Thank you, Carolynne; Thank you, Kathy!

Thank you, Carolynne; Thank you, Kathy!

At the CCS annual general meeting last month we thanked Carolynne Bouey-Shank for her service as one of the co-chairs of the CCS Central Council.  The commitment to being a co-chair is no small undertaking; CCS has two Council co-chairs (one Anglican and one United) with overlapping terms.  Carolynne shared leadership for the first term of her time as chair with Jim Boyles, and for the second half with Penny Cummine.

Carolynne Bouey-Shank, centre, sporting the jersey of her beloved Calgary Flames

Carolynne is a graduate of the Centre (2000) and has always been an enthusiastic supporter.  In her Principal’s report, Maylanne Maybee said, “It will be difficult to take leave of Carolynne Bouey Shank as outgoing UCC co-chair. She welcomed me as Principal almost five years ago and has been a reliable and deeply caring support and guide ever since.”

One of Carolynne’s tradmarks as a chair was the attention she paid to checking in with each participant at the beginning of meetings.  For Carolynne, the “business” of a council meeting never took precedence over the need to cultivate and nurture good relationships.

New CCS co-chair Kathy Platt at a spring 2014 learning circle

Carolynne’s role on Council is now being filled by Kathy Platt (who also graduated from CCS in 2000).

Kathy says, “I am deeply thankful for the education I received at CCS: for the excellent modelling of ‘learning in the round’ – for the ways that my passion for social justice was inspired and challenged – for the ways that my diaconal colleagues continue to ‘hear me into speech’ so that I can truly speak my truth in whatever setting I find myself in.”

Kathy will be meeting with other Council members next month when the CCS Central Council gathers in Winnipeg for its annual face-to-face meeting.