Kevin Dixon, former dean of St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, Ont., diocese of Huron, has joined the International Justice Mission Canada (IJM) as vice-president of operations.
“IJM’s global reach, inspired by God’s call to love all people and seek justice for the oppressed, is consistent with my aspirations,” said Dixon in a media release. “I am committed to working toward a world characterized by justice with peace.”
IJM describes itself as a non-profit global organization that protects the poor from violence throughout the developing world. The organization works with local authorities in nearly 20 communities throughout Asia, Latin America, South Asia and Southeast Asia to “combat slavery, sex trafficking, sexual violence, police brutality, property grabbing and other forms of violence.”
Ed Wilson, IJM executive director, noted Dixon’s “well-recognized skills and tested experience in spiritual leadership, operations management, and financial analysis.”
A passionate advocate for human rights, Dixon has accompanied various groups to “bear witness to the realities of poverty and human suffering” in El Salvador. Last year, he and a group of Anglicans from the dioceses of Huron and New Westminster served as election observers at the Salvadoran elections.
Most recently, Dixon served for 10 years on the board of directors for Foundation Cristosal, described on its website as “a faith-based human rights and community development organization with Anglican roots that works to strengthen the ability of the poor to act for justice and development as equal citizens in a democratic society.” While in this role, he started a project that led to the construction of a community centre and worship space that has become “a safe refuge in an area in El Salvador prone to seasonal flooding,” said the media release.
Dixon, who began his ministry in the Anglican Church of Canada in 1987 as rector of the Anglican Parish of the Bruce Peninsula, worked at the church’s diocesan and national levels.
Until late last year, Dixon was a member of the commission that will carry out a broad consultation about changing the marriage canon (church law) to allow same-sex marriage.
Dixon has an undergraduate degree from the University of Windsor and a master of divinity from Huron University College at the University of Western Ontario. He also holds a certificate in organization development from NTL Institute for Applied Behaviorial Science, an international non-profit organization that applies behavioural science “in the service of social justice, oppression-free societies, and healthy individuals, groups and organizations in the world.”
