Beginning August 1, Carmen Ramirez will join the ELCIC National Office in the newly created role of assistant to the bishop for diversity, equity and inclusion.
The new position is one of many recommendations coming out of the work of three task forces over the last triennium, including the Task Force on Addressing Ableism, the Task Force on Addressing Racism White Supremacy and Racial Injustice, and the Task Force on Addressing Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia.
“I welcome Carmen to this new position,” says National Bishop Susan Johnson. “Her experience working in similar areas within the United Church of Canada and the Canadian Council of Churches will bring many gifts to this new position.”
Ramirez’s role at the United Church of Canada includes racial justice facilitator and intercultural ministries coordinator. Ramirez has also been the core facilitator with the Canadian Churches Forum in their Understanding for Intercultural Ministries program.
She brings to the position her experience of working with a diversity of churches, ministers and lay people, helping with racial justice and disability awareness to implement intercultural ways of doing church.
“I believe that equity, diversity and inclusion begins at the leadership level,” says Ramirez, who applied for the position because of a passion to help the church become an inclusive place for worship. “I believe that Jesus intended the church to be a welcoming place. I am looking forward helping the church work towards their inclusivity goals.”
