April 20, 2026

A STATEMENT OF CONVICTION FROM

Alberta Faith Leaders 

RE: Premier's Annual Christian Summit, Red Deer, May 4-5, 2026

We are faith leaders from across Alberta - from many traditions, many communities, and many ways of understanding the sacred. What we share is a conviction that faith, at its best, moves us toward one another - toward the neighbour who looks like you and the one who doesn't. It calls us to lead with humility, to welcome the stranger, and to stand with those the powerful would rather ignore.

We also believe in pluralism - not as a compromise, but as a gift. Alberta is home to people of many backgrounds, many faiths, and many ways of living a good life. That diversity is not a problem to be managed. It is what makes our communities more honest and more compassionate. A public life that only makes room for some voices is diminished for everyone.

The Premier's Annual Christian Summit, scheduled for May 4 and 5 in Red Deer, claims to bring faith into public life. We share that impulse. But the event's structure - its cost, its curated guest list, its exclusive framing - means that many voices will simply not be in the room. Smaller congregations, racialized communities, younger leaders, and those without means or connections will be absent. That is not a gathering shaped by the values of welcome and humility. It is a gathering shaped by access and privilege.

We are also concerned by what this event represents more broadly. When any government aligns itself with one religious identity, it diminishes the independence of every other faith community - regardless of tradition or theology. No single tradition, congregation, or political movement speaks for all people of faith. And the faith we know - across our many traditions - has never been most itself when it is closest to power. Rather, it has been most itself when it is closest to the people that power overlooks.

We believe that faithful engagement with public life looks like listening widely, standing with those on the margins, and holding open the door - not closing it based on who can afford a ticket or who holds the right beliefs.

We offer this statement not in anger, but in hope. We have always been here. And we believe the diverse chorus of Alberta's faith communities will always have a place in shaping the province we share.

Signed,

Faith leaders across Alberta  

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Signatories as of April 20, 2026. This list will be updated as additional faith leaders add their names.

  • The Venerable Jordan Haynie Ware, Anglican Diocese of Edmonton

  • Rev. Monica Rosborough, Athabasca United Church, Athabasca

  • Rev. Dr. John Pentland, Hillhurst United Church, Calgary

  • Rev. David Holmes, St. Andrew's United Church, Lacombe

  • Rev. Mickey Wilson, Garneau-McDougall United Church, Edmonton

  • Rev. Helen Reed, Camrose United Church, Camrose

  • Rev. Leigh Sinclair, St. David's United Church, Leduc

  • Chris Clark, Canadian Association of Baptist Freedoms

  • Rev. Sheena Trotter-Dennis, Knox United Church (Calgary)

  • Rev. Dr. Dale W. Johnson, Mill Woods United Church, Edmonton

  • Rev. Rachel E. Nadon, Knox United Church in Drumheller

  • Pastor Lauren Harms, Calgary Inter-Mennonite Church

  • Rev. Linda McLaren, High River United Church, High River

  • Mx. Peter Graham, Robertson-Wesley United Church, Edmonton

  • Rev Tony Snow, Indigenous Minister, United Church of Canada, Alberta

  • Pastor Doug Hayden, Community of Christ, Calgary

  • Rev. Kimberly Holmes-Younger, Parkdale United Church, Calgary

  • Rev. Robin Galey, Diamond Valley United Church, Diamond Valley

  • Pastor Parker Johnson, Community of Christ, Calgary

  • Rev. Samaya Oakley, Calgary Unitarians

  • The Reverend Carolyn Wendy Herold, Anglican

  • Rev. Rosemary Morrison, Unitarian Universalist, Edmonton

  • Reverend Brian James Kiely, Minister Emeritus, Unitarian Church of Edmonton

  • Rev. Hillary Van Spronsen, Symons Valley United Church, Calgary

  • Rev. Julia Kimmett, Okotoks United Church, Okotoks

  • Rev. Greg Smith, Varsity Acres Presbyterian Church, Calgary

  • Co-Clerk Jennifer Heath, Calgary Monthly Meeting (Quakers) of the Religious Society of Friends

  • Rev. Kelly Osgood, Robert McClure United Church, Calgary

  • Rev. Susan Ann Lukey, OM. B.Ed. M.Div. Th.M., The United Church of Canada

  • The Rev. Mary-Jane Leewis-Kirk, Anglican Church of Canada, St. Laurence, Calgary

  • Rev. John Griffith, Hillhurst United Church, Calgary

  • Rev. Dr. Catherine Faith MacLean, United Church of Canada

  • Campus Minister, Jessica Andrews, United Church

  • Rev. Tracy Robertson, St. Thomas United Church, Calgary

  • Rev. John Dowds, Presbyterian Church in Canada

  • Rev. Karen Bridges, Robertson-Wesley United Church

  • Rev Blaine Gregg, Spirit of Hope United Church: Edmonton

  • Reverend Erin Thomas, Trinity Lutheran Church, Edmonton

  • The Very Rev. Alexandra Meek, Anglican

  • Rev. Sudrey Brooks, Unitarian Universalist

  • Rev. Gary Simpson, Christian

  • Rev. Gordon Churchill, United Church of Canada

  • Rev. Laurie McKay, St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Calgary

  • Rev. Dirk Jessen, United Church of Canada

  • Director Pam Rocker, Affirming Connections (Southern Alberta)

  • Rev. Leila Currie, Gaetz Memorial United Church (Red Deer)

  • Rev. David Robertson, Chinook Winds Region United Church of Canada, Southern Alberta

  • Rev. Bruce Comrie, The United Church of Canada

  • Rev Paul Bergen, Mennonite

  • Affirm Team Co-Chair Evelyn J. Porter, Spirit of Hope United Church in Edmonton

  • Council Member Miranda Natalie Louise Sharp, McDougall-Garneau United Church, Edmonton

  • Director of Religious Education Rachael Smith, Calgary Unitarians

  • Council Member Carla Janzen, Mill Woods United Church

  • Organizer Veronica Malecky, Roman Catholic

  • Chair Larry Derkach, Garneau-McDougall United Church

  • Rev. Lynn Maki, The United Church of Canada

COMMUNITY SUPPORTERS

  • Norm Dueck, Christian

  • Ms. Netta Phillet, Jewish, Coordinator of Edmonton Interfaith Centre

  • Karesa Ashley Benham, Garneau-McDougall United Church - Christian (Edmonton)

  • Ms. Shelley Weinstein, Hebrew

  • Mr. Dave Janzen, United

  • Mr. Tom Hutchinson, Robertson Wesley United Church

  • Ms. Sandy Cooper, Unitarian Universalist

  • Mr. Guy Blood, Baha’i

  • Mr. Vital Ouellette, United Church

  • Dr. Rob McPhee, United Church

  • Mr. Doug Schroeder, United Church

  • Mrs. Lindy Mair, United Church

  • Ms. Carol Hickmann, Mill Woods United Church (Edmonton), United Church of Canada

  • Mr Jim Gurnett, Christian/Anglican/Sanctuary of Peace

  • Mr. John Mair, United Church of Canada (Protestant)

  • Ms. Colleen Ouellette, United Church of Canada - Robertson-Wesley United Church

  • Mr. John Timothy Mallandaine, No Specific Community / Contribute to Several