Remembering the Very Rev. Hon. Dr. Lois M. Wilson
Rev. Lois Wilson in 2010. (Photo courtesy of Hugh Wesley/Broadview)
Victoria University in the University of Toronto mourns the passing of the Very Rev. Hon. Dr. Lois Miriam Wilson Hon. 7T8, who died in hospital in Fredericton, N.B., on Sept. 13 at age 97.
Rev. Wilson was the Distinguished Minister in Residence at Emmanuel College, a position she held from 2010 to 2019. She also served as Ecumenist in Residence at the Toronto School of Theology and was a Fellow at Massey College. She received an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Victoria University in 1978.
Born in Winnipeg on April 8, 1927, Rev. Wilson achieved many firsts over her long and remarkable career in ministry. She was the first woman to serve as president of the Canadian Council of Churches (1976–1979), first woman Moderator of the United Church of Canada (1980–1982) and first Canadian president of the World Council of Churches (1983–1991). In 1998, she was appointed to the Senate of Canada, where she served until 2002.
Rev. Wilson was also the author of 10 books, and in 2022 was the subject of a collection of essays written by her former colleagues called For the Sake of the Common Good: Essays in Honour of Lois Wilson.
“Rev. Wilson made her mark as a fearless and creative feminist theologian, bold global justice activist and Christian prophet,” said Rev. Dr. Kim-Cragg, principal of Emmanuel. In her various roles, Rev. Wilson “brought a passion for peace, ecological justice and human rights and helped the church focus its attention on nuclear disarmament, gender justice, interfaith dialogue and its relevance to the public.”
She also made her impact on theological education, said Principal Kim-Cragg, who described Rev. Wilson as having a “considerable influence on the students and faculty of Emmanuel College” through her leadership, compassion and wisdom.
Rev. Wilson signs a copy of her book I Want to Be in That Number at a 2014 launch event at Emmanuel College.
Presenting an honorary degree at Emmanuel’s 2019 Convocation, Rev. Wilson offered the following advice to the new graduates: “Remember you are the salt of the earth—and not called to be the whole stew! Your calling, then, is to equip the laity to bring distinctive flavour to their several worlds, and to ensure the voice of the United Church is raised effectively in the public square on issues critical to the common good.”
Victoria University extends “deep condolences to Rev. Wilson’s family and loved ones, and to the many people whose lives she touched over the course of her life and work,” said Principal Kim-Cragg.
Read more about Rev. Wilson’s extraordinary life:
The United Church of Canada
Broadview
The CBC