Dear Canadians,
It’s a new day!
Love and grace; courage and curiosity; process not product; local authority and cautious optimism. All the thoughts and themes of these newsletters of the last months are coalescing in Kitchener, November 5-9: the
All Canada Church Summit.
Many Canadian CRCs have spoken about the need for a change in the structural fellowship in which they have lived for some time. Several have also spoken about the desire to belong to a community of churches that is characterized by these foundations:
- Rooted in the Bible and the Reformed tradition
- Honouring local church leadership
- Listening and leading together
- Creative and engaged in our culture
- Open to learning and growing
Some have wondered about their future in the denomination particularly regarding local church authority and how decisions of Synod affect congregational life. Some are longing for a time when they themselves can decide who can and cannot serve on their councils. Some are looking to find a healthier way to corporately process ideas with courage and curiosity.
The
All Canada Church Summit is calling churches to consider and together design a new community, a community that lives and breathes these five foundations. The Summit will be the space in which congregations and councils and members can dream, plan, lament and pray. A space where, from the welcome dinner on Wednesday evening through the culminating worship service on Sunday morning, we can discern where God is leading his people.
Come and join like-minded folks from all across this country who have their eyes fixed on Jesus and are hearing his call to minister in Canada; congregations and councils that need to have the local autonomy to discern who can be their leaders. Come and listen to our plenary speakers:
Shiao Chong (former editor of
The Banner),
Dr. Melanie Humphreys (president of The King’s University, Edmonton, AB),
Rev. Paul Verhoef (chaplain at the University of Calgary, AB) and join them for workshops. Worship daily with so many people from all over Canada, led by
Jeremy Benjamin Zeyl. Learn about the current Canadian Ecclesiastical Landscape with
Angela Bick (editor of the
Christian Courier). Work and plan in groups to lay out a communal future; pray for and dream of what can be! Shape the future!
Learn (MUCH) more about the Summit by going to our website
All Canada Church Summit | Toward CRC Canada. Registration is now open for you. Do join this formative, exciting opportunity and have a hand in creating the future of a Reformed, Christian community in Canada. If you’re unable to join, do consider donating so that others will have the opportunity to go.
It’s a new day! Let’s make history.
Join us!
Blessings,
Peter Bulthuis
