of faith and hope in their roles, which she holds dear in her heart. 

Personal Growth 

Gail is on a permanent quest and search for spirituality in many, if not all its forms, which she considers ‘critical’ for living. Growing up in the United Church of Canada, and later making a transition to the Roman Catholic Church, Gail has felt the calling to search inwardly and finding her own very strong faith. Gail admits that she cannot explain it, but she lives it earnestly day by day. Moving to the ministry of Clergy Support Memorial in 2003, Gail realizes that all her previous experience has been beneficial to her as she can navigate her ministry in many different forms for the diverse peoples she serves, whom she says, are her best teachers. 

Spirituality 

Rev. Gail’s spirituality is rather wholistic in nature, being open to the many different expressions of faith. In her own words: 
“One of the most important life lessons I have come to walk with is my strong belief that we must all have purpose in our lives. We come here, blessed by God, to do something of importance and significance and to be a part of either our own soul’s learning or to be a conduit of learning for others. I truly believe that service and purpose are foundational in life and in faith.”