All Team Bios

Our GSJ Ministry Team

Coordinating Minister - Rev. Teresa Burnett-Cole

The Rev. Dr. Teresa Ann Burnett-Cole was called to the pulpit of Glebe-St. James in 2014 and currently

serves as the Coordinating Minister in the ministry team.


Born in London, Ontario, Teresa grew up living in the South-western Ontario village of Mount Brydges. Teresa studied Music, Canadian History and Religious Studies at Western Ontario. After working in the non-profit and education sectors for a while, she returned to university and earned a Master of Divinity degree from Emmanuel College. In 2023 she successfully defended her doctoral thesis for her Th.D. in liturgical studies at the Toronto School of Theology, University of Toronto. Teresa has served congregations four different regions of Canada and also worked as a Personal Minister.


Teresa is an accomplished visual artist and musician. She has a passion for both creative liturgy and social justice. She says of worship, “If people are going to spend an hour of their precious time with us, we’d better make sure our worship services are inspiring, rejuvenating, and challenging because no one is getting that hour back!” Her strong sense of humour and self-deprecating jokes make worship at true celebration of life (yes folks, laughing IS allowed in church!). With her strong commitment to social justice for all, Teresa works hard to support the passions and energy of GSJ’s congregation members as well as continuing with her activist work in support of First Nations and LGBTQ2-S+ people.


Teresa continues her ministry in the wider church serving on the Eastern Ontario Outaouais Region Council Executive, the General Council Executive, and the Worship Team for General Council 45. She currently teaches United Church Worship at Montreal DIOS and works with new and practising Licensed Lay Worship Leaders in a variety of ways. Teresa keeps current on liturgical practice in the United Church of Canada by writing a regular column for Gathering: a worship planning magazine produced by the United Church. She also regularly lectures on issues concerning Indigenous peoples. All these activities make

their way back to Glebe-St. United and often end up in her sermons and educational circles.

Married to Ruth Burnett-Cole, a Registered Massage Therapist, they round out their family with their Jack Russell Terrier, Okwaho, better known as “Oggie the Doggie.” When not playing her drums or guitars, Teresa enjoys reading, music, painting, walking, and kayaking. A perfect day means getting outside and heading for either the bush or water with her four-legged companion at her side.


She can be reached at: [email protected], or by calling 613-850-5490. Or check out her “Ministry Musings” blog: http://revtbc.com/  Please note that if you are calling for benevolent assistance please call the church office at 613-236-0617.

Minister of Music - James Caswell

James Caswell is Glebe-St. James' Minister of Music. He is responsible for the church’s musical outreach, which includes the church's adult choir as well as soloists and ensembles, both vocal and instrumental. He is also responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the church's instruments, including the 4-manual Phoenix organ and the Steinway Model M grand piano.


James' passion is combining music with teaching. Whether working with the good folks at Glebe-St. James or in his position as the vocal and choral director at Canterbury High School, James loves to challenge people to learn about themselves as they develop their skills as musicians.


James also directs the Canterbury Trebles Women's Ensemble, who continue to call Glebe-St. James their home. 


There is always room for anyone who is curious about or interested in being part of the musical life of Glebe-St. James - we look forward to meeting you! 
Contact James

Minister of Christian Education and Pastoral Care - Susan Toller

We are delighted to welcome back Susan Toller in September 2022 as our Minster of Christian Education and Pastoral Care. Susan is a diaconal ministry student who recently completed  her field placement with Glebe-St. James. She is currently completing her final year of a distance study program at the Centre for Christian Studies in Winnipeg. 


Susan lives in Chelsea, Quebec, along with her husband Jeff and daughter Amber. She has roots in Ottawa and attended Glebe high school. She enjoys living close to Gatineau Park and getting out for walks and paddles in the Gatineau River. Her home church is Grace United in Chelsea. 


After working on environmental issues for many years, Susan became interested in understanding more about Indigenous issues and spirituality. This helped her discern her call to diaconal ministry, which focuses on education, social justice and pastoral care. She feels called to helping people explore their spirituality, and discovering ways to welcome God in our lives. Feel free to contact Susan for friendly conversation or a soulful chat at [email protected].

Minister of Music, Emeritus - Robert Palmai

Robert and his family immigrated to Canada from Hungary in 1956, settling in the Kitchener area. Robert’s father became a choir director at St. Clement’s in Preston (now Cambridge), where Robert began playing the Casavant organ when he was sixteen. After graduating from University of Toronto with Bachelor of Music and Education degrees, Robert taught high school music for 30 years, worked in several united churches, and is the founding Director of the Amadeus Choir of Greater Toronto. In 1983, Robert moved to Ottawa to take a teaching position in the music department of Canterbury High School, where he taught vocal and choral music, harmony and piano until he retired in 2001. He was the organist at Emmanuel United Church for 16 years, and was also the Music Director of the Savoy Society from 1993 to 2000. He directed the middle school and senior choirs at Elmwood from 2001 to 2006. In 2005 he founded the Canterbury (Alumnae) Treble Choir. Since 2007 Robert was Minister of Music at GSJ until his retirement in 2018. Robert has now joined the choir and enlivens the tenor section. Robert lives in Alta Vista, happily married to Susan, enjoying a blended family of 6 children and 7 grandchildren.

Church Administrator - Jennifer Reid

Jennifer was born in Ottawa and was raised within the United Church. Most of her working years have been spent in the not-for-profit industry including several stints of working with numerous west end churches. Jennifer likes children and is involved with her local Scouting group and with Ottawa West Community Support senior’s programs. She is happy to greet you at the Glebe-St. James office but she does have lots of allergies so please if you are coming to visit – no scents makes more sense.


Jennifer can be reached at [email protected], or by calling the church office: 613-236-0617. The current church office hours can be found here.

Church Accounts - Lori Stinson

Lori grew up Deep River, Ontario and moved to Ottawa to further her education at Algonquin College.


She has worked in the accounting field since graduation and you can find her one day a week at GSJ.  She also works part time at ISS Canada and in the family business.


Lori is happily married to Eric and they have  two adult children, Jodi and Carter and one very spoiled Havanese/Poodle pup named Zoe.


Lori can be reached at [email protected]
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