Leaders

Leadership at the Church of the Ascension is a collaboration of clergy, staff, and volunteers (known in church jargon as lay leaders).

Clergy

The Incumbent has day-to-day supervisory responsibility for the church. Our current incumbent is Rev. Canon June Hough, and she is assisted by an honourary (i.e., unpaid) assistant clergy.

Reverend June Hough pours water for a baptism

Rev. June pours water for a baptism

Rev. Canon June Hough

Office: 519-451-7780; Cell: 226-448-3790; E-mail: junehough@diohuron.org

Ordained in London, Ontario, in 1986, I have served in churches in the Dioceses of Huron, Nova Scotia and Ottawa. My ministry has been as rich and varied as the parishes I have served.

When I got ordained, I was a young single woman of 27. As my ministry progressed, so did the size of my family. I now have a busy household of seven. The addition of my husband, three children, and two dogs has been a blessing, and my parishes have been an extension of that family.

Society is changing; the Church is changing. People are spiritually hungry and it’s important to find a place where questions are welcomed and love is shared, to find communities that are welcoming instead of judging, that celebrate instead of droning on about “what we used to do.” My hope is that you find that here at Ascension — a place where the Spirit is moving.

I’m a long way from the parish of my childhood in Kirkland Lake, in northern Ontario. But I have found no matter where I go, I can always find a community of God’s people and suddenly I’m not so alone.

Peace,
June

Rev. Jim Garey
Honourary Assistant

Home: 519-850-1701; Cell 519-670-7088; E-mail prjim(at)yahoo(dot)com

What’s a Lutheran doing on the clergy team at the Anglican Church of the Ascension? It’s really quite simple. The Full Communion agreement between the Anglican Church of Canada and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada makes it possible. This accord, known as the Waterloo Declaration, was signed in Waterloo, Ontario.

I retired from full-time ministry in April 2011 after 39 years, the last 12 at Trinity Lutheran Church in London. Church policy required that I leave Trinity to clear the decks for a successor. After a couple months of “church shopping,” my wife and I visited Ascension, and there has been no looking back. Warmly welcomed, we felt right at home from the first Sunday. When Rev. June Hough asked me to serve as an honourary associate, it was, so to speak, the icing on the cake.

I was ordained in Ohio Synod in 1972. I served rural parishes in Ohio for nine years, before being called to the Eastern Canada Synod of the Lutheran Church in 1981. I served northern Ontario parishes in Massey and Sault Ste. Marie, where I was involved in many joint Anglican-Lutheran projects. My parish, Zion Lutheran Church, and neighbouring St. Matthew’s Anglican Church were specifically appointed by our bishops to be pacesetter congregations in the on-going Anglican-Lutheran dialogue. That led to joint worship services, pulpit exchanges, and joint youth activities. I was named an ecumenical canon of the Diocese of Algoma in 1999. Hanging with Anglicans is nothing new to me.

I have a B.A. in Sociology from the Ohio State University, and a Master of Divinity degree from Wittenberg University. I am an active member of the Kiwanis service club, where I have been a Distinguished Lieutenant Governor. My wife Sue and myself were married in 1968. She is a retired French teacher.

It’s a joy to be able to continue in ministry in our new church home at Ascension.

God bless,
Jim

Staff and Lay Leaders

Church Office

Our church office is staffed by the parish administrator Monday to Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Voice mail at 519-451-7780 is available 24/7 for you to leave messages. We also check the e-mail at office@ascensionlondon.com during office hours. The office phone or email are good ways to contact the lay (volunteer) leaders of the church.

Executive Team

The Executive Team is composed of the Incumbent, Wardens and Deputy Wardens. One Warden and one Deputy Warden are elected by church members (the “vestry”) at the annual vestry meeting and one each is appointed by the Rector. The Executive Team meets monthly to handle a number of issues, including financial and legal matters.

2022 Wardens and Deputies

People’s Warden: Steve Holmes
Rector’s Warden: Russ Braley
Deputy People’s Warden: Phil Pentecost
Deputy Rector’s Warden: Deb Adams

Parish Council

Parish Council is composed of the the Incumbent as chair, the Executive Team, Lay Representatives to the Diocese of Huron Synod (which is like a parliament) and Substitute Lay Representatives elected by vestry members, and between four and twelve other lay people in the church, half elected by the members and half appointed by the Incumbent. Parish Council meets monthly from September to June to discuss and vote on issues, hear reports and implement ideas. These meetings are open to anyone.

2022 Parish Council

Elected