Discover

2025 Summer Preaching Series

July 6
Rev. Dr. Stephen Farris

Stephen Farris is a semi-retired Presbyterian minister and is presently serving as Visiting Professor of Preaching at Knox College, University of Toronto. He is a graduate of the University of Toronto, Union Theological Seminary in Virginia, and Cambridge University, England, from which he received his PhD. He is Dean Emeritus of St. Andrew's Hall, Vancouver, and Professor Emeritus of Preaching of Vancouver School of Theology. Dr. Farris was elected Moderator of the 140th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Canada, has served on the Executive Committee of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, and as President of the Academy of Homiletics, the international association of teachers of preaching. He has preached and taught internationally and nationally, and is the author of four books, many academic and popular articles, and a murder mystery short story. His most recent book is So, Tell Me a Story: The Art of Storytelling for Preaching and Teaching.

Stephen Farris is married to Patricia Farris, a retired school principal, and has two sons, two daughters in law, and four grandchildren.

July 13
Rev. Dr. Andrew Stirling

The Rev. Dr. Andrew Stirling is the Ambassador for the Canadian Bible Society. Prior to that appointment in 2022, he served as the Senior Minister of the historic Timothy Eaton Memorial United Church in Toronto from 1998 to 2021. Andrew was born in the United Kingdom and is a Canadian Citizen. He received his education in England, Bermuda, Canada, and South Africa. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Comparative African Government and Law from the University of Cape Town (South Africa), a Master of Divinity from the Atlantic School of Theology (Halifax, Nova Scotia) and a Doctor of Ministry in preaching from Acadia Divinity College (Wolfville, Nova Scotia).

In 2008 Wycliffe College (Toronto), recognized his contribution to preaching with an honorary Doctor of Divinity. In 2016 Dr. Stirling was appointed a Lifetime Fellow of Acadia Divinity College. For the past 15 years he has been an IndyCar Chaplain.

July 20
Rev. Dr. Douglas A. McArthur

The Rev. Douglas A. McArthur is from Lakeville, Connecticut, a small obscure New England town located in the Berkshire foothills. From 1976-1979, before entering the ordained ministry, he worked for the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA as a missionary in Iwakuni, Japan. There he served in a cross-cultural environment as Program Director of Serendipity, a Christian Community Center. As an ordained United Methodist Minister for thirty-five years, Doug pastored five different multi-racial, multi-ethnic and multi-cultural congregations within the bounds of the New York Annual Conference. Rev. McArthur co-chaired and was a member of the Conference Commission on Religion and Race. He was co-founder and chair of AIDS Interfaith Stamford, Connecticut for twenty years, responsible for organizing an annual interfaith service of remembrance, awareness, hope and healing for the city of Stamford. He retired in 2018.

During retirement, Doug has served as the Interim Pastor of Tokyo Union Church in Tokyo, Japan. Also, in retirement he has written two essays published by the Meredith Corporation. The first appeared in the Special TIME Edition magazine, The Power of Joy, February 2021; the second, in the Meredith Premium Publishing magazine, The Power of Optimism, August 2021. For twenty-six years to present, Doug has had a private practice in Pastoral Psychotherapy and Marriage and Family Counseling. Rev. McArthur completed a Bachelor of Arts degree from Central Connecticut State University (New Britian, Connecticut); a Master of Divinity from Union Theological Seminary (New York City); and a Doctor of Ministry from Andover Newton Theological School (Newton Centre, Massachusetts). He received training and graduate certificates in Pastoral Psychotherapy and Marriage & Family Counseling from Blanton Peale Graduate Institute (New York City). Dr. McArthur is passionate about enabling people to grow to their fullest potential as Children of God.

Doug is married to Eileen Birchett McArthur. Both are "retired" and live in Eastern Pennsylvania. They are parents of three sons, have two daughters-in-law, and two grandchildren.

July 27
Rev. Dr. Craig Barnes

The Reverend Dr. M. Craig Barnes was raised on Long Island, New York. After graduating from Princeton Theological Seminary, he received a Ph.D. in the History of Christianity from The University of Chicago.

He served as the pastor of Christ Presbyterian Church in Madison, WI, until 1992 when he became the pastor of The National Presbyterian Church in Washington D.C. In 2002 he became a chaired professor at Pittsburgh Seminary while also serving as the pastor of the Shadyside Presbyterian Church. In 2012 he was elected president of Princeton Theological Seminary and became the president emeritus in January 2023.

He has nine published books including When God Interrupts, Pastor as Minor Poet, and most recently Diary of a Pastor's Soul. He is the director of a new project of the Association of Theological Schools on "Theologies of Pastoral Ministry," funded by the Lilly Endowment.
He is married to Dawne Hess Barnes who is an interior designer. They have three fabulous children, four delightful grandchildren, and a frisbee-addicted Bearded Collie.

August 3
Rev. Dr. Sarah Travis

Sarah Travis is an ordained minister of the Presbyterian Church in Canada and holds a Doctor of Theology in Preaching from Knox College, University of Toronto. She serves as the Minister of the Chapel at Knox College, the Interim Director of the Doctor of Ministry Program at the Toronto School of Theology and teaches courses in the area of preaching and worship. Sarah is the author of Decolonizing Preaching: The Pulpit as Postcolonial Space and Metamorphosis: Preaching after Christendom (both published by Cascade Books), as well as Preaching the Good News: A Handbook about Preaching for Presbyterians in Canada.

August 10
Rev. Laura de Jong

The Rev. Laura de Jong is a pastor in the Christian Reformed Church of North America with a passion for worship and ecclesiology. She served as pastor of Second CRC in Grand Haven, Michigan, for four years before returning to Southern Ontario where she now serves as Pastor of Preaching and Pastoral Care at Community CRC in Kitchener. Laura is a regular contributor to the Reformed Journal Blog, and enjoys reading, writing, and watching the Jays. Laura is a graduate of Calvin University (History and Congregational Ministry Studies) and received her M.Div from Calvin Theological Seminary.

August 17
Rev. Dale Rose

The Rev. Dale Rose was the Minister of Pastoral Care at Yorkminster Park from 2012 to 2021. Prior to that, he pastored churches in Nova Scotia, Quebec and was the Senior Pastor at Lorne Park Baptist Church in Mississauga for 16 years. Dale retired from full time ministry in the fall of 2021 but continues to assist churches in transition as an interim pastor. In the spring of 2024, he completed almost three years as the interim pastor at Kingsway Baptist Church in Etobicoke. In June of 2025 Dale will become President of the Canadian Baptists of Ontario and Quebec. Dale and his wife Donna now reside in Burlington, Ontario where they enjoy spending time with their grandchildren and biking various trails around our province.

Back to top