She/her
Ordained Minister, nominated by Shining Waters Regional Council
The Rev. Dr. Cheri DiNovo, CM, is the winner of multiple awards, a Member of the Order of Canada, and author of two books. Qu(e)erying Evangelism, based on her congregational experience of growing a congregation through inclusion, won the Lambda Literary Award, and another more recent title, The Queer Evangelist, details her growing from atheist street kid to successful businessperson, then to Clergy member and Member of Provincial Parliament.
The Rev. Dr. DiNovo has been ordained for almost 30 years, and as a United Church Minister performed Canada's first legalized same-sex marriage in 2001. An MPP for almost 12 years in Ontario, upon leaving the legislature she was known for passing more bills to law as a private member than any other MPP by working across the aisle. She is also known for passing the most 2SLGBTQIA+ bills to law in Canada's history.
She recently retired from Trinity-St. Paul's United Church and Centre for Faith, Justice and the Arts due to the demand for her as a public speaker and media presence, for instance, she was the keynote speaker for the 2024 Ontario Catholic Teacher's Annual General Meeting. Her radio show The Radical Reverend has run for 27 years, and she has appeared as a frequent guest and panelist commenting on political and social topics in mainstream media.
Her quest for Moderator is based on a desire to see the United Church more present in the halls of power, more supportive of congregations (stop the closures) and in short, for it to be a church of Deep Spirituality, Bold Discipleship, and Daring Justice. As she says, to "speak truth to power" on behalf of those who feel they have little to none. She describes it as a "love letter" of thanks for her involvement with the United Church and for what it has gifted her.
Hegel once famously said words to the effect that, “What we learn from history is that we don’t learn from history.”
We are witnessing the rise of totalitarianism around the world, and most dangerously, close to home. Christians everywhere, but particularly in North America, must re-read our history.
The Confessing Church in German Protestantism was a tiny minority in comparison to other Christians in Germany. Those figures like Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Martin Niemöller, the latter of whom famously penned, “First they came for the Communists… then they came for the Jews… then they came for me and there was no one left to speak out for me,” were not the norm. The norm in German Christianity was sanctuaries festooned with Nazi flags.
Of course, it looks a little different in 2025. Now it’s, “First they came for trans people, the gender diverse, immigrants….” The call from Christ is the same, however: to stand with the suffering. To visit those in deportation camps and undergoing conversion therapy, to risk everything as Christ did for those hated and abused, many of whom are children. In Canada, three of our provinces have denied health care to children and families that need it most, those children most at risk of suicide. We are called right here and right now to speak truth to power with love.
This is something the United Church has done and is now called to do if we are to be a church of sanctuary for all those who are suffering. Daring Justice, Bold Discipleship and Deep Spirituality demand action.
An Indigenous mentor and friend said, “Reconciliation is not so much about what you think or say but how you participate.” We are now almost 40 years since the United Church’s apology to Indigenous Peoples was not accepted. Would it be now?
It has become clear to me and others that it is time to demonstrate our faith through our own democracy, transparency, and equity as well as congregational support.
Every worshipping community and everyone in accountable ministry should be able to participate fully in our church’s decisions and leadership. We should support our congregations to hire not just who they can afford, but with equity and equality considered first. We do not often see Senior Ministers in well-endowed congregations that are 2SLGBTQIA+, people of colour, Indigenous or women. We must truly see our Indigenous Church as being its own power and truly independent. We need to fund operational expenses as well as project-by-project endeavours. We need to fund equity. Equality should not be dependent on wealthy congregants or bake sales by faithful volunteers. Not just buildings, but congregations, need to be supported. A closed church means a sanctuary lost for those who may have none in their communities.
We need to be a voice in the halls of power. Every legislature should know, in our country and in governments beyond our borders, that we are a sanctuary church. We cannot expect that those in power will follow us. We must be present whenever and wherever decisions are made that affect the most vulnerable. Other faiths and denominations see this as a priority. In over a decade in politics, unless I asked, the United Church was not present. Many others were. Their presence influenced laws, and not always in a way we believe Christ would direct us. This is a critical part of our “call” in these times.
Finally, Deep Spirituality means we must live into our identity as a church of Christ, the Christ of the cross as well as resurrection. The number one factor in growing churches is preaching a Word of God that is different from that of the secular gods. This is the most important gift we can offer.
In the beginning of every service I have said, “No matter what you believe, no matter what you do not believe. No matter what you have done, no matter what you have left undone. No matter who you are and no matter who you love, you are welcome here. This is a church of Christ and in Christ’s church everyone is welcome.” That, I believe, is core United Church theology.
It is because we are a church of Christ that we are a church of inclusion. Christ and Christ’s God of boundless love are who we aspire to be. Our faith calls us to the Gospel, the Good News, first and foremost. If we are a democratic, transparent, supportive church of equality and equity, we are a model to a world which suffers, God’s world. If we courageously speak truth to all power.
If we are not only for ourselves but for the world, we will let the world know with all of our resources that there is an alternative. We will be that open door in our communities that will allow so many who are unsafe, needing spirit, needing the community of Christ in their lives, to find sanctuary. Just like the United Church has done for me, from my times living on the streets to my time in the halls of power.
I am and will be forever so humbled and so grateful.
Will we move forward as followers of Christ or as sycophants to power? Will we follow a Christ who was a Christ of the cross? Will we be the Christians who are willing to die, but far more importantly, to live, for our faith?
Make no mistake: we are at a crossroads. Will we speak truth to power, our own and the world’s? Only we can answer that, through the power of the Holy Spirit, and the grace of God, and the daring, deep, bold ministry of the one we call saviour—Christ.
In Christ’s name,
Amen
