Two experienced Church House staffers have been promoted to head the Anglican Journal and Anglican Foundation of Canada (AFC).
Tali Folkins, who has been a staff writer for the Journal since 2015, was named editor Oct. 18, after serving as acting editor since Aug. 23.
Joseph Vesci, director of Communications and Information Resources for the national church, announced on Oct. 13 that Folkins had accepted the position. He said Folkins’s “experience and understanding of General Synod, its publications and the broader church will serve as valuable assets in his new role.”
The announcement follows staff shakeups at the Anglican Journal earlier this year. June saw the resignation of former editor Matthew Townsend and departure of staff writer Joelle Kidd.
A former reporter for the New Brunswick Telegraph-Journal and Law Times, Folkins has contributed pieces to The Globe and Mail and the former United Church Observer (now known as Broadview). His journalism career began at The Coast, a weekly newspaper based in Halifax. He also served for four years as a communications manager with the Royal Bank of Canada.
Folkins holds bachelor’s degrees in classics and journalism from the University of King’s College in Halifax as well as a master’s degree in classics from Dalhousie University.
Scott Brubacher, who has served as executive administrator of the Anglican Foundation of Canada (AFC) since November 2015, took over the leadership role effective Oct. 18, following the retirement three days earlier of predecessor Canon Judy Rois.
Brubacher plans to continue the foundation’s work of resourcing ministry through grants across the Anglican Church of Canada. Brubacher says his former position gave him a unique perspective into the AFC’s support for local ministry.
“Grants administration was my main work in the last six years,” Brubacher says. “So I’ve been able to work hand in hand with these groups across the country as they seek to realize their visions for ministry and what can happen in their communities.”
In a news release, Archbishop Linda Nicholls, primate of the Anglican Church of Canada and chair of the AFC board of directors, said Brubacher “brings a thorough knowledge of the work and vision of the Foundation” to his new role.
Brubacher describes the Anglican Foundation as “consistently a good news story for the church.” He cites the AFC’s recent campaign to raise money for post-pandemic programming for children, youth and young adults, which had a target of $100,000 but ended up raising more than $110,000.
“It was just an absolutely overwhelming response,” Brubacher says.
Brubacher, who holds a doctorate in musical composition from the University of Toronto, is an award-winning composer and musician. He also serves as chair of the board of directors for Exultate Chamber Singers, a Toronto-based choir with which he sings.
