Remembering Lois Wilson, Good & Feisty Servant

                                  Rev. Lois Wilson in 2010. (Photo courtesy of Hugh Wesley/Broadview)

 I'm not surprised to hear of the death of former United Church moderator Lois Wilson but her passing is a solemn moment for our denomination. I heard Ms. Wilson speak in person on several occasions and while she was tiny in stature she was a feisty, engaging, inspiring presence, filling any venue. I was surprised and delighted when she was named to the Canadian Senate. I figured she wouldn't do stodgy well and she only served four years in that role.

In many respects she embodied the United Church ethos as described in this tribute sent out from my seminary alma mater, Emmanuel College. Well done, good and faithful servant!

Remembering Lois M. Wilson, 1927–2024

Victoria University in the University of Toronto mourns the passing of the Very Rev. Hon. Dr. Lois Miriam Wilson Hon. 7T8, who died in hospital in Fredericton, N.B., on Sept. 13 at age 97.

At the time of her death, Rev. Wilson was the Distinguished Minister in Residence at Emmanuel College, a position she held since 2010. She also served as Ecumenist in Residence at the Toronto School of Theology and was a Fellow at Massey College. She received an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Victoria University in 1978.

Born in Winnipeg on April 8, 1927, Rev. Wilson achieved many firsts over her long and remarkable career in ministry. She was the first woman to serve as president of the Canadian Council of Churches (1976–1979), first woman Moderator of the United Church of Canada (1980–1982) and first Canadian president of the World Council of Churches (1983–1991). In 1998, she was appointed to the Senate of Canada, where she served until 2002.

Rev. Wilson was also the author of 10 books, and in 2022 was the subject of a collection of essays written by her former colleagues called For the Sake of the Common Good: Essays in Honour of Lois Wilson.

Presenting an honorary degree at Emmanuel’s 2019 Convocation, Rev. Wilson offered the following advice to the new graduates: “Remember you are the salt of the earth—and not called to be the whole stew! Your calling, then, is to equip the laity to bring distinctive flavour to their several worlds, and to ensure the voice of the United Church is raised effectively in the public square on issues critical to the common good.”

Victoria University extends “deep condolences to Rev. Wilson’s family and loved ones, and to the many people whose lives she touched over the course of her life and work,” said Principal Kim-Cragg.

“Rev. Wilson made her mark as a fearless and creative feminist theologian, bold global justice activist and Christian prophet,” said Rev. Dr. Kim-Cragg, principal of Emmanuel College. In her various roles, Rev. Wilson “brought a passion for peace, ecological justice and human rights and helped the church focus its attention on nuclear disarmament, gender justice, interfaith dialogue and its relevance to the public.”

She also made her impact on theological education, said Principal Kim-Cragg, who described Rev. Wilson as having a “considerable influence on the students and faculty of Emmanuel College” through her leadership, compassion and wisdom.

Read more about Rev. Wilson’s extraordinary life: 
 
The United Church of Canada