After nearly a decade at St. Hilda’s Anglican Church in Sechelt, Rev. Clarence Li is resigning to assume the role of executive director of the Sunshine Coast Association for Community Living (SCACL).
“This is a little bit like coming full circle,” said Li of his decision to take up the position, referencing a two-year period when he lived in a L’Arche Community north of Toronto before he became a priest, calling recently deceased L’Arche founder Jean Vanier “a very influential spiritual mentor.”
Li has previous experience serving as a board member for SCACL, which is the main service provider on the Sunshine Coast for people with developmental disabilities.
Glen McClughan, the current executive director, is expected to retire this summer. Li will officially take over the role July 1.
McClughan, who also volunteered at a L’Arche community, emphasized that similarity when describing why Li was hired. “It was important to the selection committee that my successor be someone with vision and sensitivity,” he said.
Among the initiatives Li was involved in while serving at St. Hilda’s was the operation of the Sunshine Coast homeless shelter on church grounds, something he identified as the “most significant” example of opening doors for the church and community, since other churches, the Salvation Army, Sunshine Coast Community Services Society, RainCity Housing and individual community members collaborated on the effort.
“After six years doing it on our own, we were able to hand it over to RainCity and to be able to see what that has led to, actually supportive housing in Sechelt and soon to be in Gibsons. That is one of the most transformative experience I got to be part of,” Li said.
Leaving St. Hilda’s as rector also means cutting ties with the church completely to allow the interim rector the space to lead the congregation, said Li. An interim rector is expected to fill that role for a year.
The decision to transition into secular work took some “soul searching,” but Li views his calling to “gather and build community, offer transformation and send people into the world to serve the needs of the world” as transferable to a non-profit organization. “SCACL is a really exciting place, very innovative, very creative, very people centred,” Li said.
His last Sunday service will be June 16, with a farewell celebration planned for the same day.
