Reinie Heydemann Justice-Seeker Award Established – Lionel Ketola

Members of the Lutherans Concerned in Canada Society’s board have established a new award: "The Reinie Heydemann Justice-Seeker Award" in honour of Reinie Heydemann’s many years of work, advocacy and commitment, and support for the work full inclusion of GLBTQ people in the life of the Lutheran churches.

On July 28,2006, during the first Annual General Meeting of the Lutherans Concerned in Canada Society for Diversity Awareness, the AGM featured the first inaugural presentation of the award to Reinie Heydemann, on behalf of the Canadian coordinating committee. The presentation was a wonderful moment as we gathered for our first annual general meeting as a newly formed society.

Currently retired from her chaplaincy work in long term care settings, Reinie has devoted much of her time and energy to the work of Lutherans Concerned in Canada, and more recently has served for the past several years as a member of the Lutherans Concerned in Canada’s coordinating committee which advises and encourages Canadian board members on the Lutherans Concerned/North America board, and which fulfills the role of regional coordination for Lutherans Concerned in Canada.

Reinie’s passion for justice, her playful and courageous spirit, and her deep spirituality have been a tremendous gift to our wider Lutherans Concerned community in Canada.

Through the creation of this award, Lutherans Concerned in Canada Society wishes to foster and encourage leadership among all people seeking to further the work of full inclusion in our church. We have been richly blessed by Reinie’s friendship, courage and commitment! Indeed, we can never say "Thank You!" enough!