Gretta Vosper

Gretta Vosper
Born Margaret Ann Vosper
(1958-07-06) July 6, 1958
Kingston, Ontario
Occupation Author, Minister, United Church of Canada, West Hill United Church; Governor; Centennial College; Director, Ecumenical Community of Chautauqua; Founder, Canadian Centre for Progressive Christianity; Director, The Clergy Project
Language English
Nationality Canadian
Citizenship Canadian
Education
Alma mater Mount Allison University, Queen's Theological College
Genre Non-fiction
Subject Religion, Philosophy, Atheism
Notable works Amen: What Prayer Can Mean in a World Beyond Belief (2012)
With or Without God: Why the Way We Live is More Important Than What We Believe (2008)
Spouse Richard Scott Kearns
Website
www.grettavosper.ca

The Rev. Gretta Vosper (born July 6, 1958) is a United Church of Canada minister who is an atheist. Her best selling books include With or Without God: Why The Way We Live is More Important Than What We Believe[1] in 2008, and Amen: What Prayer Can Mean in a World Beyond Belief in 2012. She has also published three books of poetry and prayers.

Vosper is a graduate of Mount Allison University, and received her master of divinity from Queen's Theological College in 1990 with ordination in 1992.[2] She has been a minister with West Hill United Church[3] in Toronto since 1997.[4] Gretta Vosper is also founder of the Canadian Centre for Progressive Christianity.[5]

Despite a finding in September 2016 by the church's Toronto Conference Review Committee that her atheism made her "not suitable to continue in ordained ministry",[6][7] her congregation has remained staunchly supportive.[8] The matter has been referred to the church's General Council for a decision that could have her defrocked.[9][10]

Her work bridges Progressive Christianity and atheism exploring beyond the boundaries of Christian thought. Her website indicates In 2001, I made it clear that I did not believe in a supernatural, interventionist, divine being. At first, I identified as a non-theist as I do in my first book published in 2008. Then, in my second book, I felt the need to further distinguish myself from those who used the term non-theist but retained a belief in the supernatural aspects of god; there, I identified as a theological non-realist. In 2013, I embraced the term atheist which means, literally, no belief in a theistic, supernatural being.[11]

Selected publications

Books

References

  1. ↑ "Review of Gretta Vosper, With or Without God". patheos.com. Retrieved 2015-09-27.
  2. ↑ http://withorwithoutgod.ca/cv
  3. ↑ http://www.westhill.net/
  4. ↑ Andrew-Gee, Eric (16 March 2015). "Atheist minister praises the glory of good at Scarborough church". Toronto Star. Vosper herself is a bit heterodox on the question of Christ. Asked if she believes that Jesus was the son of God, she said, ‘I don’t think Jesus was.’ That is, she doesn’t think He existed at all.
  5. ↑ http://progressivechristianity.ca/prc/
  6. ↑ Dempsey, Amy; Rankin, Jim (8 September 2016). "'Sad day' for United Church, says atheist minister Gretta Vosper". Toronto Star. Church committee recommends defrocking popular minister at West Hill United Church in Scarborough
  7. ↑ Henderson, Susie (22 September 2016). "A Message from the Sub-Executive of Toronto Conference regarding the review of the Rev. Gretta Vosper". Toronto Conference of the United Church of Canada. Retrieved 2016-10-11.
  8. ↑ Wels, Moira (11 September 2016). "Flock sticks with atheist United Church minister". Toronto Star.
  9. ↑ Freeman, Alan (29 September 2016). "Can an atheist lead a Protestant church? A battle over religion in Canada.". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2016-10-11.
  10. ↑ Garrison, Becky (4 October 2016). "Atheist Pastor Deemed Unsuitable for Ministry". The Humanist. Retrieved 2016-10-11.
  11. ↑ http://www.grettavosper.ca/about/

External links

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