Chalmers Reverends and Ministers
Reverend Elizabeth Guillaume-Koene
Intentional Interim Minister
Rev. Elizabeth Guillaume-Koene is trained as an Intentional Interim Minister and Spiritual Director in the Reformed tradition. Born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta, Elizabeth worked as a Social Worker before starting seminary. She has called Ontario home since 2003. Elizabeth was ordained in 2011, worked for ten years as a Chaplain in Long Term Care and in 2022 became an Interim Minister in Whitby, Ontario. Chalmers is her second Interim pastoral charge.
Elizabeth is passionate about journeying alongside people and communities through life’s challenges. On her own she does not have the power to bring healing, redemption or reconciliation, but knows the One who does, and she delights in showing people the healing grace available through Jesus Christ.
Although Elizabeth’s permanent home is in Bowmanville with her husband, three teen-age boys and a small menagerie of critters, she spends a part of each week in Kingston ministering at Chalmers. Elizabeth enjoys her spare time gardening, playing board games, crocheting and at their cabin up north.
Reverend Barry King
Past Intentional Interim Minister
Rev. King received his Master’s in Divinity from Queen’s University in 1985 and accepted his first charge later that same year in Bonnyville, Alberta. His Ministry work has taken him to various parts of the country with much of it being in the greater Toronto area. Reverend King has had extensive training in Mediation & Arbitration and in Conflict Resolution. More importantly, he has a Certificate in Interim Ministry and has a wealth of experience in this area, including 2½ years as the Interim Minister at Sydenham St United Church, during a particularly difficult time of transition – from January 2000 to June 2002. His strengths include: leadership development, visionary work and the ability to help congregations discern their ministry. In 2014, Rev. King was chosen by General Council – Division of Mission along with 17 other UCC ministry personnel from across Canada to be involved in a 2-year program on developing new models of ministry in faith communities.
When asked what he would like us to say as an introduction of him, he provided the following:
“I was born and raised in the city of Kingston, as was my wife Linda. Enthusiasm and excitement embrace me as I prepare myself to begin this new spiritual journey in Intentional Interim Ministry with the Chalmers and Sydenham Street faith communities.
Before entering ministry, I spent time in the business world in different vocations. During my time in ministry I have been fortunate to live in a variety of places in Canada and experience the great multi-cultural diversity we share as a country.
A couple of my passions in ministry are in the areas of social justice, Habitat for Humanity, multi-faith dialogue and contemplative spirituality.
I consider myself to be an evolutionary mystic who is passionate about “living the questions”. Always wondering how as a faith community we can use the sacred texts, tradition and experience to lead people into new places with the Holy One, with life, with themselves.
I look forward in joining you on this new spiritual journey as we wrestle with what it might mean for us to be the church, in new and relevant ways in the 21st century. – Shalom”
Reverend Dr. C. Wayne Hilliker
Minister Emeritus
Wayne Hilliker was ordained by The United Church of Canada in 1966 and has served as a minister in a wide diversity of congregations throughout Canada. His tenure as Minister at Chalmers United Church began in 1983 and continued until his retirement in 2005 when he was named Minister Emeritus.The citation for his Doctor of Divinity degree which he was awarded by Queen’s University in May of 2006, reads in part: “Wayne Hilliker’s ministry has been unfaltering…particularly in lifting up the significance of preaching and by keeping matters of theology, faith, and life in the public eye. His voice has become one of the most clear and most provocative in Canada’s liberal Christian community.”It was fitting, therefore, that at his retirement, the Chalmers congregation established a Preaching Lectureship that would justifiably honour into the future such a thoughtful and engaging ministry of the spoken Word.
Chalmers Staff
Carol Sleeth
Office Administrator
Carol Sleeth moved to Kingston from Toronto where she worked in the film, television & video production industry for fifteen years. After moving to Kingston in 1994 to raise her family, she worked part-time in a church environment, as well as for Queen’s University. At Chalmers she provides administrative support to the congregation and to the Ministry staff and other church employees, liaises with volunteers, maintains church bookings and passionately believes in helping others through the Chalmers Outreach Benevolent Programs.
Ivan Brandsma
Custodian
Ivan Brandsma is a long-time member of Chalmers. He is conscientious and dedicated member of the support staff at Chalmers. His personable disposition makes him a joy to work with, for both other staff members and members of the congregation.
Previous Chalmers Reverends and Ministers
Reverend Drew Strickland
Minister of Word, Sacraments and Pastoral Care
RETIRED 2017
Rev. Drew Strickland was called to the Ministry of Word, Sacraments and Pastoral Care in 2013, after a year in Interim Ministry at Chalmers to become Chalmers fifteenth minister and retired in June 2017. Rev. Drew Strickland continued on to serve six months as Chalmers Supply Minister from July 1 to December 31, 2017, when he officially left Chalmers United Church.
David Melhorn-Boe
Past Minister of Music
David Melhorn-Boe grew up in Kingston, where he attended Winston Churchill and Rideau Public Schools, and well as KCVI. He studied music at Queen’s University, followed by a master’s degree in folklore studies at Memorial University of Newfoundland. Returning to Ontario, he pursued a doctoral programme in ethnomusicology at the University of Toronto, focussing on contemporary music of the First Nations community in that city. After obtaining a teaching degree, David moved with his family to North Bay, where he lived and worked until his return to Kingston in 2010.
David has performed internationally in a wide range of musical styles, and has taught music in elementary and secondary schools and universities in Toronto, North Bay and Sudbury. He has taught both children and adults privately in voice, piano, pipe organ, theory and composition, with special interests in improvisation and music as therapy. He is in demand as a guest artist, teacher, festival adjudicator, and clinician for workshops in performance, composition and music education. He was founding artistic director of the Rapport Singers of North Bay, conducted the Sudbury Chamber Singers for six years, and served as Minister of Music at Trinity United Church in North Bay. He also served the national church as Chair of Music United and as a member of the United Church’s Worship and Music Advisory Committee.
David is passionate about music and worship, and about exploring ways in which creativity can deepen our relationships in community. He enjoys making music for and with others.