Wilson’s Legacy is One of Many Firsts

General Secretary Michael Blair took this picture of The Very Rev., The Honourable Dr. Lois M. Wilson on her 95th birthday. Michael often visited with Lois, they had a close mentoring and friendship.
Credit: Michael Blair

~ from a post published on September 13, 2024 on The United Church of Canada’s website

With great sadness, The United Church of Canada announces the death of The Very Rev., The Honourable Dr. Lois M. Wilson, the denomination’s 28th Moderator, and the first woman to fill the role. She faithfully served as Moderator from 1980 to 1982. Rev. Wilson died in hospital in Fredericton, NB, on Sept. 13, 2024. She was 97 years old.

Her faith drove her actions, and she remained involved in the work of the Church right to the end.

“I hardly ever had an original idea myself, but I would always respond to what the community called me to do,” Wilson told CBC’s Sean Foley on Ideas in February 2024.  “None of them were my ideas. But I was able to respond to them because I saw that they were in continuity with what I understood as the purposes of God in the world.”

Born in Winnipeg, MB, in 1927, Wilson’s legacy is one of many firsts: the first woman president of the Canadian Council of Churches in 1976; elected the first woman Moderator of the United Church in 1980, paving the way for many progressive developments in the church; the first Canadian to serve as a president of the World Council of Churches, from 1983 to 1991. In 2000, she led Canada’s first parliamentary delegation to North Korea to begin the process of establishing formal diplomatic relations.

From 1990 to 2000, Wilson was the Chancellor of Lakehead University.

She was appointed to the Senate of Canada in 1998, retiring in 2002.

As an author of 10 books, ranging in topic such as ethics, interpretations of biblical stories, and feminism, Wilson was also a close friend of Canadian novelist Margaret Laurence, appearing in public forums with her, and presiding at Laurence’s funeral in 1986.

For her work in human rights, ecumenism, social justice, and her contributions to the political and cultural landscape, Wilson received 14 honorary degrees, including one from the United States, and also the following honours and awards: the Queen’s 25th Anniversary Medal (1977), The Pearson Peace Medal (1985), Officer of the Order of Canada (1984), Order of Ontario (1991), Companion of the Order of Canada (2003), Joseph Cardinal Bernardin Award for Christian Unity (2010), and the Heart and Vision Award (2011).

Wilson is survived by four children, 12 grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.

She was deeply devoted to making real change through (and in) the church and community, and her convictions were always rooted in her Christian faith. Wilson established an endowment fund at the Foundation to further this ministry for future generations. The Lois Wilson Memorial Fund will support United Church of Canada ministry and programmatic work related to social and economic justice, reconciliation with Indigenous people, and mitigation of climate change. Gifts to the fund are gratefully accepted in honour of Lois’ life and legacy.

A memorial service is planned for Oct. 15 at 11 a.m. at Metropolitan United Church, 56 Queen St. East, Toronto. The service will be livestreamed on YouTube.