about us

Minister FOR Children, Families, Seniors & Pastoral Care

Jen Cunnings

Jenn CunningsJen Cunnings is excited to be a part of the ministry team here at St. Andrew’s Wesley. She is thrilled to be in ministry with children and families.

Jen offers . . .

  • a deep love and gratitude for children, the gifts they bring and their innate spirituality 
  • a belief that faith is formed through personal trusted relationships and that as a church we need to focus not on what, but on who, and not on how, but on why. 
  • a passion for creating spaces for people to experience community, for the whole body of Christ to learn with, and from one another as they make a home for faith in their lives 
  • a commitment to encouraging, enabling and celebrating with children and adults as they live their faith in their home, school, community and world. 
  • a profound respect and appreciation for the United Church of Canada

Jen was born in New Westminster and raised in the Guildford area of Surrey. She is a self-proclaimed “United Church Geek” who was blessed to grow up in a faith-filled home with parents who were committed to living and sharing their faith; serving the church and the community. Jen grew in her faith as she found a sense of belonging as she attended Sunday School, youth group and wider church youth events.

Jen has developed skills and gained valuable experience in ministry with children and youth in a number of volunteer and professional positions within the United Church of Canada.

She taught Sunday School and led youth group in her home congregation, as well as volunteering in other congregations, presbytery, conference and at national levels of the United Church. It was at a youth retreat at Cultus Lake United Church Camp (where she would later be on staff) that she met her husband Ian Cunnings, who was, and is also committed to ministry with children and youth in the United Church. From 1990 – 1992 Jen worked at the BC Conference Office of the United Church of Canada as support staff for Native Ministries and Alvin Dixon and for one of her mentors, Anne Searcy whose focus included ministry with children, adults and families. From 1992 to 2000, Jen was the Youth and Young Adult Ministry Facilitator for Vancouver Burrard and Vancouver South Presbyteries of the United Church, where she worked with and for congregations supporting ministry with youth and young adults through leadership training, resourcing, program development, camps and retreats, pastoral care, worship leadership, networking and advocacy. Before joining the ministry team here at St. A & W in August 2008, Jen was the Coordinator of Ministry with Children and Youth at South Arm United Church in Richmond.

Jen has studied at Douglas College and Simon Fraser University working towards a Bachelor of Education. She has taken Conflict Resolution Training at the Justice Institute and has a Certificate in Youth and Theology from Princeton’s Theological Seminary. She is continuing course work at the Vancouver School of Theology.

Jen and Ian live in Cloverdale where they are blessed to be an aunt and uncle to many wise and wonderful children. Jen enjoys travelling, quilting, bike riding, walks on the beach, pot luck suppers and ketchup on french toast.