How to we set a welcoming table when we're missing different things?

Beloved,

In June, Pacific Mountain Regional Council Executive Minister Treena Duncan welcomed United Church researcher Rev Janet Gear to one of the PMRC online Townhall sessions. Treena has gathered folks online, from across the Pacific Mountain regional council since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. What began as a way for United Church people to review and flush out important, logistical pandemic information through our UCC lens, the PMRC Townhall sessions grew to embody and make space for community, shared experience, prayer and reflection.

LeaderShift has a long relationship with Janet Gear and her research project The Theological Banquet - and you may have participated in one of Janet's sessions. We're pleased to share this recording of the PMRC's June 24, 2020 Townhall meeting for you and your networks - for the gift of hope and grounding it brings. Janet explores what we know, understand and feel about being United Church, and missing church, in these COVID-19 days.

In June, Pacific Mountain Regional Council Executive Minister Treena Duncan welcomed United Church researcher Rev Janet Gear to one of the PMRC online Townha...

We are still living a physically distant reality, bearing witness to racialized prejudice and murder, labouring for justice and transformation, yearning for ease and peace, and we hear how weary and isolating it feels at times. Janet's work and this recording calls us back to the table of grace, community and love. Articulating the ways United Church people live and experience God, Janet's conversation with Treena and those gathered online, reminds us how well we are connected, supported and ever-growing when we listen for, and respond to the Christ-call to be heart-open and present to one another, especially in our differences, especially when we're not gathering in person.

Gosh -- our work of birthing, raising, walking God's kin-dom isn't finished. What a gift to never be done in growing with God and our church! After a few weeks of intentional space and rest, LeaderShift is readying more ally workshop sessions with Angela Ma Brown, getting excited for Kootenay Faith Fest, and refining opportunities for personal and professional reflection for church leaders - for you. Maybe your rest time isn't quite finished yet - that's okay, keep still till it's time to rise. We'll write again soon.

Faithfully,
The LeaderShift Team

Tressa Brotsky - communications
Rob Crosby-Shearer - LeaderShift Church Plant Project
Allison Rennie - director
Rhian Walker - program staff
Brenda Wolff - administrative assistance

Registration Now Open: Confronting Whiteness ~ An Anti-Racism Workshop for White Folks with Anna White

Anna White at Camp Fircom

Anna White is a PK (preacher’s kid) squared, and a self-professed ‘adjunct church geek’. Anna has partnered on projects with many across the Pacific Mountain Regional Council and beyond including the PMR First Third Ministry Network, Mandate magazine, Oak Bay United Church, Camp Fircom, Naramata Centre (to name only a very, very few!).

LeaderShift is grateful for Anna leading two workshops for White people in our United Church. She has an encouraging and positive willingness to her leadership with makes tackling challenging conversations possible.

Confronting Whiteness: An Anti-Racism Workshop for White Folks
2.5 Hour Workshop

Whether you are new to this journey or have been unpacking your White privilege for decades, this workshop will help you develop personal skills for confronting systemic racism.

Learn more about how we as white people can show up for each other and racialized people in our lives.  We will gain skills to support us in moving the dial on our allyship/accomplice work for justice as communities of faith. 

You’ll have the chance to talk to other White folks about topics ranging from “How do I deal with my racist uncle?” to “What’s White culture?” to “Wait, I’m a Settler?!"

 The course comes out of decades of anti-racism work led by people of colour, and a persistent ask for White folks to engage in our own work of confronting whiteness individually, interpersonally, and organizationally.

• Event details and Registration for Sunday workshop, July 12 here.

• Event details for Registration for Wednesday workshop, July 15 here.

Space is limited for each workshop, register soon!

Click to open PDF flyer for printing and sharing.

Registration Now Open: Break the Silence ~ The Power of Active Witnessing with Angela Ma Brown

LeaderShift and Angela Ma Brown have worked together in the past; we are grateful to Angela for offering two anti-racism workshops this July 2020 - for church leaders and staff, and members who are re-committing to dismantling racism in the church.

Break the Silence: The Power of Active Witnessing
3 Hour Workshop

Have you ever witnessed a racist incident but didn’t know what to say or do and felt conflicted and regretful about not responding? This workshop will help participants develop their “response-ability” or readiness to respond to such incidents.   

The first part of the session engages participants in experiential learning activities and an understanding of the theoretical underpinnings of prejudice, discrimination and oppression. The second part involves learning a wide range of verbal and behavioral responses when someone is being victimized by an offensive and disrespectful remark or inequitable treatment.   

Participants will shift from passive bystanders to active witnesses and will feel more equipped and empowered to respond to racism on an individual basis. Together, we can break the silence and make an ethical commitment to collectively fight prejudice, discrimination and oppression of any form in society. 

Event details for Thursday Workshop, July 2 here.

Event details for Wednesday Workshop, July 8 here.

Or click here to jump straight to registration now.

Click to open PDF flyer