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The United Church of Canada recently hired Emmanuel Tehindrazanarivelo as the new Responsable des Ministères en Français. In this role he coordinates and integrates the work of Ministries in French into the life of the United Church of Canada and oversees the growth and dynamics of French speaking communities of faith. Montreal Dio is a key part of his vision for the future of French ministries in the United Church.

Emmanuel grew up in Madagascar where his family were among the first Christians in his village. He has had a wide-ranging, international career from teaching in the department of Anthropology and Philosophy at the University of Toronto to working in the department of International Affairs and the Ministry of Health for the Ontario Government, acting as a consultant to the United Nations in New York City, and helping to establish the first Protestant University in Madagascar.

With his diversity of experiences from across the globe, Emmanuel has a keen interest in intercultural engagement which he describes as a key aspect of growing French ministries. “We need to reflect on things like the meaning of faith and being church when Francity and Africanity intersect,” Emmanuel explains. He sees Dio as a key point of intersection where people from diverse backgrounds can enrich one another. “Dio is a hub for emerging Canadian theologies, a place where faith meets culture, a space where a new Church and a new vision of how to be emerges.”