The Moderator is the elected, presiding officer of the meetings of the General Council, its executive and its sub-executive.
The Moderator is the elected, presiding officer of the meetings of the General Council, its executive, and its sub-executive. The Moderator may be a lay person or a member of the Order of Ministry and is expected to give spiritual leadership and public representation for the church. If ordained, the Moderator is designated "the Right Reverend." Former Moderators, if ordained, are designated "the Very Reverend." If commissioned as a diaconal minister, the Moderator is free to choose whether or not to use the designation "the Right Reverend" or "the Very Reverend." Lay Moderators are addressed as they personally wish to be addressed.
Current Moderator
The Right Rev. Dr. Carmen Lansdowne was elected Moderator of The United Church of Canada on July 23, 2022, by the online 44th General Council.
Former Moderators
- The Very Rev. Richard Bott (43rd Moderator)
Rev. Dr. Richard Bott was elected Moderator of The United Church of Canada on July 26, 2018, in Oshawa, ON, by the 43rd General Council. - The Very Rev. Jordan Cantwell (42nd Moderator)
Rev. Jordan Cantwell was elected Moderator of The United Church of Canada on August 13, 2015, in Corner Brook, NL, by the 42nd General Council. - The Very Rev. Gary Paterson (41st Moderator)
Rev. Dr. Gary Paterson was elected Moderator of The United Church of Canada on August 18, 2012, in Ottawa, ON, by the 41st General Council. - Mardi Tindal (40th Moderator)
Mardi Tindal was elected Moderator of The United Church of Canada on August 14, 2009, in Kelowna, BC, by the 40th General Council. - The Very Rev. David Giuliano (39th Moderator)
Rev. David Giuliano was elected Moderator of The United Church of Canada August 18, 2006 in Thunder Bay, Ontario at the meeting of the 39th General Council.
For a list of previous Moderators, see our historical timeline.