MAiD lecture at St. Andrew’s United Church

On January 29, St. Andrew’s United Church hosted a public talk and discussion by Reverend Jeff Brown about Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD). Rev. Brown and St. Andrew’s Reverend Deb Foster reflect on the evening.

Rev. Foster explained that her interest in MAiD began in the early 2000s at a hospice in Durham Region. The question arose at that time, in her personal life and in her ministry, which is also focused on people’s lives and end-of-life services. She met Rev. Brown in 2018 at Emmanuel College, Toronto School of Theology. These experiences and memories motivated her to invite him to speak to the congregation at St. Andrew’s.

Rev. Brown, whose lifelong advocacy for human rights includes speaking to Parliament in support of same-gender marriage and efforts to end homelessness, sees his work on MAiD as a continuation of that commitment. After retiring from parish ministry in 2011, he was invited to serve as a hospital chaplain in Mississauga, further deepening his engagement with end-of-life care.

Rev. Brown, whose experience includes lecturing about dying to health sciences students at the University of Toronto, said that he was concerned about stages in life and a good death long before it became a public issue.

“If I have preached anything in fifty years, it is our twin realities of birth and death,” he said.

Approximately twenty-five people attended the local talk, including the chaplain from Markham-Stouffville Hospital; others joined online. Rev. Brown’s presentation was about how people would like their life to end. Afterwards, he related that there have been questions about MAiD as part of palliative care, and that he situates it in the context of larger end-of-life conversations. He added that times are changing and that we can shape important events of birth and death, with rituals and services. Rev. Foster acknowledged that society is in a position to ask, “What do we want those experiences to be like?”

The talk prompted deep reflection and discussion, with questions arising about dementia and mental competence in choosing MAiD. Rev. Foster noted that many people hesitate to discuss these topics openly. “Some who were reluctant to speak during the presentation approached me informally over coffee,” she shared. Questions also emerged about religious perspectives on MAiD and scriptural interpretations.

Rev. Foster affirmed that the event aligned with St. Andrew’s broader commitment to social justice issues, underscoring the importance of open, thoughtful dialogue on complex ethical and spiritual questions.

Photo: Reverend Jeff Brown led a recent conversation on Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) at St. Andrew’s United Church.

*Story submitted by Andrew Fuyarchuk.