MISSISSAUGA, Ontario — Leaders of Canada’s largest Baptist body have, for the first time, appointed a non-Caucasian to their top executive post as they bid farewell to their leader of 10 years.
Canadian Baptist Ministries (CBM) — an association of four regional and language-based Canadian Baptist conventions — announced June 29 that Sam Chaise had been tapped to become the group’s next general secretary. Chaise was previously the director of the William Carey Institute at Carey Theological College, a Baptist school in Vancouver, British Columbia. Chaise — who was born in England, raised in Ontario, educated in Saskatchewan and British Columbia and has served in western Canada his entire ministry — is of Indian descent.
“Sam brings leadership and ministry experience at both the denominational and organizational levels,” said CBM board president Brenda Halk. “He has a keen understanding of the international and Canadian context of our work and partnerships and is passionate about integral mission. We look forward enthusiastically to his leadership as we move into the future of this dynamic organization.”
Chaise received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Saskatchewan and worked for a brief time in the oil industry before following a call to ministry and earning his master of divinity degree through a program jointly run by Carey Theological College and Regent College in Vancouver.
He has been involved in Canadian Baptist life for many years, including stints as board president for the Baptist Union of Western Canada (one of CBM’s constituent bodies) and as a member of CBM’s board from 2007 to 2009.
Chaise will take over Oct. 1 for Gary Nelson, who became president of Tyndale University College and Seminary, a nondenominational Christian school in Toronto, on July 1. Nelson served for 10 years at CBM’s helm.
Share with others: