WCC NEWS: United Church of Canada trailblazer Rev. Dr Lois Wilson dies, age 97

With great sadness, the United Church of Canada announced the death of Rev. Dr Lois M. Wilson, the denomination’s 28th  moderator, and the first woman to fill the role. She faithfully served as moderator from 1980 to 1982. Wilson died in hospital in Fredericton, NB, on 13 September. She was 97 years old. Photo: Michael Blair/United Church of Canada   18 September 2024 Her faith drove her actions, and she remained involved in the work of the church right to the end. She was the first Canadian to serve as a president of the World Council of Churches (WCC), from 1983 to 1991. “I hardly ever had an original idea myself, but I would always respond to what the community called me to do,” Wilson said. “None of them were my ideas. But I was able to respond to them because I saw that they were in continuity with what I understood as the purposes of God in the world.” Born in Winnipeg, MB, in 1927, Wilson’s legacy is one of many firsts: the first woman president of the Canadian Council of Churches in 1976; elected the first woman moderator of the United Church in 1980, paving the way for many progressive developments in the church. In 2000, she led Canada’s first parliamentary delegation to North Korea to begin the process of establishing formal diplomatic relations. From 1990 to 2000, Wilson was the chancellor of Lakehead University.  She was appointed to the Senate of Canada in 1998, retiring in 2002. As an author of 10 books, ranging in topic such as ethics, interpretations of biblical stories, and feminism, Wilson was also a close friend of Canadian novelist Margaret Laurence, appearing in public forums with her, and presiding at Laurence’s funeral in 1986.   For her work in human rights, ecumenism, social justice, and her contributions to the political and cultural landscape, Wilson received 14 honorary degrees, including one from the United States, and also the following honours and awards: the Queen’s 25th Anniversary Medal (1977), The Pearson Peace Medal (1985), Officer of the Order of Canada, (1984), Order of Ontario (1991), Companion of the Order of Canada (2003), Joseph Cardinal Bernardin Award for Christian Unity (2010), and the Heart and Vision Award (2011). Wilson is survived by four children, 12 grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren. WCC general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay said that Wilson was respected and celebrated for her tireless work within the ecumenical movement. “She leaves a lasting legacy that has given generations to come opportunities to positively and prayerfully impact their nation and their world,” he said. Rev. Michael Blair, general secretary of the United Church of Canada and moderator of the WCC Commission on World Mission and Evangelism, said that Wilson was an example of transforming discipleship. “As a disciple of Jesus, she embodied the prophetic call of Isaiah 58:6-12, seeking to address the forces that contributed to the marginalizing of people and robbing people of the fullness of life,” he said. "She worked tirelessly for justice, reconciliation, and unity.” The World Council of Churches extends condolences and prayers to the family and friends of Rev. Dr Lois Wilson.  See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 352 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches 150 route de Ferney Geneve 2 1211 Switzerland