When Rev. Jim Keenan first arrived to take on the Ministry at Bradford United Church in 2010, he was actually part of a package.
Keenan was part of a ‘team ministry’ with Catherine Hions, Designated Lay Minister, serving both Bradford and New Hope United Church in Vaughan.
In 2014, ‘Rev. Jim’ became the Designated Minister at Bradford United Church, and “we’ve never looked back,” said Ken Clarke, church council chair. “Rev. Jim has been hands-on.”
Keenan immersed himself in the community. Under his guidance, the United Church developed strong outreach programs for seniors, and especially for youth. He led the changes that transformed the sanctuary into the Bradford Arts Centre, encouraging local and emerging artists to bring their performances to the community, but also provide arts programming for young people.
Rev. Jim partnered with Human Endeavour to open the EPIC Training Hub in Bond Head, providing youth with opportunities in the skilled trades – and helped spearhead the BRIDG Group, an interdenominational group established to bring refugees to Bradford, in the wake of the Syrian crisis.
Under his guidance, the church also became the first Affirming Church, recognizing LGBTQ2S rights, in the municipality.
“This would not have happened without the involvement of Jim Keenan,” Clarke said.
Keenan retired from his Ministry at Bradford United earlier this year, but a planned farewell party was postponed while he grappled with serious health issues. Now restored to health, Rev. Keenan returned to Bradford on Sunday to receive thanks from the community, for his dedication and commitment.
“We’re here to celebrate the time Rev. Jim spent with us,” said Mayor Rob Keffer at the event. “I think he was the social conscience of our town.”
“He was an important and valued partner to the Town,” said Deputy Mayor James Leduc. “He brought people together to find a way to fill a need.”
Keenan was presented with the 2017 Civic Award for Community Builder of the Year by the municipality, Leduc noted. “He’s always spoken out, when others might be reluctant.”
Present at the event were parishioners, representatives of local churches, and the members of the refugee families who were brought to Bradford, including the 12-member Al Shteiwe family.
“Thanks for the community of Bradford, helping us to grow,” said father Ali Al Shteiwe, his eldest son Mohammed providing the English translation. “We didn’t know anything about Canada. We learned about everything… thanks to Jim and the community.”
The family has now bought a home in Bradford.
“The family is well-settled here,” said Bill White of BRIDG, noting that the community has now welcomed 21 refugees in total, from Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Armenia. Through all of the effort, Rev. Jim acted as “mentor and friend… making that happen,” White said.
He told Keenan, “You have made an enormous difference in lives coming from terrible conditions.”
There were heart-felt thanks, presentations and gifts, before Rev. Jim stepped up to the microphone.
“What do you say after so many kind words?” Keenan said. “I was part of the community for so many years. Whatever I did was through the grace of God,” and the support of the greater community.
He noted that the BRIDG effort “got the whole town on board. People really got behind the idea that this was the way we can show people what kind of country we are, and what kind of town we are.”
Keenan urged the community to use the BRIDG effort as an example. “When there’s a human need regarding well-being… we can all work together,” he said, urging every community member to share, and connect.
Today, there is a tendency to work in ‘silos,’ following separate interests. “That’s not community. We have to work together,” Keenan said. “You guys have what it takes to be a good community. Just don’t lose it as you grow bigger."
Keenan’s wife Mary was also thanked for her involvement in the church and its events.
“We’ve had a wonderful time at the church here in Bradford,” she said. “Always lots of fun.”
Keenan is now Intentional Interim Minister at a church in downtown Toronto, helping redefine the church’s identity, and repurpose a 45,000 sq. ft. building.