James Loney to receive first Chaplin Memorial Award

James Loney, whose name became familiar as one of four members of Christian Peacemaker Teams held hostage in Iraq from November of 2005 until March of 2006, will be the first recipient of an award, established by my late brother, at the spring convocation of McGill’s United Theological College.

While in Iraq Jim hid his sexual orientation from his captors for fear it would put him and the other captives at further risk. More recently, Jim was removed from the speakers list at a Roman Catholic diocese-sponsored social justice conference in Winnipeg because he is in a same-sex relationship.

When Craig died, after a fall outside his home in Montreal last spring, a memorial fund (which he had set up at UTC when he took an early retirement) came into effect and it was his wish that others become donor partners.

The fund’s award is meant to recognize the contributions of ministry, offered by members of the LGBT community, within the formal, organized structures of the Christian Church, or in other faith traditions, and to foster and encourage positive role models.

UTC’s convocation will take place at Union Church in Ste. Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, Craig’s last pastoral charge (from 1984 to 1992) which later became an Affirming Congregation.