Who’s your diaconal hero?
Marion Pope (seen here with former CCS Principal Alan Lai) was a nursing professional and diaconal minister. She graduated from UCTS (now CCS) in 1955 and served much of her career as overseas personnel in Korea. She was a tireless advocate for women and for people who are unhoused, under-resourced or living with food insecurity. In 2003 Marion was recognized as a Companion of the Centre for her embodiment of the values and ideals of the Centre for Christian Studies. Marion died this past July at the age of 97.
Who’s your diaconal hero? Who has inspired you with their compassionate care, or their courageous social justice work, or their transformative education?
CCS’s Companion of the Centre award is our equivalent of an honorary degree. Companions of the Centre are also like our honoured elders. They epitomize diakonia and provide inspiration to all of us on how to live into this ministry of justice, compassion, and transformation. Many of them are explicitly diaconal, though not all. Some are heroic advocates who shake things up and speak truth to power. Some are quiet caregivers who bring healing through their pastoral presence. Some are inspiring educators, or committed organizers. All of them, in different ways, remind us who we are and what we aspire to be in the world.
The CCS Awards Working Group is now inviting nominations for the 2026 Companion of the Centre Award. Nominations could be any of the following:
- graduates, who through their life and ministry, have brought distinction and honour to CCS;
- members of the CCS community (friends, volunteers, former staff and so on) who have made a significant contribution to the work of CCS, or,
- individuals in the wider community whose whole life and work epitomize the ideals of CCS.
The honour is awarded at the annual Service of Celebration in April.
Who do you know that epitomizes the ideals of CCS and the life of diakonia? Nominate them today. Nominations are welcome from graduates, students, friends, volunteers and staff. (Download the form: PDF / RTF ). The deadline for nominations is October 30. If you are thinking of nominating someone, please be in contact with Scott Douglas at sdouglas@ccsonline.ca
“I am among you as one who serves.” Luke 22:27
