Who We Are

Rev. Cathy Merchant, Interfaith Leader

Cathy Pic Cathy Merchant is the founder and Interfaith Leader of the Living Interfaith Sanctuary (LIS) in Vancouver, BC. It is an Interfaith congregation whose members comprise a wide variety of religious traditions. She has worked as an Interfaith activist, community organizer, and Compassionate Listening facilitator since 2008. She has a Master of Arts degree in Middle East Studies from the University of Washington, a Master of Divinity degree from the Vancouver School of Theology, and is an ordained Interfaith minister.

In addition to her work at LIS, Cathy also serves as the Minister of Community Life of Canadian Memorial United Church. She is also a certified Compassionate Listening facilitator

Cathy’s faith tradition is Mahayana Buddhism, and her husband and children are Ismaili Muslims.

Rachel Jones, Managing Director

Rachel Jones Pic Rachel Jones grew up in Vancouver, where she has recently returned to obtain a master’s degree from the Vancouver School of Theology to become an Interfaith spiritual care practitioner. She spent her childhood in a Mennonite church; a month in residence at a Zen Buddhist monastery; and a year-and-a-half on staff at an Interfaith spiritual retreat centre in Oklahoma. She is also an avid traveler, and recently lived for two years in Nepal and India, where she visited many Buddhist, Hindu, and Muslim sites.

Rachel has worked with other non-profits in the past, including the Downtown Oakland YMCA in California and Literacy Source in Seattle, WA. She holds an MS in Journalism from Columbia University and a BA in Sociology and Art from Lewis & Clark College.

Zunaira Mustaqeem, Digital Marketing Specialist

Zunaira-Mustaqeem Zunaira Mustaqeem is a seasoned Marketing and Communications professional with more than
eight years of experience in the industry. Originally hailing from Pakistan, Zunaira brings a passion for storytelling and strategic communications to Vancouver.

Zunaira’s journey is marked by a profound dedication to non-profit organizations. She has skillfully applied her expertise, her knowledge of marketing, and her master’s degree to play a pivotal role in enhancing the visibility and outreach of various non-profit causes.

Zunaira’s breadth of experience, multicultural perspective, and educational achievements
(graduating summa cum laude) have equipped her to provide an enriched and profitable
approach to marketing.

Rev. Steven Greenebaum, Founder of the Living Interfaith Model

Steven Pic Steven Greenebaum is the Founder of the Living Interfaith model and the retired former Head Minister of the Living Interfaith Church in Lynnwood, WA (our sister congregation). He describes himself in this way: “My faith is Interfaith. My spiritual path is Judaism. My tribe is Humanity. I’m also a minister, choir director, and vegetarian.”

Steven was formally an Associate Minister at the Interfaith Community Sanctuary in Seattle, WA, where he served from 2007-2010. He has an abiding interest in and passion for Interfaith. Steven’s book, The Interfaith Alternative, was published in April 2012. His second book, Practical Interfaith, was published in October 2014. His third book, One Family: Indivisible…A Spiritual Memoir, was published in October 2019, and his latest book, An Afternoon’s Dictation, was published in June 2023. They are available in Europe, Australia, Canada, and the United States.

Steven holds Master’s degrees in Theology, Mythology, and Music. He was the Director of Music at the Evergreen Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Marysville, WA for ten years. He has also been deeply interested in environmental and social justice issues all his life and spent three years as the Executive Director of Citizens for Environmental Responsibility.