Ordination

Rev Deborah Cameron-Fawkes was Ordained to the Ministry of Word, Sacrament, and Pastoral Care of Clergy Support Memorial Church on the fourth of May 2018.

Personal Comment

“My call to ministry came in 2002. After a period of deep discernment, I recognized that I was called to serve the spiritual lives of the unchurched and religiously-alienated — those outside the comforts of mainline religion. Clergy Support Memorial Church finally gave me a theological home, where I was proud to receive my ordination.”

Academic Achievements

• Alberta College of Art, Calgary
• Master of Arts in Theological Studies, Vancouver School of Theology (VST)
• Master of Theology, Vancouver School of Theology
• Continuing Education/Professional Development: Ethics & Spiritual Care; Models of Spiritual Direction; Sacred Dying: Pastoral Care at End of Life; Conflict Transformation; Living Faithfully with Mental Illness
• Clinical Psychospiritual Education (CPE):  2017-2019, Providence Health (teaching site St Paul’s Hospital, Vancouver): Graduate-level training in non-denominational spiritual care in institutions and community settings. 2019-2020, Vancouver Coastal Health (Vancouver General Hospital), on a fellowship as Spiritual Care Specialist in Mental Health.
• Professional member of the Canadian Association for Spiritual Care (CASC).

Worship

I have served as a lay supply minister for United Churches throughout Greater Vancouver since 2006. I also facilitated non-denominational funerals and memorials for many years.

Giving Back

I contribute to Covenant House in Vancouver (for homeless youth) and to First Nations Child & Family Caring Society; also to Sojourners (Christian social justice organization) and the American Civil Liberties Union in the US.

I spent 10 years in community organizing with the non-profit Metro Vancouver Alliance – a broad-based alliance of faith, labour, community, and academic groups, educating and advocating for active citizenship and inclusive communities. I served as president of its board, and also held governance roles in other non-profits. Currently I sit on the regional executive of the Canadian Association for Spiritual Care.

Personal Growth

Leadership training: Canadian Labour Congress 2007; Industrial Areas Foundation (through Metro Vancouver Alliance) 2014

Educational travel: Christian Spiritual Heritage (through VST) in Ireland, Scotland, France, Switzerland 2005 & 2012; Conflict Transformation at Queens University, Belfast, Northern Ireland 2015

Hobbies

Graphic arts, calligraphy, gardening, flower arranging.