TORONTO, Ontario — (CANADIAN CHRISTIAN NEWS SERVICE) — The Board of Governors of the Canadian Bible Society (CBS) is pleased to announce the appointment of the Rev. Dr. Jonathan Dent as National Director, effective April 4, 2016.
Originally from California, Dr. Dent has lived, studied and worked in Canada for more than three decades. A graduate of Regent College (Vancouver), he has also studied at the Vancouver School of Theology and at Presbyterian College (McGill University) in Montreal. While teaching Religious Studies (in French) at the University of Ottawa, and later, psychology at the Mennonite Brethren Bible College in Winnipeg, Dr. Dent earned his Ph.D. His thesis focused on a dialogue between theology and psychology.
Ordained in the Presbyterian Church of Canada in 1988, he has served congregations in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec and Newfoundland.
“We are pleased and grateful that Jonathan has agreed to take on the role of National Director,” says Dr. William H. Brackney, Chairman of the Board of Governors for CBS. “He is well acquainted with the work of the Bible Society, and so is also well aware of the challenges inherent in carrying out such significant Christian ministry in our post-Christian culture. We look forward to the restoration and revitalization that the CBS is certain to experience under his strong and capable leadership.”
Dr. Dent is a long time supporter of the work of the CBS. He has served on the Board of the Newfoundland and Labrador District since 2008 and became a Governor of the national Canadian Bible Society in 2010.
“I look forward to serving the Lord in the ministry of the Canadian Bible Society,” says Dent. “CBS wants to see God’s transforming Word impact all of Canadian society, groups, and individuals, indeed, the transformation of the whole world by God’s Word. This is a wonderful ministry that has an amazing history over more than one hundred years nationally, and more than two hundred years in some regions of Canada, under the British and Foreign Bible Society. As God helps us, we will rebuild many of the regional ministries of the Bible Society in the coming days, weeks and months.”
Dr. Dent and his wife Lynn have been married for 34 years. They have two daughters.
Founded in 1904 and chartered in 1906, the mandate of the Canadian Bible Society is today as it always has been: to promote and encourage, without doctrinal note or comment, the translation, publication, distribution and use of the Scriptures, and to co-operate with the United Bible Societies in its worldwide work. The CBS is a uniquely inter-confessional organization that transcends denominations to partner with individuals, churches and para-church organizations who similarly believe that God’s Word changes hearts and lives.
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For more information or interviews,
Contact: Shelley D. McLagan, Communications Consultant
Email: smclagan@biblesociety.ca
Phone: 1-800-465-2425 x3424
Web: www.biblesociety.ca