Each year at the General Assembly, an award is given to recognize a person or group for their work on the cutting edge of mission.
Sanctuary Mental Health Ministries: The 2024 Cutting Edge of Mission Award Recipient
The annual award this year recognizes the work of Sanctuary Mental Health Ministries, the mission of which is to equip the church at the local level to support mental health and wellbeing.
Sanctuary Mental Health Ministries equips the Church to support mental health and wellbeing. Born out of a need for community, connection, and resources about faith and mental health, Sanctuary was founded in 2011 by Rev. Caroline Penhale and the Rev. Sharon Smith, PhD in Vancouver, BC. In the beginning, Sanctuary offered in-person training and workshops at churches to create mental health awareness and facilitate action groups. In only a few years, the growing need for this work was evident. Daniel Whitehead was hired as CEO in 2016 to enact the new vision: to make Sanctuary’s materials accessible online and easy to facilitate, allowing the work to reach more people.
In 2018, The Sanctuary Course launched. This small group study guide uses films and discussion to explore key mental health topics, examining meaningful ways to offer companionship, support recovery, and promote wellbeing. Additional resources are continually being developed, including The Sanctuary Course for Catholics , When A Loved One Dies By Suicide , the Sanctuary Songs album , The Sanctuary Blog , and soon The Sanctuary Youth Series .
All of Sanctuary’s resources are developed in collaboration with theologians, mental health professionals, and people with lived experience of mental health challenges. These resources are free to access and prepare communities of faith around the world to raise awareness, reduce stigma, support mental health, and promote mental wellbeing.
The Dr. E.H. Johnson Memorial Fund was established in 1981 to continue the Rev. Dr. Edward “Ted” Hewlitt Johnson’s commitment to a global view of mission and to extend the horizons of that mission. He lived his view of and commitment to mission through service with his wife Kitty as missionaries of The Presbyterian Church in Canada in Manchuria and as Secretary for Overseas Missions. He also became involved in ecumenical agencies covering many aspects of mission. When Dr. Johnson was elected Moderator of the 95th General Assembly, mission in all its variety and aspects marked his service in that office.
What is “Cutting-Edge Mission”?
Read more about “the cutting edge of mission” in this Presbyterian Connection newspaper article from the Fall 2017 edition by the Rev. Dr. Glynis Williams, Associate Secretary, International Ministries.
The Award
For Service on the Cutting Edge of Mission
In making the award, the committee desires to recognize both the person and the church or organization with whom the person works, with the understanding that God’s mission is incarnated in relationships with sisters and brothers.
The recipient delivers an address to commissioners and guests at the General Assembly. The address is made available in print and is posted on the website. The recipient often makes time available for meetings with leaders in the wider church and secular society and with congregations.
Begun in 1983, the award recipients comprise a list of distinguished church leaders, both in Canada and countries around the world. Our award winners in the last several years have been Dr. Elsa Tamez, Dr. David Pandy-Szekeres, the Very Rev. Dr. John Dunlop, the Rev. Nangula E. Kathindi, the Rev. Dr. Clifton Kirkpatrick, the Rev. Dr. Setri Nyomi, Ms. Karuna Roy, Dr. Ernie Regehr, Dr. Mercy Oduyoye and His Excellency Archbishop Elias Chacour.
Previous Award Recipients
2023
The Parents Circle – Families Forum (PCFF)
Accepted by Laila AlShekh and Robi Damelin on behalf of the organization
Video | Presentation
2021
The Canadian Centre to End Human Trafficking
Accepted by Julia Drydyk, (Executive Director) on behalf of the organization
Video | Presentation
2019
Sheila Watt-Cloutier
Environmental, Cultural and Human Rights Advocate
Video | Presentation
2018
Dr. George Sabra
Professor of Systematic Theology and President of the Near East School of Theology (NEST) in Beirut, Lebanon
Video | Presentation
2017
Dr. Cindy Blackstock
Executive Director of the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada
Presentation
2016
Dr. Bernard Sabella
Executive Secretary of the Department of Service to Palestinian Refugees (DSPR) in Jerusalem
Video | Presentation
2015
Canadian Council for Refugees Conseil canadien pour les réfugiés
Accepted by Loly Rico (President) and Janet Dench (Executive Director) on behalf of the organization
Presentation
2014
Canadian Foodgrains Bank
Accepted by Don Peters (Board Chair) and Jim Cornelius (Executive Director) on behalf of the organization
Presentation
2013
Rev. Dr. Abraham Berinyuu
Campaigner for Disability Rights; Champion for Ethnic Reconciliation
Presentation
2012
Sister Eun Sook Han
A Founder and Member of the Diakonia Sisterhood in Korea
Presentation
2011
Boarding Homes Ministry
Accepted by Rev. Rodger Hunter, Chaplain
Presentation
2010
Rev. Dr. Terry LeBlanc
Founder, North American Institute for Indigenous Theological Studies
Presentation
2009
Archbishop Elias Chacour
Melkite Catholic Archbishop of Akka, Haifa, Nazareth and all Galilee; Founder, Mar Elias Educational Institutions
Presentation
2008
Dr. Mercy Oduyoye
Founder, The Circle of Concerned African Women Theologians
Presentation
2007
Dr. Ernie Regehr
Co-Founder, Project Ploughshares
Presentation
2006
Ms. Karuna Roy
Coordinator, HIV/AIDS Program, Church of North India
Presentation
2005
Rev. Dr. Setri Nyomi
General Secretary, The World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC)
Presentation
2004
Rev. Dr. Clifton Kirkpatrick
Stated Clerk of the Presbyterian Church (USA)
Presentation
2003
Rev. Nangula E. Kathindi
General Secretary, Council of Churches in Namibia
Presentation
2002
The Very Rev. Dr. John Dunlop
Former Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland; peace activist
Presentation
2001
Dr. David Pandy-Szekeres
General Director of Schools for the Hungarian Reformed Church of the sub-Carpathian Ukraine
Presentation
2000
Dr. Elsa Tamez
Professor of Biblical Theology, Seminario Biblico Latinoamericano, San-Jose, Costa Rica; women’s advocate
Presentation
1999
Rev. John Bell
Church of Scotland, on behalf of Iona Community; composer of hymns; inner-city youth worker
Presentation
1998
Rev. Héctor Méndez
Pastor of the First Presbyterian-Reformed Church in Cuba; ecumenist
Presentation
1997
Rev. Dr. John Fife
Past Moderator, PCUSA; co-leader of Sanctuary Movement for Central American refugees
Presentation
1996
Rev. Dr. Daniel Szabo
Chief Curator, Hungarian Reformed Church
Presentation
1995
Rev. Dr. Timothy Njoya
Minister, Presbyterian Church of East Africa, Kenya
Presentation
1994
Rev. Dr. John McIntosh and Dr. Clarabeth McIntosh
Minority Rights leaders with The Korean Christian Church in Japan
Presentation
1993
Archbishop Desmond Mpilo Tutu
President of the All Africa Conference of Churches; Nobel Laureate
Presentation
1992
Rev. Russell Self
Presbyterian missionary; Bible Society leader
1991
Rev. Glenda B. Hope
Inner City Minister in San Francisco
1990
Rev. Barbel Wartenburg-Potter
Theologian; advocate against injustice; ecumenist
1989
Ms. Barbara Jackman
Canadian advocate for refugee and immigration rights
1988
Mr. Gabriel Habibe
General Secretary, Middle East Council of Churches
1987
Rev. Dr. Byers Naude
General Secretary, South African Council of Churches; anti-apartheid activist
1986
Rev. Dr. C.M. Kao
General Secretary, Presbyterian Church in Taiwan
1985
Most Reverend Edward Scott
Archbishop, Primate, Anglican Church of Canada
1984
Rev. Dr. In Ha Lee
Minister, The Korean Christian Church in Japan
1983
Rev. Dr. Roy G. Neehall
General Secretary, Caribbean Conference of Churches
Committee Members
- The Rev. Bob Smith (convener), Dr. Rick Allen, the Rev. Dr. Nancy Cocks, Ms. Elizabeth Phillipson, the Rev. Laura Kavanagh, the Rev. Dr. Joon Ki Kim, the Rev. Eloi Agbanou.
- Ex Officio: The Rev. Ian Ross-McDonald, General Secretary, Life and Mission Agency.