It is with a momentous sense of an era passing that the Canadian Unitarian Council (CUC) and Unitarian Universalist Ministers of Canada (UUMOC) acknowledge the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at Balmoral Castle in Scotland on September 8, 2o22.

“Our thoughts are with her family and loved ones at this time, especially her son Charles, who became King upon her death,” says Vyda Ng, Executive Director of the CUC. “King Charles III inherits a historical system that is complicated in these challenging times.”

Queen Elizabeth II ascended the throne in 1952, following the death of her father, King George VI. She is credited with overseeing the last throes of the British Empire and dramatically modernizing the monarchy. She was the first of Canada’s sovereigns to be proclaimed Queen of Canada in 1953, and, in 2015, became the United Kingdom’s longest reigning monarch.

“In her decades of service, Queen Elizabeth was a model of devotion to her nation,” says Charles Shields, President of the CUC’s Board of Trustees.

The CUC’s Elder-in-Residence Sharon Jinkerson Brass reflects that “Whether you are a royalist or not, the passing of Queen Elizabeth II represents the end of an era. In my moments of reflection since her passing was announced, I think of the dignified way she carried out her duties during a time of unprecedented change in our world. One thing that never changed was her steady and even leadership that provided grounding and comfort for many.

The leaves that are beginning to fall to the earth at this time of year remind us all that spring cannot come without the fall. Yet the spring will bring life from the falling leaves. May this time of change be a time of gentle reflection and letting go and embracing what is to come.”

“We hold this moment gently, recognizing the complexity of relationships and systems that are impacted by the monarchy,” adds Rev. Anne Barker, President of UUMOC. “Loss has the power to unite people in grief, sorrow, and transformation. May this be a respectful moment that kindles hope for new beginnings.”

~ From the CUC’s National Voice Team:
UU Ministers of Canada President, Rev. Anne Barker; CUC Board President, Charles Shields;
CUC Executive Director, Vyda Ng.