Ordination

Rev Shannon is Ordained to the ministry of Social Justice and Pastoral Care.

Rev Shannon Yates, who lives in Woodstock, was unanimously credentialled by the Church Board on August 22, 2018 as an Ordained Minister recognizing her current and future contributions to Clergy Support Memorial Church.

In 2013, she realized that her goal was to place herself in a position to be able to help and be of service to people. It speaks to her character that she left a full-time job, with a 2 year old son and a 20 year old daughter to support alone, and embarked on full-time studies to do exactly this.

Academic Achievements

• Master of Arts in Religion and Culture, Wilfrid Laurier University (Completed a Major Research Project on Religious Freedom in Canada).
• Bachelor of Arts in Human Rights and Human Diversity, Wilfrid Laurier University.
• Police Foundations Diploma, Westervelt College.
• Law and Security Administration Diploma, Mohawk College.

Her Ministry

The best way to describe Sharon’s ministry is one of service. She understands religion plays a vital role in an individual’s life, and her academic studies allow her to support and understand this. Religious freedom is a must and, as a steward of society, she uses her human rights framework along with her law background to challenge laws that prevent this.

Pastoral Care

Her belief is that Ministry is not just the gospel, it is showing love, compassion and kindness to all! She provides a service to her community in many facets, whether through marriage ceremonies, funeral rituals, celebration of life, baptisms, providing pastoral care for those who are unable to access a formal venue (hospital, correction facilities, long term care homes, and house visits). She also feels honoured to provide pastoral relief to congregations who have no pastor or whose pastor is away. She wants to serve and has done so however and wherever she is needed.

Giving back

• Shannon currently sits on the Board of Directors for Ingamo Homes, a transitional housing program for women and children leaving domestic violence. She is a staunch supporter of women’s rights and children’s rights, and any marginalized group.
• Previously, she sat on the Board of Directors for H.O.P.E, a not-for-profit organization that provides employment and peer support for individuals diagnosed with mental illness.
• She also has participated in the Community Service Learning Program, where she supports immigrant and refugee children learn English in the classroom. She wanted children to love books, and school.
• She also assists when needed, in the nutrition program at her son’s school. This program provides students with healthy snacks. Sadly, for some this snack program supplements a child’s lunch. Some children do not have lunch sent, or anything of substance.

Hobbies

Shannon loves to garden, both vegetable and flowers/shrubs and finds something very peaceful about working in nature. She reads, specifically, books that enhance her own personal and spiritual development. She loves to research and follow religions both nationally and internationally. She also likes to follow politics and world events. This allows her to be aware of what is affecting people in her community, and globally.