Changing of the Guard

A changing of the guard is coming soon to the vital work of Edmonton’s Inner City Pastoral Ministry (ICPM). After many years providing pastoral leadership to ICPM, the Rev. Rick Chapman will retire May 31. Stepping into the role will be the Rev. Quinn Strikwerda, currently Vicar of All Saints’ Anglican Cathedral.

Pastor Rick is thrilled Rev. Quinn was selected for the position of Pastor, saying, “His ability to be present with urban core community, people marginalised, with spiritual needs, living with the effects of poverty and at times the challenges of mental health and addictions, will be a tremendous asset to this invaluable ‘ministry of presence’ within the inner city.”

Reflecting on his own experience of the work, Pastor Rick says, “I found the ministry as Pastor both challenging and exciting; not one day being the same as the next. Surely, Christ’s call to feed the hungry, offer a cooling drink to the thirsty, clothe and house the naked and abandoned, while offering support and prayerful healing with the broken-hearted is lived out daily in the ministry of ICPM!”

Rev. Quinn has experience working closely with other members of the ICPM team, particularly in the area of Indigenous reconciliation and healing. For him, anticipating this next step in ministry brings a mixture of feelings.

“I’m both thrilled and apprehensive about taking on the role of ICPM Pastor at the end of May. Thrilled because this work is something that I’ve felt a calling to for a long time;  apprehensive because I will be leaving the comfort and joy of the beloved community of All Saints’ Cathedral for an unfamiliar role in very uncertain times. I feel as prepared as I can be, however, because of both my three years at All Saints’ and my four years at the Edmonton Remand Centre. With a growing awareness of all of the complex issues surrounding poverty, I’m ready to begin, in the words of the ICPM mission statement, ‘a ministry of presence walking with the people of the inner city of Edmonton.’ I see this non-judgemental ministry of simply being with and for people as central to the role of pastor. I’m excited about the opportunities to work within the long tradition ICPM has as a reconciling, liberating force in the inner city, and for putting my own stamp on the development of new ministries going forward.”

ICPM is an inter-denominational Christian ‘ministry of presence’ for inner city people. Normally based at the Bissell Centre in downtown Edmonton, it carries on its work during the covid-19 pandemic alongside other social agencies at Edmonton’s Expo Centre. Many parishes are connected with ICPM through its Sunday lunch program for the Emmanuel worship community, which sees churches, synagogues and one mosque provide lunch for residents of the inner city every Sunday, 52 weeks a year. Partners in ICPM include members of Lutheran, Anglican, Roman Catholic and United Church denominations. 

Rev. Quinn’s last Sunday at All Saints’ Cathedral will be May 24. He will take up his duties with ICPM on May 25. Pastor Rick looks forward to the handover of responsibilities, telling Rev. Quinn, “God’s richest blessing as you transition to this new and exciting ministry. You will be loved by the community and supported by the ICPM Board and Ministry Team.”

Photos of the Rev. Quinn Strikwerda include painting at a work day with Habitat for Humanity, laying a rose at the Homeless Memorial Walk, proclaiming the Word at All Saints' Cathedral and offering Manna Market food bags while social distancing. Photos of the Rev. Rick Chapman include offering a blessing at a Common Ground event, lighting a candle and breaking the bread at a Standing Stones worship service at Bissell Centre, and speaking at the 2019 annual meeting of the Capital Region Interfaith Housing Initiative.