The Eastern Synod announces changes to our Congregational Redevelopment Services.
Rev. Jennifer Hoover has accepted a new call to Parish Ministry and will be stepping down from her role as the Congregational Redevelopment Services Advisor effective May 1, 2025. Jennifer has served in this capacity since 2022, and since then has accompanied over 50 congregations at various points along their redevelopment journey. She remarks, “My role with CRS has been an exciting and challenging chapter in my vocation, and I am grateful for this opportunity, but my heart belongs in parish ministry; I have missed it deeply.”
To support current and future redevelopment partners during this interim period, we are pleased to announce that Katja Brittain will serve as Interim Congregational Redevelopment Services Advisor. Katja Brittain is a consultant specializing in church property management, mission realignment, and sustainability. With a Master of Theology, an MBA, and extensive experience in the not-for-profit and faith-based sectors, she helps congregations optimize their spaces while staying true to their mission. Previously, she held leadership roles in economic development (grant provision), church-based affordable housing, and charitable governance. An active member of Martin Luther Lutheran Church in Toronto, she serves on boards like Ecuhome and the Christian Jewish Dialogue of Toronto. Katja is passionate about helping churches reimagine their buildings as assets for ministry and community service.
Bishop Carla Blakley is filled with gratitude, saying, “The Eastern Synod is deeply grateful to Jennifer for her years of service to CRS. She brought many gifts to this work, and will be a blessing to the communities of Listowel and Wallace Township as she begins this new chapter in her ministry. Equally, we are so excited to welcome Katja to this interim CRS Advisor role. Katja and Jennifer have worked very closely for the past number of years, and I am confident that she will bring much creativity, skill and passion to this new position!”
For more information about CRS, please continue to contact Rev. Jennifer Hoover (jhoover@elcic.ca) until the conclusion of her term. Transitional information will be shared via the CRS page of the Eastern Synod Website as it becomes available.