On-your-own hours between the sessions will include reading, journal-writing, and online conversations among the other participants.

 This program is co-facilitated by a diverse team who bring a breadth of experience as educators, theologians, ministry personnel, lay leaders, and regional and national United Church of Canada staff.

It is a pilot project made possible by a grant from the United Church of Canada Foundation (Embracing the Spirit fund).

Marvin Lee Anderson, PhD

Marvin is an international consultant and theologian whose research, writing and teaching on rural congregational ministry and rural communities has spanned the last thirty years. A featured speaker for the annual Rural Routes Through the Holy retreat in the Atlantic Canadian provinces, his recent Rural Podcasts can be accessed at https://hemofthelight.com. Further background is available on the link for Rural Ministries. (Planning Team)

Josephine Braun

Josephine graduated in 2010 with a Master of Divinity degree from McMaster University and completed her thesis on how the Body of Christ metaphor can serve the church today. Her introduction to paid accountable leadership was through a minstry of the "Equipping Church." She has served in a variety of leadership positions in the church and non-profit sector, and brings experience facilitating teams and building organizational vision. Currently she is learning a new role in environmental project management at a closed landfill site in Dundas, Ontario. (Session Facilitator)

Jane Dawson, PhD

Jane is an educator, writer, and spiritual director living in Comox, B.C. Before retiring in 2023, Jane served as a senior staff member with Pacific Mountain and Eastern Ontario Outaouais Regional Councils of the United Church of Canada. Previously Jane was a professor of Adult Education at St. Francis Xavier University. She completed her certification in spiritual direction from the Haden Institute (2010) and has a doctorate in Educational Studies from the University of British Columbia (1996). (Planning Team and Lead Facilitator)

The Rev. Dr. Connie DenBok

Connie is lead minister at St. Paul's United Church, Brampton, Ontario and on the team for the Diploma for Missional Leadership at Atlantic School of Theology. (Session Facilitator)

David-Roger Gagnon

David-Roger is an experienced liturgist, published composer and author and educator. A commissioned Lay Pastor, he has served in numerous congregational settings, hospital chaplaincy, university chaplain, as school board chaplain, as well as elementary and secondary school chaplain. He has served the United Church as Development Officer for the former Unité des Ministères en français, and currently serves as Minister Supporting Networks and Clusters for the Conseil régional Nakonha:ka Regional Council. (Planning Team and Session Facilitator)

Michelle Hogman

Michelle is a retired minister in the United Church of Canada (Planning Team and Session Facilitator)

The Rev. Dr. Christine Jerrett

Christine has worked with a variety of congregations, most of them facing a time of transition and change. Having officially retired in June 2021, she serves Shiloh Inwood United Church in a part-time appointment. She is the Director of Canadian Shield Region’s online training course for Licenced Lay Worship Leaders  (https://www.united-in-learning.com/index.php/llwl-online-training-program).  She blogs at https://christinejerrett.wordpress.com  (Planning Team and Session Facilitator)

Chris Pullenayegem

Chris is a ministry practitioner committed to a holistic kingdom approach to ministry, integrating faith, justice and compassion in contextualized, incarnational ways. He has decades of experience working in the areas of church renewal, new ministry and migrant church development, leadership development and discipleship/faith formation. His latest ministry role was as the Director of the Congregational Vitality Initiative at the Vancouver School of Theology. (Planning Team and Session Facilitator)

The Rev. Dr. Andrew Richardson

Andrew works for the General Council of the United Church of Canada as Vocational Minister for the Maritime Region. He has responsibility for the oversight of clergy and ministry students in the region. Before accepting the position of Vocational Minister in 2019, Andrew was a congregational minister for 31 years with communities of faith across the Maritimes, including 14 years as minister at Trinity Summerside.  He is graduate of Dalhousie University, the Atlantic School of Theology and was ordained in 1988. He received his doctorate from Columbia Theological Seminary (Atlanta) in 2007.  (Planning Team and Session Facilitator)