UILX3001OCT26

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The Annual Theological Conference comes to you from the Alumni/ae of Queens' Theological College, and is open to everyone. Use this page to register for the LIVESTREAM.
Catalogs / The United Church of Canada

Discipleship in the Shadow of Empire: Lament, Resistance, and Hope

Annual Theology Conference: October 19 and 20, 2026

Tags: #deep spirituality #bold discipleship #daring justice #ecumenism #conference
English ‎(en)‎
UILX3001OCT26

$99.00 CAD

Buy Now

In person at Bells Corners United Church, Ottawa ON
and livestreamed at United in Learning

October 19-20, 2026

How do we grapple with the many interlocking uncertainties that surround us globally, nationally, and locally? How do we find space to step away from the anxious voices to be held by the calm places that can grant us rest?

Over four sessions, Sylvia Keesmaat will delve deeply into the wisdom of the biblical story to explore how those who lived in the shadow of empire in biblical times created communities of lament, resistance, and hope. Each session will weave together biblical texts in dialogue with a current crisis: environmental collapse, genocide, abusive political power, and the oppression of the marginalized.

Drawing also on the wisdom of Indigenous writers and Palestinian Christians, we will dare to dream of a community where lament helps to carry our grief, hope enables us to imagine a healing future, and resistance binds us together in love.


Theme Speaker:

Dr. Sylvia C. Keesmaat is a biblical scholar, activist, and farmer. She has taught at various seminaries in Canada and is the co-author, with Brian Walsh, of Romans Disarmed: Resisting Empire, Demanding Justice and Colossians Remixed: Subverting the Empire. Through her online teaching platform, Bible Remixed (www.bibleremixed.ca), Sylvia offers online courses throughout the year that are open to all. Sylvia lives on an off-grid permaculture farm in the Kawartha Lakes on the traditional territory of the Michi Saagiig Anishnaabeg, with her husband, Brian Walsh, and a fluctuating number of people and animals. You can read more about Sylvia here: https://bibleremixed.ca/sylvia-keesmaat.

Workshop Leaders

Rev. Stephen Fetter

Register for the in-person event in Ottawa

Register for the Livestream


Student Discount

Theology Students are welcome to join our livestream at half price. Please enter Voucher Code STUDENT25 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 zones

Monday, October 19, 2026
8:45 – 9:15    Gathering
9:15 – 9:30    Territory, Welcome, Announcements
9:30 – 10:00    Opening Worship
10:00 – 10:15    Break
10:15 – 11:45     Keynote Speaker
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

Tuesday, October 20, 2026
9:00 – 9:30    Gathering
9:30 – 10:45    Keynote Speaker
10:45 – 11:15    Break
11:15 – 12:30    "Then Let Us Sing"
12:30 – 1:30     Lunch
1:30 – 2:45    Keynote Speaker
2:45 – 3:00    Closing Worship

Conference Presenters and Topics

The Rev. Dr. Catherine Faith MacLean
Lecture One: Shifting Sands: Preaching Hope In A Tide of Cruelty
Lecture Two: Field of Grace: Preaching Joy Toward A Distant Horizon

Uncertain times take a toll on our health, body and soul. Bad news gallops around us. Fresh hells appear before we’ve cleared our eyes from the last one. In times of tension, preachers are called upon to describe what is going on and offer a religious antidote. Preaching in these uncertain times we are called to be incisive and vigorous. This task drains us of patience and intellectual potency. Yet we are gospel people: we are ready with good news. Our ancestors in faith left us stepping-stones. They planted vineyards. They gave us The Word. We’re in this together. Let’s listen. 

The Rev. Dr. Catherine Faith MacLean is a Disciple in A Place at the Table. Her work is in Moments in Time, The Theology of the United Church of Canada, Touchstone Journal, and The Christian Century. She and John H. Young wrote Preaching the Big Questions. Catherine has preached and lectured on theology - and life as faithful communities - in congregations and webinars across Canada, and taught at St. Andrew’s, St. Stephen’s, VST, and AST. She is a Past President of the Canadian Theological Society, a WCC delegate, and on the editorial team of Then Let Us Sing! Catherine also is Guinness Book Official Witness for the Biggest Dodgeball Game in the World. 


The Rev. Dr. Jesse Zink

Apocalyptic Clarity for a Crisis-Shaped World

 

From climate change to economic inequality, from housing to mental health, and so much more, the word “crisis” is invoked in many areas of our lives. This has led some analysts to use the word “polycrisis” to describe the situation of the modern world. What does Christian witness and gospel proclamation look like in a world like this? These two talks will draw on the Christian apocalyptic tradition, a tradition that is attentive to the powers and structures that shape our existence, to offer ideas for forming and leading Christian communities that witness to the good news of the Christian gospel in a changing and challenging context.

Since 2017, Jesse Zink has been principal of Montreal Diocesan Theological College (widely known simply as “Dio”), a college founded in the Anglican tradition that since 2021 has also served The United Church of Canada. He is the author of five books on Christian witness in a global world, most recently Faithful, Creative, Hopeful: Fifteen Theses for Christians in a Crisis-Shaped World



Workshop Leaders
The Rev. Jenni Leslie and The Rev. Daniel Addai Fobi
“Love is Louder”

A year after becoming an Affirming Ministry and hearing about a need to welcome Christian LGBTQ+ refugees, Kitchissippi United Church put out a poster in August of 2024. A year later, it is a thriving ministry with simple underpinnings: love your neighbour as yourself. Is it that easy? Yes and no. Come to hear how we did it.


Rev Jenni Leslie is an ordained minister in the United Church of Canada, serving in Ottawa. She has been serving with Kitchissippi since 2008. She shares her home with 19 year old boy/girl twins and a rescue mini poodle, Leo. 
Rev. Daniel Addai Fobi shares his journey from conservative Ghana to Affirming Ministry in Canada, advocating inclusive faith, supporting 2SLGBTQI+ refugees, and preaching Christ’s radical love. Daniel is the founding co leader of God’s Beloved at Kitchissippi.


The Rev. Stéphane Vermette

"Land of Opportunity"

For many years we believed that more programs and events would help us thrive. Instead of looking for the next magical solution to save our institution, we are called to transform the way we understand ministry and explore the boundless possibilities to the church today. These uncertain times are the moment to boldly journey in this land of opportunity.

Stéphane Vermette is a United Church minister exploring Digital Ministry in French for the last 10 years.

 

Rev. Dr. R. Douglas Throop
"Make Way for Magic!"

The workshop focuses on the painters, and one dancer turned painter,  exploring the spirituality of their contribution to a modern Québec. Collectively, having been called Les Automatistes from the way they painted, they presented the emotive impact of colour on canvas, and later through bronze, tile, and stained glass on an urban environment.

Participants will engage in a hands-on project in the ‘voice’ of one of the artists of the group.

Rev. Dr. R. Douglas Throop, grandson of Rev. Sheldon Throop, is a 3rd generation alumnus of Queen’s. Doug holds a BA in Art History, Queen’s, an MA in Art & Theology in Early Christian Art, McGill, a Dip. Min. from UTC, and a doctorate from Princeton in Architectural Leadership. He has served rural, suburban, inner city, university campus, and First Nations communities in B.C., Ontario, and Québec. Minister of Mountainside United Church in Montréal, he has experience leading congregations through major transformations. Doug is an artist, with studio courses at Queen’s and private lessons with A. J. Casson.