Tindal was raised in the rural village of Victoria Square, Ontario, and earned an MA in psychology from the University of Toronto.

Timdal was nominated to be Moderator in 2009, and at the 40th General Council of the church, she was elected to the position after five ballots on August 14, 2009.

She was installed as the 40th Moderator the next day, only the fourth layperson to be elected to the position since the United Church's inception in 1925.

"[1] Meeting with reporters afterwards, her first wish was to support the church in its desire to live in covenant relationship with God and with each other in a caring stewardship of Creation.

"[1] Speaking about the United Church's current struggles with declining membership and depleted financial resources, Tindal said, "What's most important is to discern what's faithful, set a course, trust in God's abundance, and invite people into it.