Now gathering! Have a wonderful conference, all ye RMC attendees!

Not able to make it in person? You can watch Rev Jenny Carter's keynote presentations, over livestream here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8EnXYjXlLrwUdJBOOG61rQ

You can watch Rev. Jenny Carter's keynote presentations, over livestream here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8EnXYjXlLrwUdJBOOG61rQ

Conference Leadership

Facilitators & Hosts

Workshop Descriptions & Leader Bios

Before Checkout, a form will pop up asking which workshop option you would like for Saturday Morning, and Saturday Afternoon. The same workshops are offered in both time slots.

1. Planning Worship for Small Congregations

with the Rev. Susan Lukey
Join in a time of exploring resources and ideas for planning worship for small congregations. We’ll talk about ways to do ‘sermons’ if you don’t have a regular preacher and engage a process for writing beautiful prayers. We’ll explore the ways that Gathering magazine and GatheringWorship.ca can enhance your worship. And we’ll invite God’s Spirit to enthuse us for the planning and sharing of worship in our congregations.

Susan Lukey is in team ministry with her husband, Rev. David Robertson, at High River United Church, where they have served for 28 years to date. She is passionate about worship and liturgy and has been the editor of Gathering: The United Church of Canada’s worship resource for 20 years. Susan grew up on a farm and has been committed to staying in rural ministry throughout her career.

2. Turn Your Congregation into a Choir!

with the Rev. David Robertson
In our time together we will sing.  We will have fun.  We will learn basic tools to help lead congregational singing that anyone can do.  We’ll work from a curated list of hymns and songs that are suited for smaller groups, that are accessible for all ages and easy to introduce to your congregation at home.  All of this in a safe, affirming space.

David Robertson is in team ministry with his wife, Rev. Susan Lukey at High River United Church, where they have served for 28 years to date. David has a undergraduate Bachelors degree with a major in voice and choral music. He has studied at a graduate level with Calgary voice teacher Donald Bell and later, studied at the Perkins School of Theology Church Music Summer School in Dallas, TX. David has responsibility for the adult choir program at HRUC as well as coordinates the annual community Carols and Choirs advent liturgy.  David loves languages and fountain pens.

3. Strengthening Spiritual Care in Rural Congregations: A Team-Based Approach

with the Rev. Dr. Geoffrey Simmins
Building on the tradition of sharing and caring in rural communities, this workshop will help you learn how to bring your gifts to support spiritual care in communities of faith. Utilizing a team-based approach, this workshop will provide empower lay people to work collaboratively to support an existing minister in providing spiritual care—or perhaps when no minister is currently in the community of faith. We will learn some new skills together, sharpen some existing tools in our toolkits, and focus on some takeaway skills that will help build our confidence and skill levels.

Geoffrey Simmins is a congregational minister who has a strong interest in pastoral care and adult education. Geoffrey has served both rural and urban congregations in Alberta, and has also been responsible for training hospital visitors in the Chinook Winds Region.

4. Storytelling and Preaching

with the Rev. Dr. Karen Medland
How has God been active in your life? What stories of God’s goodness in your own spiritual journey are waiting to be told, to inspire, comfort, encourage and challenge others? This workshop will help you find the Good News in your own faith journey, and equip you to turn it into a Sunday morning reflection. Come and explore the power of storytelling together.

Karen Medland has 17 years of pastoral ministry experience in The United Church of Canada. Throughout that time, she has come to realize that using our own stories of faith can be a powerful way to help others engage with the scriptures. Karen has an MDiv from Vancouver School of Theology and a DMin in Preaching from Chicago Theological Seminary. At Chicago she learned the power of story telling in preaching and wants others to know that they too have powerful stories that are about the Good News of the Gospel.

5. We Are Not Alone- Working with Partnerships and Alliances in Smaller Communities

with Joel Den Haan
Communities of Faith are encountering major change in their local neighbourhoods after the COVID 19 Pandemic.  How we manage our own resources, how we work together, and how we collaborate to meet the needs and opportunities around us has never been more important. This workshop will open up horizons of community engagement and collaboration that can bring real hope amidst all the change, including a focus on:  mission and values development work to bring clarity about who we are as communities of faith offering unique ministry in our local context;  community engagement resources that can help build upon the support and energy of the community all around; and capital and facility analysis, to identify ways to work together, share space, and maintain sustainable community benefit.

Joel Den Haan 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.

Saturday Evening Engagements

Keep the learning, conversation, and inspiration growing at one of these two optional Saturday Evening Engagements!

a. Small Town, Big Impact - come explore the possibilities!
with Affirming Connections

The journey of becoming and being an Affirming ministry does not have a cookie cutter approach. This is why we interviewed Affirming leaders (clergy and lay) from smaller or more rural communities, who have all personally journeyed along the Affirming path with their community of faith. We discovered powerful stories and inspiring communities! 

We’re highlighting smaller cities because often there may be no other Affirming faith community close by, so you might be one of the few or the only religious space that takes 2SLGBTQ+ (Two Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer...) inclusion seriously. And being anonymous in a small town is not an option, so if you’re doing social justice work that is unpopular with some, the pushback can be disheartening. 

These videos can help you and your community jumpstart meaningful conversations around discerning your Affirming path, beginning the process, or revitalizing your existing Affirming Ministry. Come watch the videos and connect with us and your peers about the possibilities!

B. It Works For Us – Insights & Best Practices for Vital, Healthy, Sustainable Part-time Ministry
with Ross Bartlett

In 2021, Ross published the results of the first in-depth exploration of part-time ministry in the United Church (It’s Real Ministry, Friesen Press). Currently, he is working on exploring and sharing the different ways in which congregations and clergy can shape such ministries to be vital and sustainable for all parties.  In this time, we’ll talk together about the big picture across several mainline Protestant denominations and explore together the specifics that can make a life-changing difference in your context. Come and share your wisdom and experience.

The Rev. Dr. Ross Bartlett
After 35+ years in congregational ministry in Ontario and Nova Scotia, Ross was appointed United Church Formation Director at the Atlantic School of Theology (Halifax, NS) in 2018. In that program he works to help students become reflective and effective practitioners and also teaches in the areas of United Church studies, leadership, and part-time ministry. Service to the United Church has been at different levels, including President of Conference, chair of presbyteries, and General Council Executive.

Conference Costs, Travel & Hotels

Group Discount & Registrations

• Individual Tickets ($50) can be purchased online here, or by phone or email with our Registrar.

• Group Payments Options:

• Credit Card, Cheque, or Cash. Please complete the Group Payment Request form above, and our Registrar will contact you for payment and Participant Information Form instructions (members of a group should NOT purchase the $50 Ticket). Communities of faith sending up to 5 people can pay the $100 flat rate (up to a 40% discount per person); communities of faith sending 6 or more people can pay the $100 flat rate, plus $50 per each additional person.

Your Stay (meals, rooming)

• Lunch on Saturday September 30, and snacks during the conference are included in the registration fee.

• Not Included: Accommodation is not included in the registration fee.

  • There are 10 reserved rooms at at the Ramada by Wyndham High River, at the nightly price of $159 plus taxes. Please call 403-603-3183 and ask for UCC rooms to book.

  • There are 8 reserved rooms at The Super 8, the nightly prince of $179 plus taxes. Bookings must be confirmed by August 30, 2023 to receive the group rate. Call 402-652-4448 to book directly with the hotel.

• Not Included: Saturday breakfast, Saturday supper, Sunday breakfast are not included in the registration fee.

  • Restaurant information will be available at the conference.

Travel Considerations

• High River is an easy drive (less than 60 min) from Calgary.

Promotional Materials

Interested in encouraging a colleague to attend this event?

We’d LOVE that! Please copy & paste the URL into an email: https://leadershiftuccan.org/rmc-2023

You are invited to download and circulate these promotional images to your community and networks! Please link your online posts to this event page: https://leadershiftuccan.org/rmc-2023

1. PNG Poster to Print (8.5x11”)

2. PDF Poster with Live Links (to attach in an email)

3. Online Sharing (square) 1080x1080, e-Newsletter 675x675

4. Online Sharing (rectangle) 1200X630, e-Newsletter 600x315

5. Projection, Standard (eg Power Point) 1024x768

6. Projection, Widescreen 1920x1080

Rural Ministry Conference

September 29-October 1, 2023 at High River United Church, 123 MacLeod Trail S.W., High River AB. For Registration Support, please contact our Registrar, Jes Beckerley. To hear more about this Conference Program and Theme, please contact our Director, Rev. Michelle Slater, or Chinook Winds Regional Council Pastoral Relations Minister, Karen Medland (kmedland@united-church.ca).