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Delta minister is named Collaborator of the Year

Rev. Cari Copeman-Haynes, lead minister at Crossroads United Church in Delta, was recognized as the 2014 Collaborator of the Year at Collaborate Delta's recent AGM.
minister
Rev. Cari Copeman-Haynes (left) is shown with Doug Sabourin, executive director of Deltassist, at the award presentation ceremony.

Rev. Cari Copeman-Haynes, lead minister at Crossroads United Church in Delta, was recognized as the 2014 Collaborator of the Year at Collaborate Delta's recent AGM.

Copeman-Haynes has been called a "natural collaborator" because of her delight in connecting with other groups to accomplish shared goals.

She has been the spiritual leader of Crossroads United Church since its creation (through a two-year intentional process of collaboration) in 2009, and before that, served one of the two founding congregations for six years.

During her tenure with the United Church in North Delta, the congregation has grown in its desire and capacity to make a difference in the community. Small groups (such as the Caregivers Support Group that meets monthly at the church) serve community members in particular ways and large-scale ministries such as Crossroads' monthly Community Dinner incorporate partnerships with many other community groups in order to provide a healthy home-made meal and warm hospitality to over 100 people each month.

Copeman-Haynes cooperates with other spiritual leaders in the Surrey and North Delta Christian and interfaith communities to promote understanding and shared practice, and has offered a Christian perspective in several interfaith events in the community.

With her congregation, she has welcomed other community groups into the Crossroads space in order to provide hospitality for idea-sharing and engagement. She is always looking for new ways to use the resources of Crossroads United Church in cooperation with others who long to create a more just, equitable and creative world.

Collaborate Delta was formed to promote unity in Delta among the three distinct communities.