Retiring Moderator Steve Suits presented Jeff Kingswood to Synod. Rev. Kingswood is the first Canadian to be elected to General Synod’s highest office in the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. He grew up in the First Reformed Church in Galt, Ontario, and went on to pursue additional Bible studies at Tyndale Seminary. He became pastor of St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church of Canada, and became pastor of Grace ARP Church in Woodstock in 2001. He continues to serve that congregation.
He and wife, Joan, have six grown children and seven grandchildren. Kingswood said the fact that the ARP Church embodied confessional Presbyterianism drew the Canadian Presbytery to this denomination 12 years ago. “The Word of God was central, preached, and used to make argument – and I felt I had come home. Thank you for welcoming the Canadian Presbytery.
Vice Moderator John Calvin Grier escorted Rev. Kingswood to the podium, where he was presented with the Moderator’s shield. The cherry wood gavel and board, crafted by Tirzah ARP Church member Jay Matthews. Kingswood then presented a Bible to Suits for his year of service as Moderator.