Moderator

The United Church of Canada's 40th Moderator is Mardi Tindal of Brantford, Ontario.

Profile

Mardi Tindal believes God is calling the church to engage in “a covenant for healing to reconcile soul, community and creation” during her three-year term as Moderator of The United Church of Canada.

“We are in a church and world of many broken relationships” she says. “Healing begins with deep listening.”

Tindal, a layperson from Brantford, ON, was elected Moderator at the 40th General Council in Kelowna, BC, on August 14, 2009. She has served in staff and volunteer leadership roles at all levels of the United Church.

Tindal says attending to right relations with the land and its peoples will be a key priority during her term as Moderator. She also hears God’s call to empower young leaders and “exercise enabling leadership with discipline and courage.”

“We are a church that honours a diversity of loving responses to the world’s challenging realities,” says Tindal. “So how is it that you are to respond to God’s call to live with integrity today?”

Born on September 17, 1952, Tindal grew up in the rural community of Victoria Square, ON, now part of Markham. She holds an M.A. in educational psychology from the University of Toronto and a B.A. in psychology from York University.

Tindal has enjoyed a diverse career as an adult educator and facilitator, organizational consultant, author, and video producer.

Before being elected Moderator, she was executive director of the Five Oaks Centre*, a United Church education and retreat centre near Paris, ON. She has served in other United Church staff roles as internal consultant on leadership and program development in the Division of Mission in Canada, communication and stewardship officer at Hamilton Conference, coordinator of recreational ministries and youth resources at the General Council Office, and director of Camp Big Canoe.

Tindal became well known in the 1980s and 1990s as a co-host, story producer, and writer with Spirit Connection, the United Church’s former weekly national broadcast on Vision TV. Her work has also appeared on TV Ontario, CTV affiliate stations, and Anglican Video.

Tindal has consulted widely with government, private-sector, church, and voluntary organizations in Canada, the United States, and Great Britain to improve effectiveness, build productive teams, and navigate rapidly changing environments.

More recently she has become a Circle of Trust® facilitator with Parker J. Palmer’s Center for Courage & Renewal.*

Among her many volunteer commitments, Tindal has served on the board of The United Church Observer* , provided court support to women in conflict with the law as a volunteer with the Elizabeth Fry Society, and worked with students preparing for diaconal and ordained ministry, including serving on two congregational lay supervision teams. She is an active member of Sydenham Street United Church* in Brantford, where she has been a team leader at a weekly community supper.

Tindal’s spouse is Douglas Tindal, a communications professional. They are the proud parents of two grown sons, Chris and Alex.

Tindal’s interests include theatre, hiking, reading, and “locavorism,” or eating locally produced food.

Further Reading

News From the 40th General Council

• Moderator Installed at Closing Worship
• New Moderator Passionate about Creation
• Mardi Tindal Elected as Moderator
• Video: Celebration of the New Moderator
• Video: Moderator meets the Media
• Video: The New Moderator