Noteboom Appointed General Secretary of Canadian Council of Churches

Peter Noteboom, former director of advancement for the CRC in Canada and a member of First Christian Reformed Church in Toronto, Ont., has been appointed to a five-year term as the general secretary of the Canadian Council of Churches (CCC), an ecumenical council representing 26 denominations in Canada.

Noteboom defines the council’s role in the life of Canadian churches by saying, “We work to grow Christian unity for the love of the gospel and the peace of the world.”

Noteboom began his work with the CCC in 1999 as its associate secretary for justice and peace. In that role, which he called a “dream job,” he supported and worked on human rights, debt-cancellation initiatives for poor countries, undoing racism, strengthening healthcare and just-trade policies, peace action in several countries experiencing war and violence, disarmament, climate justice, reconciliation with Indigenous peoples, efforts against human trafficking and sexual exploitation, and refugee rights.

In 2011, Noteboom became the deputy general secretary for the CCC, which brought more responsibilities in areas of finance and administration. He held this position until October 2017, when he stepped into the role of acting general secretary, an interim position he held for nine months.

With the appointment to general secretary come some changes, he said. As an interim leader, his focus was to accomplish a smooth transition and help to create a plan for the next three years. Now, he said, the plan is to be implemented, which will involve more engagement with the public and thinking more long-term, relationally and strategically.

Noteboom, a former CRCNA Board of Trustees member, hopes to create more collaboration and synergy within the CCC and among its partners while also re-creating connections to churches and institutions.

“People get information from many sources now,” he noted. “There’s a need to recreate relation from inside out.” It’s bigger than finding new channels of communication or growing a social media platform, he suggested. “It’s about personal relationship and community.”

“There are 180 delegates from member churches on various bodies within the council. . . . I want a personal connection with those 180,” he added. “It’s less about media and production and more about personal relationship.”

At the same May Governing Board meeting of the CCC during which Noteboom was appointed, Kathy Vandergrift was appointed as one of three vice presidents of the CCC for the 2018-2021 term.

Vandergrift, a former president of the CRCNA Board of Trustees, is a public policy analyst with experience in government and social justice work, as well as a frequent contributor to the CRC’s denominational magazine, The Banner, and to Christian Courier, an independent Reformed biweekly. Darren Roorda, director of Canadian ministries for the CRCNA, and Anthony Elenbaas, a member of Immanuel CRC in Hamilton, Ont., also serve on the CCC board.

While Noteboom is excited to continue his work with the CCC and has confidence in its staff and leaders, he realizes the heavy responsibility on the council’s leaders: “Please pray for leadership, for wisdom and discernment, and for churches to be places of truth, grace, and healing.”