Jennifer Henry was the Executive Director of KAIROS: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives, from 2012-2020. She has worked in ecumenical social justice for over 25 years, beginning in 1993 when she joined the Ecumenical Coalition for Economic Justice (ECEJ) as a popular education coordinator.
Her time with ECEJ included coordinating a cross-country economic literacy program called “Building a Moral Economy,” and contributing leadership to the Canadian Ecumenical Jubilee Initiative. Within KAIROS, she has served in many roles from network and campaigns coordinator to the manager of teams focused on education and animation, organizational development, and human rights (Indigenous rights, gender and migrant justice). As manager of the global partnerships program, she played a significant role in coordinating KAIROS’ grassroots response to the CIDA defunding.
Jennifer had the honour of being an ecumenical witness at six of the seven national events of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. She has given leadership to the Board of the Canadian Council for International Cooperation, and currently serves on the Primate’s Commission on the Doctrine of Discovery, Reconciliation and Justice, and the Board of the Centre and Library of the Bible and Social Justice. She remains an activist and educator at heart.
Raised in on Treaty 1 territory in Winnipeg, Jennifer has a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Manitoba, and a Masters of Social Work and a Masters in Theological Studies from the University of Toronto. Her Master’s thesis was entitled Contrite Hearts in Solidarity Action: Elements in a Settler Ally Biblical Theology She worships at the Church of the Holy Trinity, an Anglican Church in downtown Toronto, under the Dish with One Spoon Wampum Belt Covenant.
When Our Beloved Elegist dies January 23, 2021 - For Dear Ian Passing is not an acceptable word for your death, dear Ian.Wrenching, tearingCloserBut still not right for the loss of you, whom we hoped against hope would live forever. You always found themThe words that we are now bereft ofNow bereft of you.There was another time of silence.Once before, dear IanA self-imposed pause, stirred […]
Let’s believe in impossible change December 15, 2020 - We really love this new video from our friends at KAIROS and wanted to share it with our own network here at HT. – Keith Dear Friends, May we be ready this Christmas to really welcome the Holy One, the radical love and justice that changes everything. Let’s believe in impossible change and join our […]
Summer stories of memory and hope July 31, 2020 - The August services are simplified liturgies, built around a set of children’s stories that resonate with themes of creation, peace, remembrance, gender justice and creativity. The outline included in the bulletin includes optional thematic suggestions to create something at home on your own time and an opportunity to engage further if you choose. Join us […]
Justice is the Fast that God Requires: Isaiah 58:1-14 February 9, 2020 - This morning we have hearty Hebrew scripture text and I am going to invite us to dig into it. I suggest that you have it in your hands. This is a text from which I suggest we can make a dynamic analogy. We can recognize some elements in the context of that biblical time that […]
“Water is the blood that flows through this wounded body” March 25, 2016 - A reflection on Water For Ecumenical Good Friday,Church of the Holy Trinity, March 25 2016 Who lives the pain of Good Friday in our time? Communities of Pimicikamak /Cross Lake, Syria, South Sudan, Kashechewan… Where do we hear the cries? Taste the thirst for justice? Refugees fleeing, women sexually assaulted, black lives ignored, Indigenous girls […]
On the Edge of Wilderness March 16, 2015 - Isaiah 58:1-12, Mark 1: 1-13 You and I, we are standing on the edge of the wilderness with Jesus; you and I, on this first day of Lent, driven by the Spirit; you and I, on this Ash Wednesday, made of earth and water. Remember you are dust and to dust you shall return. Today, […]
The Water that Connects All Life January 15, 2015 - Reflection on the Baptism of Jesus at “Keepers of the Water: A Vigil of Lament and Celebration”, January 14th, 2015 (Genesis 1:1-5 and Mark 1:1-11) In these last days we have told the story of how Christ came into this world, the divine taking human flesh. How the mystery of his birth was understood by […]
Stay Awake! November 30, 2014 - I met Bishop Sofie Petersen at the World Council of Churches Assembly in Busan. An Indigenous woman, the Lutheran Bishop of Greenland, she is rooted in the challenges and experiences of her community and spiritually wise. I had the delight of listening in on an animated discussion between Bishop Sofie and National Indigenous Bishop Mark […]
