$99.00 CAD
What if ... ? Deep Spirituality, Bold Discipleship, Daring Justice
Annual Theology Conference 2024 Oct 21-22, 2024
$99.00 CAD
in person at Bells Corners United Church, Ottawa ON
and livestreamed at United in Learning
October 21 - 22, 2024
Join us for insightful discussions and engaging presentations in an ecumenical setting. This event is a great opportunity to connect with church leaders and strengthen your sense of how to make church relevant in 2024. Don't miss out on this enriching experience!
Theme Speakers
| The Rt. Rev. Bruce Myers Anglican Bishop of Quebec |
| The Rev. Jennifer Henry Executive Minister, Organizational Development and Strategy The United Church of Canada |
Workshop Leaders
Greg Smith-Young
Lynn Gardiner
Mitchell Anderson
Paul Sales
Register for the in-person event in Ottawa
Student Discount
Theology Students are welcome to join our livestream at half price. Please enter Voucher Code STUDENT when you check out!
Conference Schedule
times listed are all EASTERN time zone. Please click the links to see the times in other Canadian time zonesMonday, October 21
8:45 – 9:15 Gathering9:15 – 9:30 Territory, Welcome, Announcements
9:30 – 10:00 Opening Worship
10:00 – 10:15 Break
10:15 – 11:45 Keynote Speaker Bishop Bruce Myers
12:00 – 1:00 Lunch
1:00 – 2:30 Workshops
2:30 – 3:00 Break
3:00 – 4:30 Workshops
5:00 – 6:30 Dinner
6:30 – 8:00 Keynote Speaker Jennifer Henry
Tuesday, October 22
9:00 – 9:30 Gathering9:30 – 10:45 “Then let us sing” with Paul Sales
10:45 – 11:15 Break
11:15 – 12:30 Keynote Speaker Bishop Bruce Myers
12:30 – 1:30 Lunch
1:30 – 2:45 Keynote Speaker Jennifer Henry
2:45 – 3:00 Closing Worship
Conference Presenters and Topics |
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 The Rt. Rev. Bruce MeyersArchbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby once
observed that, “Ecumenism is not an extra that one can fit in because it’s an
interesting occupation. It is the oxygen of mission and evangelism.” However,
sometimes it might seem like the air of Christian unity has gotten a bit stale
since the ecumenical movement’s heyday in the twentieth century. Can we pry
open the church’s doors and windows and get a fresh, oxygen-rich ecumenical
breeze going again? Bishop Bruce Myers will try—offering biblical and
theological underpinnings, anecdotes from the church’s life and work, and
practical ecumenical suggestions that can be applied right now. Born and raised in the Ottawa Valley, Bruce
Myers has been the Anglican bishop of Quebec since 2017. Before that he served
as the Anglican Church of Canada’s coordinator for ecumenical and interfaith
relations, and before that in congregational ministry in rural and urban
contexts. Before his ordination he was a broadcast journalist. |
 The Rev. Jennifer HenryIn 2021, when the United church affirmed a Call for the denomination, it was less an expression of something brand new and more a distillation of previous faith statements that articulated the church’s core commitments and identity. Offered to the church to unite and inspire, the six words of the Call also have deep connections to our scriptural tradition. Drawing from her experience staffing the strategic planning process, Jennifer will invite exploration of the Call, engaging key stories of scripture through the lens of the six words and looking for relevance to our ministry today. Can the intersection of scripture and the Call, help us to become faith communities “rooted in energizing memories and summoned by radical hopes?” (Walter Brueggemann) Grounded in the Call, what can scripture offer as we strive to reimagine the church, as the living witness of Christ, for the next 100 years? Jennifer Henry serves as Executive Minister for Organizational Development and Strategy at The United Church of Canada, leading a unit dedicated to planning, growth, communications, research and Ministries in French. For almost 30 years, she was an ecumenical social justice advocate, including as Executive Director of KAIROS (2012-2020). Jennifer holds a Master of Social Work and of Theological Studies from the University of Toronto, and an Honorary Doctor of Christian Letters from Lutheran Theological Seminary, Saskatoon. After completing further denominational studies, she was ordained in the United Church in 2023. |
Workshop Leaders
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 The Rev. Greg Smith-Young“Strengthen Invitation: The United Church’s Growth Plan”What is the United Church’s growth initiative about? What might growth look like? How can we humbly and confidently share our faith, inviting our neighbours into the life of Christ? What might renewed and new communities of faith look like? Let’s explore together what this can mean for you and your congregation.Greg Smith-Young is a Growth Animator serving regions in southwest Ontario. He lives in Elora Ontario. |
 The Rev. Lynn Gardiner “Where everyone knows your name: Reclaiming the local congregation as a third place in the community” Third place theory (Oldenburg, 1989) is a concept that describes places where people spend time between home and work where they can relax, socialize and build relationships. The purpose of this workshop is to explore ways in order to reclaim the local congregation as a third place in the community. Lynne Gardiner is a deeply committed rural Ordained Minister, Called to Bethel United Church in Rideau Ferry, Ontario. |
 The Rev. Mitchell Anderson“A Culture of Growth” While many theories of church growth talk about what you should do to reach new people, St. Paul's United Church’s experience teaches that it is just as important why and how you pursue growth. Built on decades of innovation and experimentation, God has blessed St. Paul's with rapid growth through a culture that emphasizes mission results not membership privilege, an appetite for risk, and governance and culture that enable agility. Mitchell Anderson has been lead minister at St. Paul's United Church in Saskatoon since 2020, during which time God has blessed the congregation with transformational growth. He also serves on the Executive of the General Council and as a trustee of the United Church pension plan. Outside of the church, Mitchell uses his MBA to work at the intersection of finance and social impact in governing and advising organizations working for change. |
 Paul Sales"Then Let Us SING! / Ensemble, chantons! — Exploring Its Theo-Ethical Framework" This fall, The United Church of Canada is launching its new digital music and worship resource, Then Let Us SING! / Ensemble, chantons!, which includes nearly 200 new hymns and songs along with most hymns from our current hymnals. At the outset of the project, a Theo-Ethical Framework was developed to guide the selection process. Come and sing with me as we discuss, through the lens of the Framework, the “whys” behind the selection of several of the new songs. Paul
Sales is a member of the Editorial Board and Marketing & Animation
Sub-Committee of Then Let Us Sing!/Ensemble, chantons!—the United
Church’s new digital music resource—and a former Music Editor of Gathering
magazine.
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