Mardi Tindal

Who is Mardi Tindal?

Mardi Tindal was the Moderator of the United Church of Canada from 2009–2012. She was only the fourth layperson to take the post since the church was formed in 1925. She was elected to the position on August 14, 2009, at the 40th General Council of the church after five ballots, and was installed as Moderator the next day.

Tindal was raised in the rural village of Victoria Square, Ontario, and earned a MA in psychology from the University of Toronto. Before her election, Tindal was already well-known within the United Church of Canada as the co-host of a United Church television program, Spirit Connection. She was also an adult educator, author, video producer, led pilgrimages to Iona, was involved in continuing education in Jamaica, and just prior to her election, was Executive Director of Five Oaks Centre, one of the United Church’s education centres.

In her remarks to the Council following her election, Tindal spoke of entering into a covenant with the church “as we live into ministry together.”