From Executive Minister Treena Duncan

I am pleased to announce that the Rev. Dr. Karen Medland will join the Chinook Winds Regional Council Staff as Pastoral Relations Minister effective June 1, 2022.

Karen currently serves as Office of Vocation Minister for Northern Spirit, Living Skies and Prairie to Pine Regions of The United Church of Canada and is based out of Edmonton. She will be moving to Chinook Winds Region this spring.

Says Karen: “I am excited about working with congregations and ministry staff as we discover what it is God is calling us all to in Chinook Winds Region.”

Karen previously served at Carman United, Chilliwack; First United, Kelowna and North Thompson Pastoral Charge. She has also served as chair and secretary to the former Kamloops-Okanagan Presbytery, president to the former British Columbia Conference and co-chaired Local Arrangements when the United Church’s General Council met in Kelowna in 2009.

Originally from Scotland, Karen holds a Master of Divinity from Vancouver School of Theology and a Doctor of Ministry from Chicago Theological Seminary. She’s currently completing a Human Resource Management Certificate from the University of Alberta Extension.

Karen will also join with Chinook Winds Regional Representatives and Ministers at the Regional Gathering scheduled to be in Red Deer, AB, on May 5 to 8, 2022.

Thank you to the interview team of Elaine Taylor-Kerr, St. Thomas United Church, Calgary; Julia Kimmett, Okotoks United; and Taylor Croissant, Southminster, Lethbridge.

With Blessings,

Treena Duncan,

Executive Minister for Chinook Winds and Pacific Mountain Regions