By Emma Prestwich

Greetings! Day 2 of our General Council 45 newsletter begins with some big news: Rev. Kimberly Heath will be the next Moderator of The United Church of Canada.

For 18 years, Heath has served as a minister at Wall Street United in Brockville, Ont. She was the last president of Bay of Quinte Conference and was on the transition team that created Eastern Ontario Outaouais Regional Council. Born in Lusaka, Zambia, she grew up in small-town Canada, beginning her ministry in southern Alberta.

In her written submission to the General Council, she writes, “As moderator I will help to build up the church by deepening faith in Jesus, strengthening what is small and encouraging life-giving connections. … Our call as church leaders is to help members, communities of faith, and people beyond our walls to experience the hope that can come from a transforming relationship with Jesus.”

Heath was elected from a pool of five Moderator nominees. On Friday, after commissioners cast their first ballot, Revs. Sungmin Jung and Cheri DiNovo were eliminated from the slate. Heath along with Revs. John Pentland and Samuel Dansokho moved onto the second ballot. Commissioners voted again this morning, eliminating Pentland and sending Heath and Dansokho ahead. Earlier this evening, commissioners cast their third and final ballot, with Heath coming out on top.