CURRICULUM VITÆ
of Sub-Deacon Barnabas (Barry) Neufeld
Former Activities:
• Trustee, Chilliwack Board of Education (27 years)
Former Career:
• Retail Merchandising (6 years)
• Investment Sales (6 years)
• Correctional Officer, Probation Officer/Family Court Mediator: BC Ministry of Solicitor General (16 yrs)
• Youth Probation Officer BC Ministry of Children and Families (6 years)
• Restorative Justice Facilitator, BC Ministry for Children and Family Development, (6 yrs)
• Executive Director, M2/W2 Restorative Christian Ministries (Prison Visitation, 2014)
Former Church Activities:
• Eastern Orthodox Christian Representative on The Interfaith Committee on Chaplaincy in the Correctional Service of Canada. http://interfaithchaplaincy.ca
• Chaplain, Chilliwack Community Correctional Center
• Choir director, pianist and organist: Presbyterian, Charismatic, Baptist, Mennonite.
• Facilitator, DivorceCare, Promontory Community Church Chilliwack, BC (6 years) & Central Heights Mennonite Church (2 years) https://www.divorcecare.org
• Facilitator, Catholic Divorce Survival Program, St. Mary’s RC Church, Chilliwack, BC http://www.catholicsdivorce.com
Former Community Activities: Board Member & Chair:
• Chairperson, M2/W2 Restorative Christian Ministries (Prison Visitation)(2010-2014) http://m2w2.com
• Circles of Support and Accountability Advisor (2010-2014) http://cosacanada.com
• Volunteer, Bowls of Hope Hot Lunch Program (2008-2018) http://www.chilliwackbowlsofhope.com
• Chair: Fraser Valley Brain Injury Ass’n (1996-2005) http://www.fvbia.org
• Chair: West Kootenay Regional Arts Council (1986-1989)
• Vice Chair Creston Valley Hospital (1987-1990)
• Founder & Chair: Chilliwack Restorative Justice (1997-2000) http://www.restoringjustice.ca
• Chairman, BC Probation Officer’s Association (2000-2006)
• Founding board member, Abbotsford Restorative Justice Ass’n (1999) http://www.arjaa.org
School Board Community Activities:
• Elected 8 times to the Chilliwack Board of Education, 1992-2022
• Audit Committee
• Board Rep for Provincial Council of BC School Trustees
• Chair: District Educational Policy Committee
• Special Education Committee
• Chilliwack First Nations Educational Advisory Committee
• Regional Health Board Committee (sex education)
• University College of the Fraser Valley Chilliwack Advisory Committee
• Co-Chair, Chilliwack Healthier Community Council
• Community Advisory Member: RCMP Community Policing
• Chilliwack Alcohol & Drug Services Advisory Board
• Community Theatre: acting, singing, dancing: Creston, Chilliwack, Abbotsford, BC
Education:
• High School Matriculation: George Eliot Secondary, Winfield, BC & Vernon Army Base 1967
• BA, Adolescent Psychology, Simon Fraser University 1978
• Conflict Resolution & Family Mediation, Justice Institute of BC 1994
• Graduate, Master of Arts in Christian Studies, ACTS Seminary, 2010: Focus on Chaplaincy
• Currently completing a Masters in Orthodox Theology, Balamand University, Lebanon http://balamand.academia.edu/BarryNeufeld
Certifications:
• St. Stephen’s Course of Studies in Orthodox Theology: Antiochian Village, Pennsylvania 2013
• Prepare-Enrich & FOCCUS premarital counseling 2010
• Life Skills Coaching Certificate, University College of the Fraser Valley 1997
• Sex Offender Supervision Specialist, Justice Institute of BC 1990
• Family Court Counsellor (mediation) Justice Institute of BC 1986
• Restorative Justice:
o RCMP Community Justice Forum Facilitator
o Transformative Justice, Australia
o Real Justice (USA)
o Victim Offender Reconciliation Program
Awards:
• Service to Life, Chilliwack Pro-Life Society, 2000
• Chilliwack—Hope Community Hero Award Mark Strahl, MP 2022
• Moral Courage Award, Christian Heritage Party of Canada, 2024
Talents Skills and Abilities:
At ACTS Seminary, I specialized in pastoral care and counseling. I am a keyboardist and I arrange and sequence music on my computer. I am an amateur videographer, having published several documentaries. I have an antique Volkswagen Westfalia and enjoy camping and hiking with my dog. I enjoy gardening, building furniture, tinkering with my Westphalia and home renovation.
People tell me that I am a good listener, and I believe that people feel comfortable opening up to me. I know my Bible well and can share some spiritual direction, but I often find that an empathetic ear with a few questions is all they need to talk themselves into the right solution for their problem.
I relate well to at risk youth and marginalized persons. I have a good rapport with most First Nations persons. I make effective use of Motivational Interviewing to challenge and confront persons with addictive or compulsive behaviours.
In my 27 years of experience in the field of Justice, I have seen first-hand the power of mercy and forgiveness. I believe that making things right with those you have offended is an essential prerequisite for responding to the Gospel and living authentically. (Matthew 5:22-24). I have learned through my extensive involvement in community boards and in the ACTS Christian Leadership Development Program that the best decisions are made by the collective wisdom of a group of individuals committed to a common cause.
Leadership requires the skill to inspire others to trust and follow. But spiritual leadership must first follow and obey God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and then make the best use of the gifts resident in the group and equip those persons for further tasks. (Ephesians 4:11-13)
Social Media:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/barryneufeld/
https://balamand.academia.edu/BarryNeufeld
https://barryneufeld.com
Updated: September 9, 2024
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