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Rev. Dr.
Brent Hawkes
The Rev. Dr. Brent Hawkes, C.M. has been the Senior Pastor
at the Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto for 30 years.
Rev. Hawkes is a native of
Bath, New Brunswick and a graduate of
Mount Allison University (B.Sc & B. Ed). He received a Masters of
Divinity degree with honours from
Trinity College, University of Toronto. In May 2001, Rev. Hawkes received
a Doctor of Ministry degree from Trinity College.
As the Pastor of the Metropolitan Community Church of
Toronto, Rev. Hawkes has been at the forefront of ministry to the Gay &
Lesbian Community in
Toronto. He serves as spiritual leader to a faith community of some 575
congregants at regular Sunday worship. As well, he has served the
community at large with distinction, championing several Human Rights
initiatives, especially benefiting the Gay & Lesbian Community.
In 2007, Rev. Hawkes was appointed as a Member of the Order
of
Canada. The Order of Canada is Canada’s highest civilian honour. It was
created by Queen Elizabeth II, who is Sovereign of the Order, in 1967 to
celebrate Canada’s centenary. It is awarded to Canadians who have
contributed greatly to Canadian society locally, provincially, and
nationally. Rev. Hawkes is the first GLBT activist to be received into
the order.
In 1994, Rev. Hawkes received the City of Toronto Award of
Merit, the highest civilian award given by the City of
Toronto. In 1995, he received a Global Citizen Award from the United
Nations Toronto Association, for his work in advancing human rights in
Canada. In June 2000, Rev. Hawkes was honoured as a patron of the
Canadian Lesbian & Gay Archives Gala where his portrait was unveiled as a
“Builder of Tolerance”. At the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan
Community Churches World Jubilee and General Conference held in Toronto in
July 2001, Rev. Hawkes was honoured with the UFMCC Human Rights Award. In
2002, he received the Golden Jubilee Medal in celebration of the fiftieth
anniversary of the accession of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of
Canada. In December 2003, he was awarded a City of Toronto’s Access,
Equity and Human Rights Award, the Pride Award. In 2005, he received the
Spirituality Award from Pride Toronto. These are only a few of several
distinctions Rev. Hawkes has received.
Rev. Hawkes has tirelessly serviced the cause of justice
for gays and lesbians. He has done this through helping society to better
understand and increase awareness and acceptance of the issues affecting
this community. He has helped thousands of gays and lesbians and their
families come back into spiritual relationship with God. This is
demonstrated through the popularity of the Metropolitan Community Church
of Toronto Christmas Eve Service held at Roy Thompson Hall,
Toronto’s premier cultural venue. It is one of the largest Christmas Eve
service in Canada with an average 2500 people in attendance.
He has constantly challenged the church to examine
important issues, prejudice against gays and lesbians, inclusive language
as well as ordination of women. He has played a significant role in
promoting the inclusion of sexual orientation in the Ontario Human Rights
Code and the Canadian Human Rights Act. He was a past co-chair for the
Campaign for Equal Families. Rev. Hawkes has continually championed for
equal rights for gays and lesbians and women and has continually
challenged the status quo with regards to racism, poverty and housing.
In 2006, Rev. Hawkes was appointed to the Ontario Citizens
Panel for Increasing Organ Donation. |
