VST Announces Philip Murray as a 2025 Recipient of Honorary Doctorate
VANCOUVER, BC, January 24, 2025. The Board of Governors of the Vancouver School of Theology is delighted to announce that Philip Murray has been selected as a 2025 recipient of VST’s Honorary Doctor of Divinity.
This Honorary Doctor of Divinity (HDD) is awarded to individuals who exemplify the values of VST, an internationally recognized theological school known for its innovation and global leadership. VST’s HDD recipients have made significant contributions through the integration of theology and practice of ministry in one or more of the following: theological scholarship, ecumenical dialogue, the life and ministry of the Christian community, and interdisciplinary scholarship involving theology with other fields.
About Philip Murray
Philip Murray is an exemplary of pastoral care and service to the spiritual health of God’s people. Alongside ongoing ministry in churches in Vancouver, his impact on spiritual care and spiritual health on the personal, institutional, and provincial levels cannot be understated.
Mr. Murray completed his Master of Divinity at the Vancouver School of Theology in 2003. Early in his career he served in various ministries and roles, including as Chaplain at St. Andrew’s Hall, carrying out Children and Youth ministry in Presbyterian and Anglican churches, and teaching high school for three years in Bangkok, Thailand. In 2012 he became the Spiritual and Religious Care Coordinator at True Davidson Acres Long Term Care Home in Toronto.
Mr. Murray currently serves as the Professional Leader for Spiritual Health for Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH), driving strategic insights on better integrating spiritual health into healthcare settings. Prior to this position he was a Leader in the Spiritual Health Education Program at VCH, where he mentored Spiritual Care interns and expanded the Clinical Psychospiritual Education program to include palliative care patients in their own homes.
Characteristic of his expansive vocation, Mr. Murray established professional spiritual care for clients and staff at Crosstown Clinic, the continent’s first Injectable Opioid Agonist Treatment (iOAT) clinic in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. He also initiated and developed cultural and spiritual supports for Indigenous clients of the Crosstown Clinic through partnerships with existing Indigenous supports in the DTES and Providence Health Care’s Indigenous Health program. For the past four years he has co-produced a service of lamentation for all those living through the opioid crisis, held at Christ Church Cathedral.
Mr. Murray has served on the National Board of the Canadian Association for Spiritual Care (CASC/ACSS) for over seven years. His involvement includes as Chair of the Professional Practice Commission, Chair of the President’s Council, and Co-Chair of CASC-BC and liaison to the BC Ministry of Health. Mr. Murray’s close work with the BC Ministry of Health has directly resulted in the significant expansion of spiritual healthcare in the province. As part of his leadership on the Board and Professional Practice Commission, Mr. Murray facilitated the CASC/ACSS’ response to the recommendations of Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. This work was honoured at the 2023 Conference held in New Westminster.
Over the past decade Mr. Murray has set himself apart as an exemplary in the field, touching innumerable lives as a spiritual care provider, Clinical Pastoral Educator, and advocate for spiritual health in the British Columbia provincial healthcare system. VST is privileged to present him with this Honorary Doctor of Divinity in recognition and appreciation of his service for the world that God so loves.
“It is no exaggeration to say my time learning from Philip Murray changed my life in a dramatic way for the better. This came not just from his passion and skill for teaching but his ability to connect with me, see through me, challenge me, and pull greater things out of me than I ever believed possible.”
—Rev. Kenneth Bell, Spiritual Health Practitioner, Lions Gate Hospital
“As a spiritual care practitioner, Philip excels in offering compassionate, skilled support to those in need. During my CPE experience, I saw firsthand how he meets patients where they are, providing them with a deep sense of being truly seen and understood. His empathy, expertise, and humility have left a lasting impression on me and others.”
—Regula Winzeler, Director of Operations, Sanctuary Mental Health Ministries
“Philip’s gentle strength is evident in how he holds space for others, allowing them to meaningfully explore spirituality in their own unique and organic ways. He embodies a genuine commitment to see beauty in everyday life, reflecting the ideals of acceptance and healing that are much needed by Vancouver’s diverse communities. … Philip’s dedication, compassion, and skillful ability to relate to others not only inspire those around him but also empower them to embrace spirituality on their terms.”
—Aramis Padmos, Social Work Assistant, Providence Health