Ministers Who Have Served

God called his people to repentance with the promises of his graciousness, and he said that if they responded he gave a promise, “Then I will give you pastors after My own heart, who will feed you knowledge and understanding” (Jeremiah 3:15 KJV)

"Ja ma annan teile karjaseid oma südame järele, ja need karjatsevad teid targasti ja taibukalt." (Jeremija 3:15)

There have been many pastors that have served our congregation, including visiting guest pastors, and Synod representatives. These are but some of who have served with English and Estonian services.

1948 - Pastor Rudolf Kiviranna

Visiting from New York, Pastor Kiviranna holds first church service on August 29, 1948, for the newly-former (August 3rd, 1948) congregation known as the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church in Toronto (Eesti Evangeelne Luteriusu Kogudus Torontos).

1948 - 1982 Pastor Oskar Puhm

*April 17, 1912 Tallinn, Estonia - †March 28, 1990 Toronto, Canada.
Elected as the congregation's official pastor on October 31st, 1948, Pastor Puhm holds his first service for the congregation at St. John's church. Pastor Puhm served the congregation for 34 years until his retirement.

See more details below.

1957 - 1959 Pastor G. Bornemann

In order to cope with the increasing number of mixed nationallty marriages, Oskar Puhm and the elders invite the Pastor of St. John's Lutheran Church to hold the first English service on October 27, 1957. During the summer of 1959, Pastor Bornemann leaves to take a new post in Chicago.

1959 - Pastor K. Schweder

Pastor Schweder provides English services during the summer of 1959.

Bernthal with Peter Peterson 1962_edited.jpg

1960 - 1965 Pastor H. Bernthal

Pastor Bernthal assumed English services in January of 1960 and stayed until 1965 until he accepted a transfer to Memphis, Tennessee. Photo courtesy of Ellen Peterson.

1965 - 1971 Rev. Robert Hutchison

Rev. Hutchison served from January of 1965 to June 1971. He returned to serve again on a guest basis in the 1980's.

1966 - 1967 Pastor Peeter Vanker

Assistant Pastor

Pastor Vanker (now retired) has done several services for St. Peter's during 2023 helping out as a rotational pastor.

1971 - 1973 Pastor Bruno Ederma

*May 11, 1900 - †November 1, 1976
Pastor Ederma served the English sector until moving to a new parish in Wiarton on June 24th, 1973.

Peetri koguduse abiõpetaja Bruno Ederma oli sündinud praost Friedrich Ederbergi pojana 11. mail 1900 Kursessaares. Kesk hariduse sai Tartu Aleksandri gümnaasiumis. Võttis koolipoisina osa Vabadussõjas, mille eest autasustati prii ülikooli ja asundustaluga. Lõpetas Tartu Ülikooli usuteaduskonna aastal 1924 ja ülikooli pedagoogilise osakonna aastal 1931. Odrineeriti õpetajaks piiskop J. Kuke poolt Tallinnas 1925. Prooviaasta pidas proast J. Lattiku juures Viljandis. On olnud õpetajaks Lääne-Nigulas 1925-1929, Rakveres 1929-1937, millest peale oli EELK Sotsiaal-ala direktoriks Tallinnas Konsistooriumi juures ja oli noorsootöö alustajaid. Paguluses töötanud Saksamaal põgenikelaagreis, olnud Luterliku Maailmaliidu abistamistöö direktoriks. Pärast USA-sse asumist töötas ingliskeelses koguduses, olles uute koguduste looja ja kirikute ehitaja. Peetri kirikus töötas 1. septembrist 1971 - 1973.

Võttis aktiivslet osa Eesti Abistamiskomitee Kanadas tööst, kelle teened on suured "Ehatare" saamisel. On kirjutanud ka kuus raamatut. Peetri kogudusest läks edasi Kanada koguduse teenistusse. Suri 1. novembril 1976.a. (Peetri koguduse 50. juubeliaasta väljaanee ELU 1998)

5 pg. - PETERSOO Kiri.pdf - Adobe Reader.bmp

1973 and 1981 - 1982 Archbishop Udo Petersoo

*May 8, 1934 - †May 14, 2006
Rev. Petersoo, later Archbishop Petersoo (1990), held services at St. Peter's during his seminary internship.

Udo Petersoo sündis 1934 a. Tallinnas. Alustas kooliteed Jõelähtmes, kuid perekond pidi kodumaalt pagema ja noor Udo sai jätkata alustatud õpinguid Lundi linnas, Rootsis. Samas alustas keskhariduse saamist ja jälle tuli õppimine pooleli jätta, mida sai jätkata Sault Ste. Maries, Kanadas kuhu pastorist isa oli töökoha saanud. Lõpetas Waterloo Luterliku ülikooli 1963 BA kraadiga eelteoloogias ja Waterloo Luterliku Seminari 1965 dipolmiga teoloogias. Jätkas õpinguid Toronto Ülikooli pedagoogiumi fakulteedis, kus saavutas BA kraadi ja pedagoogi spetsialisti diplomi inglise keele alal. Töötas Ontario keskkoolide õpetajana, viimastel aastatel osakonna abijuhatajana.

Sooritas prooviaasta praost O. Puhmi juures Peetri koguduses. Ordineeriti 1975. Oli Peetri koguduse hooldaja-õpetaja 1981-1982. Aprillil 1982 valiti Vana-Andrese koguduse õpetajaks, asudes ametikohustustesse 1. juulil. Septembril 1990 valiti EELK peapiiskopiks. On kuulunud mitmeisse rahvuslikesse organisatsioonidesse, akadeemiliselt kuulus EÜS-i perre. (Peetri koguduse 50. juubeliaasta väljaanee ELU 1998)

1973 - 1978 Pastor Siegfrid Otto

Pastor Otto served the English sector. He introduces the new Christmas Eve Candlelight Service. Members have enjoyed this lovely tradition ever since.

1978 - 1980 Pastor Aulis H. Jalonen

Pastor Jalonen served the English sector. He left to return to Finland.

1980's Pastor Richard A. Wukasch

Pastor Wukasch srved the English sector and also assisted Pastor Puhm with Estonian services in the 1980's.

1982 - 2016 Archbishop Emeritus Andres Taul, Dr. Divinity

*August 11, 1936 Tartu, Estonia - †April 23, 2018 Haliburton, Canada
Pastor Andres Taul becomes the new minister of St. Peter's and serves the congregation until his retirement. He earns his Doctor of Divinity degree in 1996, and becomes Archbishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in exile in 2007. See more details below.

1983 - Tarvo Kass

Tarvo Kass serves the congregation as a student of the Usuteaduse Institute.

1983 - 1988 Dean Emeritus Rev. Edgar Heinsoo

*June 8, 1913 Hajumaa, Estonia - †March 13, 2006 Toronto, Canada

Edgar Heinsoo served St. Peters being ordained as the congregation's assistant pastor in 1983. He was Dean of the E.E.L.K. from 1992-1997.

Edgar Heinsoo sündis 1913 Valgejõel, Kõnnu vallas. Lõpetas Tallinna Reaalkooli. Alustas õpinguid Tartu Ülikooli õigusteaduskonnas, kus juba üliõpilasena asus kaupmehest isa jälgedesse. Viidi sündmobilisatsiooniga Venemaale, pääses sealt siiski tagasi. Pagulaspõlve veetis Saksamaal, kus töötas Prantsuse Sõjaväe Okupatsioonivalitsuse juures, oli Genfis Saksamaa eestlast esindajaks ja emigreerus 1949 Kanadasse. Töötas tehnilise joonestajana ja õppis edasi abijuhatajana. Peale abikaasa surma alsutas McGilli ülikoolis usuteaduse õppimist, lõpetades nelja-aastase kursuse kolme aastaga. Sooritas prooviaasta Peetri koguduse juures Torontos ja jäigi teiseks õpetajaks. Teenis Peetri kogudust kuni aastani 1988, olles Kanada praostkonna praostiks. Oli mitme organisatsiooni liige, valiti 1995.a. EÜS auliikmeks. On kirjutanud mitu vaimuliku sisuga raamatut ja pidanud loenguid Usuteaduse Instituudis, Tartu Teoloogia Akadeemias ja Usuteaduse Instituudis Tallinnas. (Peetri koguduse 50. juubeliaasta väljaanee ELU 1998)

1988 - 1992 Pastor Gustav Peeter Piir

*March 20, 1961 -
Pastor Piir served as assistant pastor until he moved to Estonia. During his service, worship opportunities in English were increased to every Sunday commencing Sept. 1988.

Gustav Piir sündis 1961 Cokate's Minnesotas Helme (sünd Põld) ja Helmut Piiri pojana. Perekond asus Vancouverisse, kus isa töötas Vancouveri eesti koguduse õpetajana. Alghariduse sai Sir. Wilfrid Laurier algkoolis. Lõpetas Sir Winston Churchill'i keskkooli 1979, alsutades õppima St. Olaf Collegi'i Northfield'is Minnesotas, kus saavutas BA kraadi muusika ja teoloogia alal. Samal aastal alustas õpingut Lutheran Theological Seminaris Saskatoonis, Saskatchewani ülikooli juures mille lõpetas Master of Divinity kraadiga 1986. Eestikeelse hariduse omandas Vancouveri Eesti Selsti Täienduskoolis. Prooviaasta sooritas proast Toomas Põllu juures Saksamaal. Pärast kahte jutlust Toronto Peetri kirikus kutsuti koguduse kaasõpetajaks ja alsutas tööd 1. aprillil 1988. Siirdus 1992. aastal kodumaale Kaarli koguduse õpetajaks. Valiti Pühavaimu koguduse õpetajaks ja Tallinna proastkonna praostiks. (Peetri koguduse 50. juubeliaasta väljaanee ELU 1998)

1991 - 1992 Pastor Ando Kass

During his internship for the ministry, Pastoral Candidate Ando Kass served both the Estonian and English Sectors. Pastor Kass has occasionally helped out with weddings & funerals at St. Peters including recently in 2023 and 2024.

1992 - 1998 Pastor Helmut Rüdmik

*April 8, 1923 - †August 19, 1998

Pastor Rüdmik served as the congregation's assistant pastor.

Sündinud 1923 Tallinnas. Keskhariduse omandas Tallinna Kommertsgümnaasiumis, kust siirdus sõjatandrile. Abiellus Endla Türkiga. Teenis eestlasi usupõllul 46 aastat, üle mitme kontinendi. Kuulutas 38 aastat Portugalist evangeeliumi raadio kaudu okupeeritud Eestisse. Külastas mitmel aastal kodumaa kirikuid sealse peapiiskopi kutsel. Lõpetas Usuteadusliku Instituudi Torontos ja teenis seejärel 14 asstat vaimulikua USA-s, viimased aastat Toronto Peetri koguduses. Lahkus 1998 a. Peetri kogudusest tervislikel põhjusil. (Peetri koguduse 50. juubeliaasta väljaanee ELU 1998)

1999 - 2000 Pastor Jaan Nuga

Pastor Jaan Nuga served as an assistant guest pastor, visiting from Palamuse congregation in Estonia.

1999 - ? Rev. Robert Cole

Reverand Cole served the English sector.

2000 - 2001 Pastor Rein Schihalejev

Pastor Rein Schihalajev served as an assistant guest pastor, visiting from Põltsamaa congregation in Estonia.

2001 - 2002 and 2007 - 2008 Pastor Arho Tuhkru

Pastor Arho Tuhkru served as an assistant guest pastor, visiting us from Põltsamaa congregation in Estonia.

2002 Pastor Enn Auksmann

Pastor Auksmann served the congregation during the fall of 2002.

2002 - 2003 Praost Assessor Joel Luhamets

Praost assessor Joel Luhamets served as an assistant guest pastor, visiting from Tartu Pauluse congregation in Estonia.

2003 - 2004 Praost Assessor Jaan Tammsalu

Praost assessor Jaan Tammsalu served as an assistant guest pastor, visiting from Viljandi Jaani congregation in Estonia.

2004 - 2005 and 2008 - 2009 Pastor Ants Tooming

Pastor Ants Tooming served as an assistant guest pastor, visiting from Kolga-Jaani congregation in Estonia.

2005 - 2006 Pastor Mart Jaanson

Pastor Mart Jaanson served as an assistant guest pastor, visiting from Nõo congregation in Estonia.

2006 - 2007 Pastor Marek Roots

Pastor Market Roots served as an assistant guest pastor, visiting from Häädemeeste congregation in Estonia.

2011 - 2023 Praost Mart Salumäe

Dean Salumäe became assistant pastor of St. Peters in 2011, and then the congregation's full-time pastor when Archbishop emeritus Andres Taul retired. He served St. Peter's until he returned to Estonia in June 2023. See more details below.

Praost emeritus Oskar Puhm

*April 17, 1912 Tallinn, Estonia - †March 28, 1990 Toronto, Canada.

At the front of the church, on the north side of the sanctuary, you will note a black plaque above the minister's chair.
This is a dedication to St. Peter's congregation's first minister, Rev. Oskar Puhm. A simple line adorns the plaque "Jumal on armastus". (1 John 4:7), "God is Love".

Oskar Puhm was a prominent leader in the Estonian community in Toronto and he played an important role in maintaining and strengthening Estonian Culture and identity in Canada. He built the largest congregation outside of Estonia. At one point, the congregation had over 4000 people. Since 1955 hundreds of Torontonians have been baptized, confirmed and married in this church. It has been home to the Estonian School, to scouts and guides, choral groups, and seniors.

Oskar Puhm's memorial plaque was unveiled and blessed on April 13, 1997.

Õp. dr. Andres Taul õnnistamas praost Oskar Puhmile pühendatud mälestustahvlit.

Reverand Oskar Puhm was ordained at Tallinn's Kaarli Kirik at the young age of 22 after completing University at an accelerated rate.

He and Meta Einroos were married in 1936 at Pühavaimu Kirik. They began their married life in Rannamõisa where Rev. Puhm organized the Keila Kabel into the new Ranna congregation.

Son Toivo was born in 1938, daughter Heili, in 1943. Fearing for the safety of his family, Rev. Puhm took Meta and the children to Finland in February of 1944, but he returned in August with 2000 fellow countrymen named the “Soomepoisid” to defend Estonia.

During this time, Meta did not hear any news of her husband as she anxiously awaited with her two small children at a Finnish farm. The political situation worsened and it was soon apparent that with or without her husband, Meta had to leave their haven. With the help of Oskar's brother, Meta and the children, along with 900 other people, boarded the ship “Veenus” and headed to Sweden.

Meanwhile, Oskar was in Estonia, walking alone along a deserted beach unsure if or how he could reunite with his family. A boat suddenly appeared on the sea maneuvered by what appeared to be “tipsy” men. They had been circling the Naissaar and thought that they had arrived in Sweden. Because Oskar had a compass, they agreed to take him on board with them. Despite the boat and its occupants being shot at by the Russians, Rev. Puhm found his way to Sweden and met up with his family in December of 1944.

Many people perished in that stormy autumn sea and Meta recalled how her husband found and buried many of the storm's victims as they began washing out onto the shore.

At first, Oskar Puhm worked in Sweden as a civil engineer and Meta found herself busy with two small children. A second son Alar was born in Stockholm in 1945.

Peetri kogudus on õpetaja Oskar Puhmi elutöö monument. Alles pärast 30-aastast tegevust andis töö teistele vaimulikele üle või olid need suureneva töökoormuse juures abilisteks. Oskar Puhm oli sündinud 17. aprillil 1912 Tallinnas, suri 28. märtsil 1990 Torontos Juba poisikesena tundis huvi kiriku vastu, olles kasvanud vennastekoguduse perekonna ringis. Õppis Gustav Adolfi Gümnaasiumis Tallinnas, jätkas õpinguid Tartu Ülikooli usuteaduskonnas, lõpetades selle 20-aastasena, noorimana õpilasist. Ordinatsioon toimus Konsistooriumi eriloal 21-aastaselt Tallinna Kaarli kirikus.

Prooviaastad sooritas Petseri Peetri koguduses õp. mag. Jaak Tauli juures, olles seal samaaegselt algkooli ja gümnaasiumi õpetajaks. Jätkas prooviaastat Tallinna Jaani koguduses õp. B. Hasselblatti pihtkonnas, lõpetades Paldiskis Keila õpetaja praost Köögerdali juhtimisel. Paldiskist siirdus tagasi Tallinna, töötades seal koolides usuõpetajana. Aastal 1936 rajas Keila kogudusele kuuluvast Rannamõisa abikogudusest iseseisva koguduse. Abiellus samal aastal 12. juunil Meta Einroosiga.

Saksa okuptatsiooni ajal pages koos perekonnaga Soome, kus oli Karjala rindel asuva eesti vabatahtlike rügemendi JR 200 vaimulik, täites väga läbielamuslikke momente surevatele meestele viimast troosti andes. Siirdus koos rügemendiga tagasi Eestisse.

Rootsi põgenemine õnnestus 24. septembril, kus ta kohtus perekonnaga, kes olid Soomest pagenud Rootsi just jõulude ajal. Õppis tsiviilinseneriks ja töötas emigeerumiseni New Yorki 1948. Sai õp. R. Kiviranna vahendusel kirikumehe töökoha, kust ta valiti Toronto eesti koguduse õpetajaks. Sellest peale on õp. O. Puhmi elu olnud seotud Toronto Peetri kogudusega kui tema pensionile minekuni 1982 a.

Toronto koguduse asutaja ja õpetaja 1948 - 1982.
Kanada praostkonna praost 1977-1982.
Konsistooriumi assessor 1976-1982.
Praost emeritus 1982.

Esimene Nõukogu, aastal 1956. The first Congregational Council.

An opportunity to work with the same engineering firm in New York arose a few years later and in 1948 the family moved to the United States. Rev. Puhm was working temporarily as a church janitor when he was contacted by Rev. Ernest Hahn of Toronto and Rev. Rudolf Kiviranna of New York — would he consider moving to Toronto and serving the newly formed congregation of the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church?

After Oskar had held the congregation's second sermon on October 3rd, 1948, he returned for his family in New York and moved everyone to Toronto on the 28th of December 1948.

The early years in Toronto was a time of heavy immigration with newcomers arriving daily. There were times when the Puhm's home was strewn with people sleeping on the floor. Oskar literally gave the clothes off his back, lending his suit to others so that men could look presentable going to job interviews.

There came a time when Rev. Puhm learned that the Canadian government was not allowing Estonian soldiers entry into Canada. He was so upset that he went to Ottawa and demanded to be heard by the government authorities. He vocalized his frustration at Canada's immigration policies. Soon thereafter Canada did change their policies and Toronto and St. Peter's congregation saw an even greater influx of Estonian immigrants.

St. John's church, where the new congregation had been gathering, quickly filled to capacity. The young Estonian congregation was quickly outgrowing the rooms St. John's had to offer — it was obvious that they needed a home of their own. It was Meta whom God led to the corner of Roehampton and Eglinton, for it was there that she saw a lot for sale that seemed an appropriate place for building the church. Within twenty-four hours the Missouri Synod had lent them sufficient funds to pay for the lot.

At an interview with Meta Puhm, she recalled how every penny went towards the building of the new church. There were community fund drives, and everyone pitching in to erect the new building. She remembered growing flowers in her garden to decorate the altar for weekly services to save the cost of purchasing flowers. Meta stressed the feeling of community at that time. Everyone was an immigrant with no language skills and no money — all had been through the same trauma of war — all wanted to build a new home for their congregation. It was truly an Estonian community group project. Thus, from humble beginnings, grew the congregation and church building now known as Saint Peter's Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church of Toronto. St. Peters became a home and gathering place for worship, scouts and guides, the Estonian School and social gatherings. The church was the heart of the community for the growing Estonian population.

Meta also fondly recalled a blur of thousands of weddings, church events and sermons. She was once asked to compose a book of Rev. Puhm's sermons but when she began the endeavour, she soon learned that it was an impossible task. It seems that Oskar never wrote out his sermons, but instead made point-form notes, glanced down at the points he wanted to cover and spoke where his heart and God led him.

Rev. Puhm loved working with youth and included outdoor services and field trips in his teachings. All hope and promise for the stable future of our church is in the hands of our youth were his feeling. “Teaching our young people,” Meta Puhm stressed, “is THE most important social responsibility the church needs to fulfill.”

As Meta looked backed at their years of service, she stated: “The Lord blessed our work — not just OUR efforts, but ALL OF OUR efforts working together as a community, doing God's work. Strong leadership moving toward the good of the community will ensure the future of St. Peters.”

Dr. Andres Taul, Meta Puhm, Chairman Toomas Ratnik 1997

Sources:
Einola, Väino. "Closing the Columbarium at St. Peter's Church cannot be morally justified." Estonian World Review, March 2, 2023

Oja, Hannes. "Koguduse Vaimulikud". Peetri Koguduse 50. juubeliaasta väljanne, 1998.
Roiser, Tiiu. "Meta Puhm in Memorium". Estonian Life No. 30 2013, July 26, 2013.

Archbishop emeritus Dr. Andres Taul
*August 11, 1936 Tartu, Estonia - †April 23, 2018 Haliburton, Canada

Andres Taul was born in Tartu, Estonia, August 11,1936. He was eight years old when his family joined multitudes of people in flight from the invading Russian armies in 1944 during World War II, which locked Estonia behind the Iron Curtain of Communism. Andres's mother Helene died during that flight. His father, Rev. Jaak Taul, a respected Lutheran pastor, had previous affiliations with the Church of England and after three years of refugee status in Germany, in 1947 took Andres with his sister Virge and their grandmother to London to serve the Estonian Ev. Lutheran Congregation there. Later his sister Tiina was born after his father remarried. Andres finished his early education in Enniskillen, North Ireland already having felt the call to follow his father to serve our Lord. In 1954 he entered the Augustana Divinity School in Neuendettelsau, Germany. From 1956 - 1957 he studied at the Faculty of Theology of the University of Erlangen in Germany. From 1957 - 1960 he completed his Bachelor's degree then followed by his Master's degree in 1964 at the Honour School of Theology at Mansfield College, University of Oxford, UK. He was ordained in Stockholm, Sweden by Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church (EELC) Archbishop Kopp, July 30, 1961. Andres dedicated his life to serving various congregations of dispersed and expatriate Estonians beginning in 1961 in Bradford, Northern England. From there he accepted a call to New York City, as associate minister for the Lexington Ave. Estonian Lutheran Congregation. He then accepted a call to become the pastor for the St. Andrews EELC Congregation in Toronto and relocated to Canada.

In 1982 he became the pastor for the St. Peter's EELC Congregation where he served until retiring in 2016. He earned his Doctor of Divinity degree from Concordia Lutheran Seminary at Fort Wayne Indiana in 1996. His dissertation was on the impact of fifty years of atheistic indoctrination of the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church. Andres Taul was the first guest lecturer when the Faculty of Theology at Tartu University re-opened after 50 years of soviet rule. There he re-established the University Congregation in 1995 and was named Chaplain, keeping that position during his lifetime. He chaired the work with the joint committee here and in Estonia to revise and print in 1991 a new Song and Prayer Book now used by all EELC churches worldwide. From 1980 - 1990 he organized the programs and was a lecturer at the EELC Institute of Theology in Toronto; in 1982 - 1986 he served as provost of the Provostry of Canada of the EELC; he was a founding member of the Estonian Hymnology Society; a member of the Estonian Students' Society since 1956; he supported the Estonian Girl Guides and Boy Scouts of Canada, earning the Gilwell Badge in 1972 and becoming a Scout master in 1975.

In 2007 he was elected to be the Archbishop of the EELC congregations of expatriate Estonians worldwide. It was his vision to restore the unity of the Estonian Evngelical Lutheran Church abroad with the Archbishopry in Estonian which the Iron Curtain of WWII had separated in 1944. This unification was celebrated in November of 2010. Archbishop Taul offering to lower his title from 'archbishop' to 'bishop', and he was honored with the title of Archbishop Emeritus upon his retirement. He received the Degree of Honorary Doctor of the University of Tartu in 2009; has been honoured with the EELC First Order of Achievement Medal; the Estonian President' s IV Order, Red Cross Medal; and the EELC Lifetime Achievement Award.

Source: The Globe and Mail on May 5, 2018.

Dr. Andres Taul sündis 11. augustil 1936 Tartus pastor dr. Jaak Tauli pojana. Üheksa-aastasna, just enne kodumaalt põgenemist kaotas oma ema. Viibis koos isaga Göttingeni põgenikelaagris Saksamaal. Isa kutsuti 1947.a. Londonisse eesti koguduse õpetajaks, noor Andres õppis koolis Inglismaal ja Iirimaal. Ülikooli siirdus Erlangenisse Saksamaale. Teoloogilise hariduse sai Oxfordi ülikooli Mansfieldi College'is.

1960 a. saavutas seal magistrikraadi ja jätkas oma usuteadusliku hariduse saamist St. Michaeli ülikoolis doktorikraadi programmis. Ususotsioloogiline töö "Sotsioloogilised mäjud EELK teoloogias 40 aasta jooksul paguluses" sai kõreima hinde.

Oma kirikuõpetaja karjääri alustas Inglismaal, teenides Põhja-Inglismaal asuvaid eesti kogudusi kuni 1969. aastani, mil teda kutsuti New Yorki eesti koguduse noorsoo-õpetajaks. Abiellus arhitekt Eneri Toomaga. Õp. O. Pella surma järel kutsuti Torontosse Vana-Andrese koguduse õpetajaks, kus teenis 1971 - 1982. Siis valiti Toronto Peetri koguduse õpetajaks, kelleks ta õnnistati 17. oktoobril 1982 piiskop K. Raudsepa ja dr. J. Tauli ning teiste vaimulike kaastegevusel.

Õpetaja Taul on õpetanud Toronto Usuteaduse Instituudis süstemaatikat, on olnud Tartu Ülikooli usuteaduskonna taasavamisel ja pidas seal neli esimest loengut. Jaanuarist kuni juulini 1995 viibis Tartu Ülikoolis külalisprofessorina. Aastal 1995 1. oktoobril võttis osa Tartu Ülikoorli koguduse taasavamisest.

Õpetaja Taul omandas doktorikraadi 1. novembril 1996 concordia Seminaris Ft. Wayne'is teemal: The impact of fifty years of atheistic indoctrination of the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church”.

Vabariigi President on omistanud 2002. aastal Andres Taulile Eesti Punase Risti IV klassi teenetemärgi. EELK Konsistoorium on teda tunnustanud 2007. aastal EELK Teeneteristi I järgu ja 2017. aastal elutööpreemiaga. Tartu Ülikool on 2009. aastal andnud Andres Taulile audoktori kraadi.

Andres Taul valiti 26. veebruaril 2007. aastal Eesti Evangeeliumi Luteriusu Kiriku (E.E.L.K.) peapiiskopiks ning pühitseti Eesti Evangeelse Luterliku Kiriku (EELK) peapiiskop Andres Põderi poolt ametisse 10. juunil 2007 Toronto Vana-Andrese kirikus. Alates E.E.L.K. ja EELK ühinemisest 13. novembril 2010 oli Andres Taul EELK Välis-Eesti piiskopkonna piiskop, kuni siirdus emerituuri 1. aprillil 2017. Pärast emerituuri siirdumist omistas EELK Konsistoorium dr Andres Taulile E.E.L.K. peapiiskop emeerituse aunimetuse.

Akadeemiliset on olnud tegev EÜS liikmeskonnas, on laulnud meeskoorides, kuulunud skatlikku liikumisse ja kaitses 1984 edukalt skautmasteri väitekirja "Õpetlikke palveid noortele".

Andres Taul oli Eesti Sihtkapitali Kanadas asutaja liige juhatuses.

Allikad:
Peetri koguduse 50. juubeliaasta II Väljaanne
Eesti Elu, Apr 27, 2018
EELK pressiteade

Bishop Karl Raudsepp, Dr. Jaak Taul, Andres Taul's blessing into service 1982.	Giving a sermon.	At an Executive Board meeting, 2004.
Easter 2006.	With wife Enery and grandson Jaak, 2006.	The Consecration of Archbishop Andres Taul, June 2007.
Consecreation of Archbishop Andres Taul, 2007.	2007	E.E.L.K. Archbishop Andres Taul, Marge Põder, EELK Archbishop Andres Põder, and Eneri Taul, 2007.
Celebrating 25 years of serving St. Peter's, 2007.	25 years of serving St. Peter's congregation, 2007.	Congregation's 60th Anniversary, 2008, with Pastor Puhm's widow Meta Puhm.
Confirmation Day, 2008.	Confirmation blessings, 2008, with Pastor Arho Tuhkru and Joel Luhamets.	E.E.L.K. and EELK Unification Service, 2010.
Archbishop Andres Taul's retirement, 2014. Foto: Peeter Põldre.

From the Church Song and Prayer Book written by Andres Taul: "Holy God, bless and help all who must bear physical weakness, who cannot run and play like others; who are blind and cannot see the sunshine and the beauty of flowers; who are deaf and cannot hear the song of birds and the laughter of their friends; whose mind is lacking, who cannot study and to whom all books are closed. Give them all your strength! Give courage and readiness to help to those who are well, that they may be able to help their weaker brother and sister - because of Jesus Christ, our Lord, who made the lame walk, the blind see and the deaf hear again."

Matusetalitus pida peapiiskop Urmas Viilma 26. mail Toronto Peetri kiriks. Lahkunu viimaseks sooviks oli jõuda puhkama isamaa mulda, oli algusest peale selge, et urn põrmuga tuuakse Eestisse.

E.E.L.K. peapiiskop emeeritus Andrew Tauli mälestuseks peeti 6. agustil õhtupalvus Tallinna Piiskoplikus Toomkirikus ja 7. augustil sängitati urn tema põrmuga Tallinna Metsakalmistule.

Dean Mart Salumäe
*1963, Tallinn, Estonia -

Dean Salumäe was born in 1963 in Tallinn and grew up in Kuusalu. His father was a pastor in the St Lawrence congregation of EELC in Kuusalu and his two older brothers also decided to follow his father's example and became clergy in the Estonian church. There are a total of 6 clergymen and 5 church musicians from his large family.

Dean Salumäe received his school education at Kuusalu High School and obtained his higher education in theology at the Institute of Theology of EELC. He was ordained as a deacon of EELC on January 28, 1987 and as a pastor of EELC on December 6, 1989.

He served several congregations in Estonia: Püha, Mustjala and Muhu congregations, and then 20 years at St. Paul´s Congregation in Viljandi. In addition to serving congregations, he has been involved in various positions in the field of diaconal work of the Estonian Church and also served Estonians in Helsinki, Finland.

Dean Salumäe became the assistant pastor at St. Peters in 2011, and the full-time pastor when Archbishop emeritus Andres Taul retired in 2016. He is also the Dean of the North American Deanery of EELC. Pastor Salumäe returned to his homeland in June 2023.

Source: EELK St. Peter's former website 2023.

Praost Salumäe sündis 1963.a. Tallinnas ja üles kasvas Kuusalus. Isa oli EELK Kuusalu Laurentsiuse koguduse õpetaja ning ka kaks vanemat venda otsustasid järgida isa eeskuju ning neist said vaimulikud Eesti kirikus. Kokku on ta suurest suguvõsast pärit 6 vaimulikku ja 5 kirikumuusikut.

Koolihariduse sai Kuusalu Keskkoolis (praegu Kuusalu Gümnaasium). Teoloogilise kõrghariduse omandas EELK Usuteaduse Instituudis. Teda ordineeriti EELK diakoniks 28.jaanuaril 1987 ja õpetajaks 6.detsembril 1989.

Praost Salumäe on teeninud Eestis mitmeid kogudusi. Esmalt EELK Püha, Mustjala ja Muhu kogudusi ja seejärel 20 aastat EELK Viljandi Pauluse kogudust. Koguduste teenimise kõrvalt on olnud aastaid seotud erinevate ametikohustustega Eesti kiriku diakooniatöö valdkonnas ning hoolitsenud ka eestlaste teenimise eest Soomes, Helsinkis.

Alates 2011, teenis Peetri kobuduses abi-opetajana, ja siis õpetajana alates 2016 kuni 2023. On EELK Põhja-Ameerika praostkonna praost.

Allikas: EELK Toronto Peetri Koguduse endine veebileht 2023.

2014		2015 Congregation's anniversary.
2016 Christmas	2018 At Archbishop Taul's funeral.	2018 Christmas
Communion	2019	Confirmation blessing.
2020 During Covid pandemic.	Covid precautions.	Thanking the Ladies Guild.