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Erin is delighted for her return to Queen’s in the role of Director, Faith and Spiritual Life, and Interfaith Chaplain. Erin was a student in Religious Studies and then Theology at Queen’s before she was Ordained and began her work in Congregational Ministry with the United Church of Canada. Over the past 15 years Erin’s ministry has shifted from rural and small church settings to suburban congregations with a focus on intergenerational connections, exploring Progressive Theology, and programming for Spiritual But Not Religious members. Her more recent work also included education for herself and her congregation on issues of settler colonialism and anti-black racism, and the role the church and other institutions have played in creating harm and harmful systems. 

In her ministry, Erin has always focused on community and connection. She enjoys working with people to explore how Faith and Spirituality adapt and change, and wrestling with how traditions and practices with ancient roots can hold relevancy and importance in modern times.  

Erin is an enthusiastic vegetable gardener and can’t wait to get a Kingston garden going. She enjoys reading cozy mysteries and books with dragons in them. She is very creative and can often be found drawing, sewing, or knitting warm, woolly things for her spouse and two children.

Adam spent his childhood in Brampton before moving to Huntsville with his family for his high school years. His love of canoeing and hiking led to working in a variety of outdoor retail jobs, including Trailhead here in Kingston, where he now lives with his wife, Lauren. On his walk to work each day through the downtown area, he began to feel drawn to serve the people he saw living on the margins of society. He began volunteering at nightlight Kingston in 2012, then a brand-new Christian ministry operating a drop-in centre in the evenings to provide a place for people to build meaningful relationships. He soon decided to attend St. Lawrence College in the Social Service Worker program, which he completed in 2015. He worked as the executive director of nightlight Kingston until the fall of 2018. His time at nightlight was transformational for him, resulting in much personal and spiritual growth. The relationships he built with the guests, as well as the volunteers, continue to be deeply important to him. One of his favourite aspects of his role was mentoring the many Queen's students who volunteered their time at nightlight. An opportunity in late 2018 to join the staff of The Navigators of Canada with a focus on campus ministry meant that he would be able to walk alongside students encouraging them in their Christian faith.

Since January 2019, Adam has been working at Faith and Spiritual Life on campus which gives him the opportunity to serve Queen’s students in a different capacity. Adam is passionate about helping students from all backgrounds discover ways to engage and serve the community as they explore their calling in life.

Imam Abdullah El-Asmar was born and raised in Montreal, then moved to Kingston in 2014 when he was offered the position of Muslim Chaplain with Correctional Service Canada for incarcerated Muslim inmates, where he continues to serve.

In 2016 he joined the Chaplaincy team at Queens University as one of the Associate Chaplains.

Imam Abdullah’s work mainly revolves around teaching and spreading the correct and normative understanding of Islam rooted in spirituality, self-awareness, and God-consciousness. His presence on campus will provide support to students with their religious and spiritual needs, to be a listening ear and to help them navigate student life within a religious context.

He runs several study groups and programs on campus, namely a Gathering of Remembrance held bi-weekly in the Inter-Faith Prayer Room in Mitchell Hall.

Imam Abdullah is also a passionate martial artist and a qualified Self-Defense instructor. He can also teach you how to kick butt! :)

Contact Imam Abdullah at a.elasmar@queensu.ca