TORONTO, Ontario — (CANADIAN CHRISTIAN NEWS SERVICE) — The Canadian Bible Society (CBS) announces the installation service of Rev. Dr. Jonathan Dent, newly appointed National Director of CBS. The installation service and dinner will take place at Trinity Presbyterian Church, Toronto, on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2016 at 6:00pm, by invitation.
Appointed in April, Dr. Dent takes the reins of one of Canada’s most established Christian charities, celebrating 110 years of witness and service in 2016. Among other structural improvements, CBS earlier announced it will embark on a new model of regional representation – reorganizing into five regions to foster unity and cohesion – as it begins a new era of making the Bible accessible and available in Canada and around the world.
“We are so pleased to have such a gifted and committed leader as we do in Jonathan Dent, as we reorganize and reenergize for growth and impact in Canada,” says Dr. William H. Brackney, Chair of the Board of Governors for CBS. “After a national search, the Board of Governors is unanimous in its delight in appointing Dr. Dent to this key role. He brings the rare assets of scholarship and pastoral experience to this vital ministry in which all Canadians share.” Brackney continues, “The installation evening will be an important time for those who believe in the transformative witness of the Bible and the work of the Canadian Bible Society to gather around, hear from Dr. Dent and his team, and celebrate this important milestone in our life of service together.”
Originally from California, Dr. Dent has lived, studied, and worked in Canada for more than three decades. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of California at Berkeley, with a double major in Religious Studies and Linguistics, graduated from Regent College (Vancouver), and 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. Dr. Dent served congregations in Canada as a pastor for over thirty years.
Dr. Dent had served on the Newfoundland and Labrador CBS District Board from 2008 and served as Governor of the Canadian Bible Society national board from 2010 to 2015.
“I look forward to serving the Lord in the ministry of the Canadian Bible Society,” Dent said at the time of his appointment. “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.”
In its 110th year, 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 Bible, and to co-operate with the United Bible Societies in its worldwide work. 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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Read a recent blog entry by Rev. Dr. Dent.
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