Pastor Rebecca Whiting, Designated Lay Minister

My faith has grounded me my whole life, as I travelled through its stages alongside God. As a child raised in the United Church of Canada, I have a deep love of this denomination and how it allows me to live into values of unconditional love, justice, and service. It is now an honour to be able to live out my calling to ministry at Zion United.

Growing up in rural southwestern Ontario, my post-secondary education took me to Nova Scotia as I completed my Bachelor of Music Therapy at Acadia. I then returned to Ontario and worked in that field until shortly before the pandemic. I submitted my notice to leave my position in order to pursue my calling to ministry one week before lockdown!

Over the course of five years, I was given the opportunity to learn about ministry through learning and action, three years of which I was serving at Westminster United in Waterloo as minister of Christian Development.

I was formally recognized as a minister in the United Church of Canada in May 2025, and I am delighted to step into this next part of my faith journey. My ministry with Zion United began in July 2025. I look forward to supporting this community as we work alongside one another and God to spread loving care in the world.

Outside of ministry, you can find me spending time with my partner, dog, cat, and nieces and nephew. I love to spend time in God’s creation, including birdwatching. You might also find me crafting or sewing. I am passionate about practicing self-care and helping others to develop healthy boundaries that support wellbeing. We can rest in God’s embrace, knowing that we are known, loved, and accepted. And in turn it is a gift to be able to spread that to the world around us!

CE & Youth Coordinator: Kathy Poirier

Email: zionyouth@bellnet.ca

Voluntary Associate Minister: Rev. Marilyn Burnard

I grew up in the United Church of Canada and it has always been a significant part of my life. I decided very early in life that I was going to be a nurse. My nursing career spanned years at the Hospital for Sick Children and then at Oshawa General Hospital.
While I was in Oshawa, I started to feel the call to ministry. I spent time exploring that call but then my children were all dealing with health issues and I focussed on attending to them. I became involved with the health ministry, specifically Parish Nursing and this led me back to that earlier call. It was an exciting journey of exploring my faith and how I was being called to respond. I pursued my training at the Centre for Christian Studies based in Winnipeg.
I was very blessed to be settled in the Community Outreach Ministry that I had been working in at the time. It was a very rewarding time in my life. I was very privileged to accompany marginalized people in the most challenging times of their lives. I was welcomed into their lives in ways that touched me deeply.
It was during this time that I also had the opportunity to serve in a congregation which opened me to another very meaningful ministry and I served there until it was time to retire.
I am pleased to serve as a Voluntary Associate Minister at Zion. I believe that Zion has much to offer its members as well as the surrounding community.
In retirement, Tom and I are enjoying the wonderful time that we share with our grandchildren, # 11 is on the way. We have enjoyed many hours travelling across Canada, Alaska and most of the northern States, many of those miles on motorcycle.
My faith beliefs are my roots, what holds me grounded. Each day I find joy in the many natural wonders around us. In each small encounter as well as the more grand ones, I see the hand of God. In the toughest moments of my life, I know I am never alone and I can truly say, thanks be to God.

Church Administrator: Jennifer Meyer

Email: zionunitedchurch@bellnet.ca

I grew up in Toronto, but always wanted to live in a small town, a hope that was fulfilled when I moved to Baden in 2003, where I still reside with my family. I began at Zion in April 2011, and have loved this job from the start – the opportunity to meet so many people and be part of Zion’s community has been such a valuable and meaningful part of my life. When not at Zion, I can be found working at my other job as a librarian at the Baden Branch or possibly enjoying reading, hiking, puzzling or kayaking.