Rev Craig Baxter

Credentials

The CSMC credentials committee was in full agreement in certifying the Rev Craig Baxter to the office of Designated Minister on August 10, 2023, with his ministry focus on counselling therapy. Rev Baxter’s has always had a strong faith which quietly remained with him as he journeyed through life’s twists and turns. A true humanitarian, we are pleased Craig has joined Clergy Support Memorial allowing him to find new ways to support his fellow man.

Accreditations

  • Canadian Ministers Institute, 2023
  • Stonebridge College, UK, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, with advanced courses in Stress Management 2012
  • International Association of Therapists for Grief and Bereavement and Alcohol and Drug Addictions, 2021.

Starting a new life in Canada

Originally from the UK, after spending almost 20 years working within the field of mental health as a Cognitive-Behavior Therapist, Craig moved from Lincolnshire, UK to Amherstburg, ON, Canada to be with his beautiful wife whom he says provides much of his day-to-day inspiration. Together they established a small business providing complementary therapy, and counseling services. During this time and through his own spiritual experience, his faith was reignited and inspired in him a desire to develop a deeper understanding of spirituality.

Hobbies/interests

One of his favorite hobbies and interests is gardening. He can be found regularly at a local garden center and nursery giving advice on nurturing a garden and landscaping. For many this is their “mental health” and spiritual dimension, an opportunity to escape the demands of everyday life and to (re)connect with nature along with the satisfaction upon fruition. This too, when appropriate can be a time to connect with someone and be “present in the moment” blending ministry in a tangible way.

Pastoral care

Covid was a hard time for many people. Emotional distress, increased anxiety, alcohol consumption increased, along with domestic violence and divorce. Many of these still persist long after the initial pandemic period.

During this time Rev Craig started writing freely available downloadable PDFs, relating to wellbeing and wellness designed to assist the reader to embrace a lifestyle of heart focused living, or sometimes called living from the heart, empowering people to not only care for themselves, in a manner what Carl Jung would describe as “wholeness”, but to increase their capacity to care for others. His writings have now become a whole series in self-care.

Rev Craig also finds joy in performing weddings for couples who are starting a new life together, and the knowledge that the Funeral ceremonies he conducts provide comfort and peace to those who have lost friends and loved ones.

Closing Remarks

“It’s OK to admit we don’t always know all the answers. There are many mysteries in life, to which we have limited knowledge after all. God’s word wasn’t just written in scriptures but in the stars, the oceans and on the leaves of trees in the forest which we approach with awe and wonder providing us with a sense of peace and harmony. God’s presence is all around us. It’s a living word and not something to be dissected into small pieces, a living word in which being our best selves and living joyfully is the best way to glorify God.”