Christianity

Christian Reformed Church in North America

B. Ed. Calvin University (Michigan)

February 2018

My interest is developing communities of faith, rooted in prayer, guided by God and by the community's weakest members - through whom God's presence is revealed (case in point: Jesus Christ). Each member discovers and deepens in their spiritual life and lives it according to their particular faith and tradition. Communities can be like the holy temple in the vision of Ezekiel (ch. 47), from which living waters flow that heal and give life. From within community we discover the mystery we are living and are helped to be faithful to our vocation - invited continually to "launch out into the deep" (Luke 5:4). My aim and focus is to create a brave space - for students, faculty and staff. Those who have no religious affiliation are also welcomed and respected in their freedom of conscience.

An important part of managing pain or struggle is presence - someone who reveals to the person that they are not all bad or all alone, a friend who is happy just to be there. Of course, when people have a toothache, it is not enough to tell them that we are with them or that we care about them. We should then take them to a good dentist! Friendship communicates life to others, draws them out of darkness, and gives them a new desire to live. That is compassion in the strongest sense of the word: to "be with", to "suffer with". It takes time to create bonds of trust and to enable someone to believe in the fidelity of a friendship.

For the past twenty years, I have led a group of students and adults on spiritual pilgrimages, living alongside the religious community on the remote Isle of Iona, Scotland. I also serve on The King's University's Board of Governors, and the Board of Trustees at Calvin College.

I have four daughters with my wife Aileen of thirty-six years. In my downtime I enjoy downhill, cross-country and backcountry skiing; hiking in the summer months; and reading. I would also refer to myself as 'Folkie,' and I drive a Westy.

Christian Reformed Church in North America

• B.A. in Christian Studies (Ouachita Baptist University)
• M.Div. in Theology (Beeson Divinity School)

2024

I believe that each person is deeply loved and created with a purpose by a good God--even if the world seems to be in a crazy place and life is anything but certain. My hope is to provide ways for you to know that you are not alone, and to be a bridge that can help you find strong community and support during your time at university. You can find me Friday mornings outside the HUB with hot chocolate and (usually) muffins to help start your day! I also host a games table at PLH residence on Fridays for anyone to pop by for a game, a chat, or both. And I'm a big fan of getting together over a cup of coffee or going for a walk around campus.

I would not be who I am today without the mentors God brought into my life while I was in university and graduate school. They provided a safe place for me to wrestle with doubt, grief, and confusion, while also being people who celebrated and called out the gifts and callings inside my heart. Their faith was embodied, joyful, and constant, and I want to provide that same presence for students, regardless of faith background or what season of life they find themselves in.

I love getting lost in a good book (fiction, theology, poetry, biographies--pretty much anything!), playing music with others, getting a good workout in, doing Taekwondo with my family, and opening up our home to people. Cris and I have two kids in elementary school and a bernedoodle named Chewie (yes--that is short for Chewbacca and we are big Star Wars fans).

Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC)

• Bachelor of Arts, University of Alberta
• Diploma in Christian Studies, Regent College, Vancouver
• Master of Divinity, Lutheran Theological Seminary, Saskatoon

1991

Secretary of Interfaith Chaplains' Association, duties including coordination of annual Festival of Lessons & Carols, Winspear Centre; Advisor to the Lutheran Student Movement; Chaplain to a Resident Christian Community at Martin Luther House.

When I was an undergraduate student at the U of A, campus ministry had a significant impact on my life, leading to my baptism in what is now the SUB Alumni Room - back then it was a multi-purpose room that smelled of beer from socials the night before! Here, in the midst of an academia that measures us by 'points', I encountered a God who values us for who we are, as a matter of grace (i.e., gift), and calls us to loving service through unique gifts that meet the world's need. That gift and calling gave me the strength to ask, "Beyond getting a job, what is my 'vocation' or calling?" And the weekly meal at Jesus' table fortified me for the meandering road ahead. Campus ministry met me at a critical juncture, when faith is challenged to grow along with knowledge. I feel privileged now to accompany you here on campus as a messenger of the grace that has made all the difference to me.

Camping, novels (e.g, The Orenda), piano composition, and 'Lutheran' Lattes (drop by for one!)

169E HUB Chaplains' Centre
richard.reimer@ualberta.ca | 780-492-4513

Reformed-Presbyterian. Presbyterian Church in North America (PCNA). GraceFinder Resourcing Network is the charity we started to support chaplaincy work on campus

Bryan has been serving at the University of Alberta with Lisa since 2005. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Windsor, in Ontario, Canada and his graduate studies, earning a Master's of Divinity at Reformed Theological Seminary. Bryan Clarke has a Ph.D. (Secondary Education) from the University of Alberta. His current research interests include ongoing interaction with Deleuzian scholarship as well as a focus on ethics, popular culture, and philosophical hermeneutics. He has most recently taught in the faculty of Education at the University of Alberta and at St. Joseph's College while also serving as a university chaplain. He has several ongoing projects including a textbook for his course on Harry Potter and spirituality.

Lisa has studied Home Economics and Women’s Studies at the University of Windsor and received a certificate in early childhood education, St. Clair College, Windsor.

2005

GraceFinder Resourcing Network has a mission to promote grace in all of life through connecting campus, church, and city. We do this through resourcing students with supportive relationships, and teaching on campus, connecting them to local churches for ongoing spiritual growth, and helping them transition to their callings in the city. We resource the church through our connections to students but also through informative, winsome, and encouraging workshops/seminars in areas such as worship, leadership, cultural engagement, and evangelism. We resource the city through educating and developing people with the skills needed for the workplace and to train leaders for chaplaincy. We resource each area through providing resources to students, church leaders, and those involved in their vocations.

For students, faculty, and staff - seeking to educate, empower, and encourage leaders to see all of life through the lens of grace, towards all things made new in Christ. We enjoy seeing students grow and learn through their various disciplines and work with them in connecting faith and the academic, breaking beyond a secular/sacred binary.

Hockey, soccer, cooking, and a community kitchen on campus.

169A HUB Chaplains' Centre
bclarke1@ualberta.ca | 587-785-4344
laclarke@ualberta.ca | 780-885-2474

Christian, non-denominational

Diploma in Christian studies (Mount Carmel Bible College)
Bachelor of Arts, Religious Studies (University of Alberta)

2024

University can be such a difficult and lonely time of figuring life out, and students shouldn’t have to do this alone! As a part time associate chaplain, my focus on campus is forming connections and community with students for the purpose of spiritual wrestling, questioning, and growth. I want to contribute to creating an environment of belonging where students are safe to come and be who they are and discuss all aspects of life and faith.

Being a recent university graduate, the challenges of student life are not far behind me. I desperately needed spiritual support throughout my degree and struggled to find this support on campus until my last year! I hope that I can be a piece in providing the support and space to students who need it, are seeking it, or are in distress. Faith can be messy and confusing; it can take a lot of time and effort to reconcile the reality of God’s love and compassion for his people, with the pain, violence, and suffering in our world. I hope to be present with students who struggle, to journey alongside them as they navigate their university years, and ultimately point them to the God who cherishes them deeply and who has promised to be with us until the end of the ages.

I love pretty much all arts and crafts but especially crocheting (I run a drop in group that meets to hangout and crochet/knit/embroider–send me a text or email if you’re interested)! I am also a big reader with a soft spot for old classics (Charles Dickens, the Bronte Sisters, Alexandre Dumas, etc) but will give just about any book a fair shot. Volleyball is by far my favourite sport and a non-negotiable part of my week. I also enjoy camping, drinking coffee, and travelling.

169A HUB Chaplains' Centre
jschmid2@ualberta.ca

Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada

B.A. in Theology, Vanguard College

2025

My main goal right now is to build real connections with students on campus and create a strong, supportive community where everyone looks out for each other. No matter where you are in your faith journey, you don’t have to face it alone! I’d love to help you find your people—whether that’s through a campus group, a local church, or just grabbing a coffee and chatting. So if you ever need a listening ear, a good conversation, or just a break from studying, I’m here!

Simply put, I love people, and I truly believe that there is God who is actively seeking after you! My hope is that I can create a place where that love is expressed through community and connection–it’s pretty well summed up in 1 Peter 3:8: “Finally all of you, have unity of spirit, sympathy, love for one another, a tender heart, and a humble mind. “

When I'm not on campus, I enjoy spending time with my wife and my two young boys (if you ask, I will show you a thousand photos haha) or reading a good book both for personal growth or fantasy. Or I will be playing Dungeons and Dragons–if you’re ever up for a game let me know; I love to run and play the game!

sewills@ualberta.ca

Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada

• B.Th. - St. Andrew’s College (Winnipeg)
• M.T.S. - Newman Theological College (Edmonton)
• D. Min. - St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary (Yonkers, NY)

2022

I am a part-time chaplain at the U of A and I work with Orthodox priests, parishes and families to assist students attending the U of A to remain connected to and integrate their faith into their lives as students.

It has often been said that “high school and university is where life makes its choices.” I am a chaplain at the U of A in order to walk with students through their life while in university, and to help them to see this period of time as an opportunity to deepen their faith and to make their faith integral to the person that they become through their years of study.

In addition to my duties as chaplain, I am also the parish priest of St. Anthony’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Edmonton, as well as the priest in charge of St. Nicholas Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Red Deer, AB. In addition, I am a professor of systematic theology at St. Andrew’s College in Winnipeg and have recently been appointed to represent the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada on the Canadian Council of Churches Commission on Faith and Witness.

Roman Catholic

• Bachelor of Education (University of Alberta)
• Masters of Education (University of Alberta)
• Masters of Theology (St. Stephen's College)
• Doctor of Ministry (St. Stephen's College)

October 2018

I am a Campus Minister at St Joseph's College at the University of Alberta (U of A). All students, regardless of belief, are welcome in my office. My primary concern and focus is the mental health concerns of all U of A students. In my work, I have the opportunity to provide a safe space to talk about issues that affect students' well-being and open the door of communication to discuss faith and spirituality.

I love my faith; faith is what grounds me. If I can walk with someone discerning their own personal journey and they, in turn, invite someone else to join, we have the capacity to grow in community.

monalee@ualberta.ca | 780-492-4750
St. Joseph's College