We are very pleased to welcome Major Teresa Decker, Territorial Women’s Ministries Secretary, and Rebekah McNeilly, Resource and Social Media Specialist, into the Corps Mission Department effective March 1, 2024.
In response to recommendations made by the Gender Equity review committee and approved by the Spiritual & Denominational Affairs Board in 2023, and in keeping with current trends in Corps Mission, Women’s Ministries will now become part of the Corps Mission Department. Going forward, Women’s Ministries will cease to be its own department in the Canada and Bermuda Territory and will become a part of the corps life team, alongside corps health, children and youth, and music and arts to serve the territory. Working in close collaboration with the corps mission team, we believe Major Decker and Rebekah will be able to strengthen ministry to and for women in our territory and support the mandate of “building a discipleship culture together” that currently drives and motivates our department.
Here’s a short intro from each of the new team members.
Major Teresa Decker
Territorial Women's Ministries Secretary
Teresa has been an officer for 24 years, serving with her husband as a Corps Officer, Divisional Youth Secretary, and Pastoral Services Officer. She has also served as Divisional Retired Officers Secretary and Divisional Secretary for Women’s Ministry. This journey has taken them across the territory with appointments in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario and British Columbia. She considers it a privilege to serve and is grateful for the many opportunities she’s been presented with to journey with others, offering a listening ear, encouragement, and support.
Teresa recently joined the Corps Mission Department as Territorial Women’s Ministry Secretary. She is passionate about working alongside women in all stages of life, so they have the support needed to live a vibrant, growing faith. She is excited to be joining the team and exploring new ways to be relevant and supportive.
Teresa enjoys baking, going for walks, trying out new cafes and FaceTiming with their new grandson, River. Teresa is a mother to adult daughters, Makayla and Kiley, which is the greatest blessing ever!
Rebekah McNeilly
Resource and Social Media Specialist
Rebekah grew up in The Salvation Army, with officer parents. She is the Resource and Social Media Specialist for Women's Ministries across the territory where she enjoys collaborating with incredible women by hosting them on the Women's Ministries podcast, 'The Story We Tell Ourselves,' facilitating BRAVE events, and engaging with the theology of women in leadership. Rebekah feels strongly that a close partnership with Corps Mission is another effective and exciting way to do this. She believes that women have the capacity and ability to effect global change at the level of politics, policy, education and parenting, and that The Salvation Army can act as a powerful platform to amplify their voices. She also believes that Jesus is the most important place to find identity, peace and strength in difficult times. There is no greater message of hope than Him.
Rebekah holds an honours bachelor's degree in Sociology and a Master's in Criminology both from McMaster University. In addition to her work with The Salvation Army, she is currently a full-time PhD Candidate at the University of Alberta with a focus on youth justice. She currently holds the Alberta Graduate Excellence scholarship for outstanding academic achievement (2022), the Intersecting Institutions of Criminal Justice and Injustice Emerging Scholars Award (2023-2024), and the American Society of Criminology Dissertation Award (2023).
