Covenant News

Former Canada Conference Supt. Fullerton Retires

SURREY, BRITISH COLUMBIA (August 31, 2001) - More than 200 people attended the retirement celebration of former Canada Conference Supt. Keith Fullerton last Sunday at Green Timbers Evangelical Covenant Church.

Another former Canada Conference superintendent, Albert Josephson, was among the guests at Green Timbers to honor Fullerton and celebrate his 38 years of service in ministry. Individuals came from as far as Alaska, where Fullerton served as pastor for 12 years at First Covenant in Anchorage. Fullerton has served the past seven years as senior pastor at Green Timbers.

"It's been a good journey, I've enjoyed it," Fullerton said of pasturing multi-ethnic congregations during the final half of his ministry. "I've come to realize that the Kingdom is of every tribe and nation. For 12 years we struggled in Alaska trying to meet the needs of white people and Eskimos. Here at Green Timbers, we translate into Mandarin (Chinese) every Sunday. I guess the Lord gave me a gift for working with other races."

Fullerton has been a key pastor in the life of the Canada Conference since beginning full-time ministry in 1963. After earning undergraduate degrees from the University of Winnipeg and the University of Manitoba, he began his seminary education at North Park Theological Seminary. He served four Covenant churches in Alberta from 1963-66, later teaching at a local high school to support his ministry. He then pastored two Saskatchewan congregations for two years while finishing degree work at Lutheran Theological Seminary in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. From there, he served from 1968-75 at Saskatoon Covenant Church.

After three years as pastor of the Evangelical Covenant Church of Calgary, Alberta, Fullerton became superintendent of the Canada Conference, serving from 1978-82. He then went back into local church ministry, serving at First Covenant Church of Anchorage, Alaska, before finishing full-time ministry in British Columbia. Church Chair Bob Wood praised Fullerton's pastoral skills and leadership at Green Timbers.

"Pastor Keith has helped our congregation to look beyond ourselves and to reach out to our community in practical ways," said Wood. "He has demonstrated a servant attitude of leadership, tirelessly accepting any task that needed to be done. Keith's wife, Viola, has also been a tremendous asset in the life of our church. While her ministries have not been in the limelight, they have not gone unnoticed. We rejoice with Keith and Vi as they make this transition to a new chapter in their lives, knowing that they will continue to be faithful to our Lord in the ministry opportunities that God will call them to."

Besides his work as Canada Conference superintendent, Fullerton also served on the denomination's Board of Ministry (he was chairman from 1974-76), the Home Mission Board and the Council of Superintendents, among others.

Ceremony aside, Fullerton isn't "retired" by any means if you look at his fall schedule. After taking a month off, he will serve as interim pastor at Green Timbers until a full-time replacement is found. He also serves on the conference executive board and the Executive Board of the Evangelical Covenant Church.

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