Diocese welcomes social justice consultant

Elin Goulden started as the diocese’s new social justice and advocacy consultant at the beginning of April. Before taking on this position, she had been working since 2010 as part-time parish outreach facilitator for York-Credit Valley, serving as a liaison between area parishes and the diocese on matters of outreach and social and ecological justice. She was also program coordinator for the Interfaith Social Assistance Reform Coalition (ISARC) from 2013-2015, and support staff for the Anglican Church of Canada’s task force on the theology of money in 2015.

Ms. Goulden’s academic background includes degrees in law and theology. Her prior work experience includes service at all three levels of government, including work for the Public Interest Law Centre of Legal Aid Manitoba and for Environment Canada, as well as working as a legal editor for several years before beginning her theological studies. She received her MA in theology in 2008 and taught two Diploma in Lay Ministry courses through Wycliffe College in 2008 and 2009.

Ms. Goulden is passionate about connecting the day-to-day life and work of the Church with the biblical call to justice and wholeness for all of God’s people and creation. She has long been inspired by Isaiah 1:16b-17: “Cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow,” as well as the cosmic vision of redemption in Christ portrayed in Colossians 1:17-20: “He is before all things, and in him all things hold together… and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross.” She and her family are active parishioners at St. Martin in-the-Fields, Toronto.