AbbeyCouncil

AbbeyCouncil is the governing face of the AbbeyChurch, working alongside the Emmaus Community to guide the AbbeyChurch into what it is becoming. The creation of AbbeyCouncil in 2024 was a move toward deeper democracy and greater transparency for the AbbeyChurch.

AbbeyCouncil members are here to speak to you, answer questions, listen deeply, and discern the goals that AbbeyChurch should strive toward. Please come speak to any of us whenever you'd like, or email council@abbeychurch.ca to get in touch digitally.

Membership

Phil Mills (Term began 2024)

Phil is retired now, but has an extensive career history as a decorator, painter, glazier, soldier, framer, scaffolder, and most recently as a utilities supervisor for Langford. However, he's still waiting to see who he'll be when he grows up. He values the calm and quiet of retired life, and the time he is blessed to spend with his wife Lynn. Phil enjoys traveling, learning about travelling through audiobooks and travelogue videos, walking both alone and with others, and spending time in silence where the voice of God is most clear to him.

Josh Ruberg (Term began 2024)

Josh likes tea and nature, and is lucky to get to work as a therapist. He is finding his joy in connecting with others, particularly his amazing best friend and wife Liz, and his gorgeous daughter who keeps growing. Josh finds great joy in connecting to nature and all the varying mysteries God loves to put in front of his very logical eyes.

Isabela Azevedo (Term began 2025)

Who you are is the hardest question. Isabela has a strong sense that each person is a whole universe, but also holds a deep awareness of her smallness within the larger universe. Isabela finds joy in reading, listening to audiobooks, reading paper books, and painting. Her favourite thing is to spend time with her wife Nikka and making her laugh, which is her favourite sound in the world. Isabela sees God in the people around her and it gives her a sense of purpose and accomplishment to help others.

Margot Spence (Term began 2025)

Margot is not a morning person, but she spends her days playing pickleball, engaging in the practice of lectio divina, and spending time with friends. It may seem like light work, but there is a lot of work that goes into being present with community. Margot finds joy in when she sees God at work in the world. She is surprised and delighted to report that she is getting better at seeing what God's doing. Margot sees clearly that God is afoot when she hears the stories of others and in her own life events.

Matthew Humphrey (pastoral staff)

Matt is a minister. On good days, he is a shepherd. He is father to three children who bring him both bountiful joy and bountiful challenge. He finds great joy in knowing his call to lead people in response to God's work through both worship and prayer. He also finds joy in his cat and his dog. Matt believes that God's grace is the bedrock of our existence.

Documents

You can read the guiding document for AbbeyCouncil, voted on and approved at the 2024 Vestry Meeting, at this link. This provides the framework from which AbbeyCouncil will carry out their work.

You will also find links to other important documents below.

Documents for our 2024 vestry meeting, including Matt's pastoral letter to AbbeyChurch

Matt's pastoral letter to AbbeyChurch for our 2025 vestry meeting

Documents for our 2025 vestry meeting (coming soon)

Minutes of our 2025 vestry meeting (coming soon)