Calls to the Church: Listening to the Wisdom of the Elders

This totem stands in Kispiox. Photo by Doug Goodwin, at the 2016 Native Ministries Council.

National Indigenous History month will focus our attention to deepen our commitments and actions toward justice and reconciliation within the United Church of Canada, and within our communities.   

LeaderShift is pleased to host this free workshop series, coordinated by Rev John Snow, Pacific Mountain Regional Council Indigenous Minister, and Tony Snow, Coordinator for Indigenous Right Relations, Chinook Winds Regional Council.

Register here

Calls to the Church: Listening to the Wisdom of the Elders 

This four-session series will highlight the Calls to the Church approved at the 2018 General Council. The Calls to the Church document articulates the Indigenous Church’s vision for the ongoing development of Indigenous Peoples’ mission and ministry and communities of faith within The United Church of Canada. It outlines pathways for the whole church to continue to walk in the Spirit of Christ toward justice, healing, and reconciliation. 

The Calls to the Church emerged from a process of discernment by the Indigenous church as The United Church of Canada discerned a way forward, following the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action, and as a part of a comprehensive review within the United Church.   

Please register for the no cost event!  You will receive a follow up confirmation letter that includes a zoom link to use for the series.  Please join in as many of the sessions as you can.  And share this invitation with people in your community of faith.   

Date and Time: 

  • Four evenings

  • June 1 – 4, 2021 

  • 6:30 -7:30 pm PT / 7:30 -8:30 pm MT  

Session themes

Each session will include teaching from our Indigenous Ministers, and time for discussion in groups. 

June 1 - – Indigenous Ministry Orientation, Reconciliation Programming, Sharing Circle 

  • an overview of ways of being Indigenous Ministry in PM and CW Regions, and where we can share our work as Communities of Faith.

June 2 - Apology, TRC, UNDRIP, Calls to the Church 

  • A review of our work as a church with the recent calls to the church by the Indigenous Elders and discussion of implementation of the calls in communities of faith what they are discerning and what actions each are taking. 

June 3 - Meaningful Observation and Advocacy (Red Dress Day, Indigenous Month, Treaty Day, Orange   Shirt Day, Sisters in Spirit Day) 

  • Implementation of the work incorporating what has been learned from the Apology, TRC, UNDRIP and the United Church Elders Calls to the Church. 

June 4 - What is your path? Living into the Calls to the Church 

  • What is our workplan, considering past Moderator Jordan Cantwell’s request to implement the Calls to the Church as our United Church Workplan. 

Download the PDF promo flyer here.

Download the PowerPoint promo slide here.

 

Leadership

Rev. John Snow Jr.

John is a direct descendant of Treaty 7 signatories and a member of the Stoney Tribe; he is a sun-dancer and pipe-holder in the Nakoda Tradition. John was educated in Canada, the United States and London, England. He holds an M.A. in Political Science in Public Policy, Law and Administration from the University of Calgary. John is a seasoned speaker, instructor and negotiator for technical oil and gas. He has worked with provincial and federal governments to advise on policy, guided by the Treaties, the TRC, and UNDRIP. John has been able to provide insight on Indigenous ways and history by giving presentations and instructing Indigenous courses for youth to post-graduate, and for the United Church and the Morley Ecumenical Conference. John has served the United Church of Canada as a student minister in Maskwacis, as a member of the Permanent Committee on Finance, Chinook Winds Regional Executive, and the National Indigenous Council. A recent graduate of the Sandy Saulteaux Spiritual Center Indigenous Ministry Program, John was ordained September 2020, in The United Church of Canada, M. Div.. John’ s ministry is grounded in community, and walking in faith together to build a vision for the future.

 

Tony Snow

Tony Snow is a member of the Stoney Nakoda Sioux First Nation in Morley, Alberta. He is a direct descendent of signatories to Treaty Number 7. His father, the late Dr. Rev Chief John Snow, was the first Ordained Indigenous Minister in the United Church in Alberta. Tony works as the Indigenous Minister for Chinook Winds Region and is the Indigenous Lead for Right Relations at Hillhurst United Church in Calgary. He is a member of the Calgary Interfaith Council, the Climate Advisory Circle and the Anti-Racism Common Table for the United Church of Canada. He is currently completing M.Div Studies at the Vancouver School of Theology. 

Renewing Leadership - calling to you

Hello, dear one
 
How are you these days, all these days aof on again off again uncertainties? I'm thinking of you, of us all in leadership in the church. We're doing so much, is it too much or not enough?  

Are shoots of green pushing up underfoot? Is the Light finding you? 
 
I really want you to know about Renewing Leadership because - yes, it is an excellent event with excellent leaders, and because I believe in and value the process and learning it invites, so deeply.  

I participated in this program last fall when our sister organization Leader Wise offered it. I know that some of you are asking yourself questions arising out of the experience of this upside-down year - questions about your call and your essential gifts for ministry. Renewing Leadership offered me a place to re connect with some parts of that essential identity that had been getting lost, a time of professional reflection and faithful vulnerability. Leader Wise agreed to offer this event in partnership with us – and I am so pleased to offer this for you.  

So this is a very direct invitation - hopefully cutting through the stacks of digital invitations around you on every side - to consider being part of Renewing Leadership this spring.  
 
What might be the best part of my note is -- do you want to talk on the phone? I'm here! I can tell you more about the program details, and co-leaders Deborah and Okokokon, listen with you to see if it might be a fit for you in the season of Easter. Send me an email. Let’s have a conversation. 

Blessings, blessings, blessings 

Allison 

 

Renewing Leadership, for Ministry Personnel Renewing Leadership, for Ministry Personnel
REGISTRATION CLOSED
Renewing Leadership, for Ministry Personnel

Due to Omicron, is course is postponed. Stay tuned for future dates.

Location: Loon Lake Retreat Centre

  • Renewing Leadership is for Ministry Personnel in the Pacific Mountain and Chinook Winds Regional Councils only.

  • Monday January 17 - Wednesday January 19, 2022

  • Space is limited to 18.

  • $650. Meals & Accommodation are included. Registrations are fully refundable if cancellation becomes necessary due to either COVID-19 or travel restrictions.

  • A Travel Pool is available to participants travelling from over 100km to Maple Ridge

Note: LeaderShift supports all Province of BC/ Centre for Disease Control COVID guidelines and protocols. We recognize the geography of COVID and communicable diseases is changing and changeable. Closer to the time of this event, we will share the COVID safety protocols and requirements for this in-person time together.