Faye Sonier shares passion for law, life and learning
Shortly after Faye Sonier began working with the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada (EFC) as legal counsel, she told her pastor she wanted to combine her full-time work with studies for a master's degree in theology.
Her pastor counselled her against it. And with good reason. Not only was Sonier newly married, but she was still recovering from a bout of follicular carcinoma (cancer of the thyroid). The young woman had enough going on in her life.
But you don't survive a close encounter with a deadly disease without it leaving a mark. And Sonier is marked with a passionate appreciation for both the gift of life, and for its Giver.
As one of two lawyers at the EFC, since 2008 Sonier has been responsible for two key files, the life file and the religious freedom file. “The life file includes euthanasia, assisted suicide, reproductive and genetic technologies, abortion and fetal rights," Sonier explains. “The religious freedom file touches on anything that's related to religious freedom. So in the context of education - as it relates to parental authority and religious freedom - speech issues, freedom of assembly, anything and everything.
“The Christian Horizons case, we worked on that. [Quebec's] Ethics and Religious Culture Course, we worked on that. And then in addition, I have an internal role in terms of the legal issues the EFC has to deal with on the inside - charity law, employment law issues, those things."
They are weighty responsibilities for one so young. But at 29, Sonier has proven herself up to the challenge. One look at her resumé tells you as much. She began her post-secondary education at the University of Ottawa, working toward a degree in psychology and criminology. But only two years into her studies she applied to law school; straight 'A' marks and numerous scholarships for academic excellence opened the door.
Immediately upon completion of the requirements for her law degree (three years of study, Bar Exams, followed by nine months of articling under the supervision of a lawyer), Sonier caught the eye of Don Hutchinson, vice-president, general legal counsel and director of the EFC's Centre for Faith and Public Life.
“I met Faye at the Christian Legal Fellowship Conference," says Hutchinson. “She was sharing on some points about religious freedom that were of great interest to her. I was impressed with that because one of my hobbies before I joined the EFC was Canadian religious freedom matters. So I had a follow-up meeting with her to find out if she had some interest in working in the field."
She had the interest. “When I went to law school, I'd been a Christian for about five or six years and I knew I wanted to serve in some capacity," Sonier says. “But I wasn't really sure how...I just left it in God's hands."
But when the offer to join the EFC came along, she recognized it as being heaven sent. “I was able to jump into a field that I knew I wanted," she says. “It was really an incredible opportunity, fresh out of law school."
Undoubtedly. But it took an incredible person with incredible drive and a passion for learning to seize the opportunity and make the most of it. “She works really hard," says her friend and colleague in life issues, Andrea Mrozek. “She's her own worst critic at times. She's one of those people who goes above and beyond, and works really, really hard and then is nervous about whether she did a good enough job.
“She's a real gift to the EFC."
Sonier says she loves to learn and believes study has made her “a better thinker and a better communicator." She applies that enthusiasm to all areas of her life. “Faye has a desire to improve herself as a human being," says Hutchinson, “and that includes improving herself both personally and professionally."
Those who know her describe her battle to regain full health and strength following her recovery from cancer in epic terms. Hutchinson says she dove into learning about health, food and nutrition with the same “deep study and discipline" she applies to so many other areas of life. She learned how to garden, took organic gardening courses and spends anywhere from two to four hours cooking in her kitchen each day.
“I don't think anybody was happier when we moved into our new office space," Hutchinson says, “because we were getting a full-sized fridge. The little one just didn't accommodate all the fresh vegetables she was eating."
But Sonier doesn't keep her love of study and learning to herself, the things she learns bubble over, to be shared with those around her. Responsible for working with interns at the Centre for Faith and Public Life, “she does really well with them," says Mrozek. “She incorporates them into her life in a fuller way, forging strong friendships. That's far more valuable than a formal mentoring program."
“I'm really big on the idea of mentorship," Sonier concedes. “I've always made an effort to seek mentors out in various fields and areas of my own life, and they've really helped me think critically through various issues."
But ask her what kind of Christian training she considers most helpful for the realities of leadership in today's world, and she gives a different response. “Apologetics is very important," she says. “Developing a biblical worldview is incredibly essential."
As for the value of higher education for Christians, that's easy. “It provides incredible opportunities," she says. “Because I have a law degree, I'm invited to various meetings, conferences and asked for my advice or legal opinion on things. It's opened a lot of doors to means of ministry that I probably wouldn't have had otherwise."
She may have taken a pause in formal studies, but the learning hasn't stopped, and the pause is likely only temporary.
“I'm interested in so many things," Sonier says. “I've thought about doing a masters of law. There are a number of issues I'd love to study. That's one of the reasons that right now I'm praying for direction."
If past experience is any indication, leaving it in God's hands will put her right where He wants her to be.
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