A Conference for Lay Leaders & Their Ministry Personnel - in Calgary, AB

Come and be encouraged, empowered and equipped for your lay leadership and ministry, in your community of faith!

 
 

Friday, October 17 - Sunday, April 19, 2025

mcdougall united church, calgary AB

In-Person Only

Join LeaderShift for workshops on creating a spiritual care team, reaching younger generations, emerging models of congregational governance, community partnership and church property, Affirming ministry, and more. Come gain some knowledge and skills, build relationships with other lay leaders, and reconnect to why you care about and give your time, energy and commitment to your community of faith!

Conference Overview

Friday, October 17:

7:00 - 9:00pm: Worship, Community Building, Reflection

Saturday, October 18:

9:00 - 10:00am: Worship & Reflection

10:00am - 12:30pm: Morning Workshops A, B, C, D, or E (choose 1):

  • with Rev Geoffrey Simmins

  • with Rev Vicky Nelson

  • with Rev Pamela Evans

  • with Treena Duncan

  • With Rev Joel den Haan

12:30 - 2:00pm: Lunch (provided) and Break

2:00 - 4:15pm: Afternoon Workshops F, G, H, I or J (choose 1):

  • with Karen Medland

  • with Joel den Haan

  • Church governance is not one-size-fits-all. This session will open the discovery of various types of boards and alternative structures that can help your congregation thrive. Learn about the key responsibilities of governing bodies, including legal obligations, accountability to the wider church, and regional oversight. This workshop will also delve into the legal responsibilities that come with leadership, providing clear guidance on how to ensure your church operates within its legal and ethical frameworks. Ideal for church leaders looking to deepen their understanding of governance structures, this session will help you shape a board that works best for your community’s unique needs. with Treena Duncan

  • With Affirming Connections

4:15 - 5:00pm: Closing

Sunday, October 19:

10:00am Sunday morning worship together!

This Conference Is About:

  • Being together in person, for lay leaders who are missing presbytery and that experience of community

  • Creating and rebuilding relationships with other lay leaders in your community of faith and nearby areas

  • Great worship and singing

  • Being reminded of why we offer our gifts to the church as a form of discipleship, of why we love our communities of faith and want to see them flourish

  • Becoming further equipped for our lay ministries and leadership

Workshop Leadership

Treena Duncan

Executive Minister, Chinook Winds/Pacific Mountain Regional Council

  • Leading workshops D. Managing Conflict, and H. Types of Boards and Alternative Structures

pamela evans

First Third Ministry Team Lead, Chinook Winds/Pacific Mountain Regional Council

Leading workshop C. Reaching Younger Generations

Rev. joel den haan

Community of Faith Strategy Consultant (Chinook Winds Regional Council)

Joel draws on over twenty-five years’ experience assisting faith-based, nonprofit, and for-profit groups to understand who they are in today’s environment, plan for their hopes and dreams, and implement their highest and best vision with their land and capital resource. Joel brings over a decade of education and research into how people work together, along with extensive experience as a pastor and denominational advisor, focusing these resources to identify pathways and partnerships for enhanced community impact.

  • Leading workshops E. Community Partnerships, and G. Property: Issues and Possibilities

Worship Leadership

Rev. MIchelle slater


rev. scott reynolds

Scott Reynolds serves as the Growth Animator within the Chinook Winds and Pacific Mountain Regions. Scott recently finished serving for seven and a half years as the minister of the Irma-Viking/Kinsella Pastoral Charge in rural Alberta and before that served for two and a half years as the Minister for Youth and Young Adults at the United Churches of Langley. Scott now resides in Red Deer and is married to his amazing wife, Samantha, with whom he is raising two children, Sibylla, aged 4 and Sebastian, aged 2.

Investment & Hospitality

Online Registration

  • This is a free offering. Advance registration is required

  • Registration is via our registration platform, SmartRec. Register now! https://app.amilia.com/store/en/chinook-pacific-uccan/api/Activity/Detail?activityId=xAoR9Ml

Registration opens August 1, 2025, and closes October 9, 2025.

Meals

  • Saturday Lunch and refreshments are included.

Accommodation

  • Accommodation is not included.

  • We have reserved a room block a

  • Group I

  • For individual reservations:

    By phone: 1-800-663-0298 and quote GROUP ID 8486126 “United Church”

    Online: to reserve your room online click here for reservations

In Partnership

with Chinook Winds Regional Council

Conference for Lay Leaders & Their Ministry Personnel

Friday, October 17 - Sunday, October 19, 2025. McDougall United Church, Calgary AB. Click to Register. Please see our Contact page to email or call Registration Support, and to reach the LeaderSHIFT team.

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