RESURRECT - a learning party!

A Learning Party is a gathering designed to highlight all the things you love about a conference - interaction, connection and collaboration with other liked minded leaders, community connectors, church planter-starters and/or spiritual entrepreneurs.

Resurrect 2023

1pm, Thursday May 4 - 2pm, Saturday May 6 2023

FirstMet United / the AbbeyChurch

AT THE CORNER OF BALMORAL AND QUADRA STREETS IN VICTORIA BC: ON THE TRADITIONAL AND UNCEDED TERRITORIES OF THE SONGHEES AND ESQUIMALT NATIONS; LƏK̓ʷƏŊƏN-SPEAKING PEOPLES.

Click for full event details!

At a Learning Party you’ll make new friends, be inspired by courageous followers of Christ who are taking risks in the Kin-dom and, yes - have fun (since you know, it is a party after-all.)

Resurrect intentionally seeks to highlight those ‘on the edges of the inside of the church’ - and especially BIPOC and or 2SLGBTQ+ leaders. We’ll feature some more familiar ‘names’ as well as lots of ‘local heroes’ who are doing amazing work. Together, we’ll all share in the storytelling and inspiration in larger group and smaller sessions.

If you are a person with a hunger for a new way of being church, save the date and come on to Victoria to spend some time in praying, worshipping, singing and listening and learning with your people!

Children (age 6 - 11) and youth (12 and up) will be an integral part of the Resurrect party. We will offer some age specific events - led by a team including Nik Sloat (Refugia Youth / McDougal UC) as well as integrated participation in whole community gatherings.

Children and youth will be registered separately after you register. Contact registrar Jes for more info.

Share this poster around! Bring your people!

A note from Rev. Michelle Slater - LeaderSHIFTS interim director!

Greetings from the territory of the Lkwungen and W̱SÁNEĆ peoples, also known as Victoria, BC.

I’m thrilled, honoured, excited, and slightly nervous to be stepping into the LeaderShift chair for the time being!

After 24 years of ordained ministry in congregations, I’m looking forward to thinking about, exploring, and hearing from you, about what kinds of learning, growth and leadership formation you yearn for in this time, in your place and context of ministry.

I’ve served in part-time, small congregations (shout out to Chemainus United and Cedar United Churches!) and program size congregations (Dunbar Heights UC and Oak Bay UC!) And all along the way, I’ve treasured opportunities to continue learning and growing in my practice of ministry.

Not just because there’s always more to learn, and more ways to grow. But also because, as Parker J. Palmer writes, “Our lives as leaders both demand and deserve reflection. They demand reflection because we must know what is in our hearts, lest our leadership do more harm than good. They deserve reflection because it is often challenging to sustain the heart to lead.” (from the Introduction to
Leading from within: Poetry that Sustains the Courage to Lead, 2007, Center for Courage and Renewal)

These are challenging times to lead, to be sure. And, we are not alone in the work. I look forward to your good company, and the company of the Holy Spirit.

May we experience together, times of opening our hearts to know what is in them, and times of strengthening our courage and filling our souls, so that we may be sustained in our leadership, in the times and places that Jesus has called us to be.

Also, please note that I’ll be away from February 27 to March 26! Then I’ll really hit the ground running 😊

Blessings on your journey and in your practice of leadership,

Michelle Slater

Interim LeaderShift Director

Orbiting the Calgary Conference Site - Satellite Hub Locations Are Locked In For Bold Witness, Relentless Grace!

It’s almost here —

Three days in the company of visionary leaders, finding friends new and old, being challenged and encouraged, and celebrating Christian faith in community. For the Seeker, the Wanderer, the Questioner, Bold Witness, Relentless Grace invites you to dive deeply into what boldly living Christian faith with grace can mean — and for those who can’t make it to Calgary, attending one of the Satellite Conference Locations may work for you!

Oooh, Watch Party!

LeaderSHIFT is supporting the Satellite Conferences to live-stream the entire BOLD WITNESS, RELENTLESS GRACE event to in-person gatherings outside of Southern Alberta! Imagine a book study, pub theology, or congregational pot luck — our Satellite Conferences gather folks in person to break bread, share time and story, and engage Christian practices while attending Bold Witness, Relentless Grace together.

The Satellite Conference Experience

• Hosted by communities of faith in church-spaces, by individuals in their living room, and all possibilities in between

• LIVE-STREAMS Calgary conference hours (Mountain Time) to your in-person party

• Fuels powerful reflection and connections with the conference theme

• Captures the energy and inspiration radiating from the Symons Valley stage

• Good fun, in the good company of other Seekers, Wanderers and Questioners!

Bold Leadership

Dr. Monetta Bailey, Rev. Tony Snow, Rev. Jake Van Pernis, and Keith Murray are joining Sarah Bessey on the BWRG stage. They bring Christian insights, experiences, practices of Truth and Reconciliation, calls for equity, justice and healing, and deep, deep appreciation for Jesus’ way in the world. Accompanying our presenters and participants in Worship & Song are Symons Valley United’s Lead Minister, Rev. Vicki McPhee, ‘The Naked Faith Band’ member and musician, Andrew Nicholson, and Symons Valley United Minister of Music, Donna Williams.

BOLD WITNESS, RELENTLESS GRACE is Sarah Bessey’s first in-person event in 3 years give or take pandemic limitations and life’s realities. You may not yet know of Sarah Bessey’s home-based ministry, or the authentic ways she lives her call and faithfulness, or the low-pressure way that ancient-Christian practices ever-accompany her in life’s stuff: this is her site

An inspiring, late-autumn conference —

Enjoy Keynote and Panelist presentations balanced with scheduled breaks, a longer lunch for discussion or reflection opportunities. Celebrate. Pray. Sing. Lament. Give Thanks. Sunday Worship with Symons Valley United: SARAH BESSEY, preaching; REV. VICKI McPHEE, presiding.

Dreamt into being and planned by Symons Valley United Church clergy, staff and team of volunteers. Sponsored by LeaderSHIFT who exist to support church leaders in managing change and leading faithfully through challenge. Supported by the Chinook Winds Regional Council. Attended by YOU. Let us know how to help you attend.

Blessings,

LeaderSHIFT