On Sunday, June 21st, the congregation gathered in the Assembly Room after worship to bid a warm and appreciative farewell to Rev. John Gahan who has served us as Minister of CE since June 2008 after seven months as Interim Director of CE. Both Rev. John Boyd and Diaconate Chair, Sheila Stanley, spoke of the many blessings of John's ministry at First Baptist and the high esteem in which he is held. Gifts were presented to John - a lap top from the members of the Diaconate and Board of CE by Erick Lee, and a "purse" representing personal gifts from many members of the congregation by Sheila Stanley. In his response John graciously spoke of his time with us and challenged us to remember the importance of faith formation for adults. He also engendered a hearty laugh as he put a yarmulke on his head and suggested his next ministry might be as a Rabbi!
John came to First Baptist after many years as a Jesuit priest in the Roman Catholic Church. Here in Halifax he served as Chaplain at St. Mary's University for two years in the mid-90s, and later as Pastor of the Canadian Martyrs Parish. Most recently, John was Pastor of the St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Wolfville, N. S. from which he resigned in 2006, resigning from the Jesuit order and as an active Catholic priest as well. On Easter Sunday, 2008, John became a member of First Baptist.
John is interested in spirituality, Jungian psychology, adult education, children and youth ministries and ecumenism. He has expressed great appreciation for the Baptist emphases on soul freedom.