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Meeting Video Recordings | Meeting Resources and Materials | Chair’s Thank You Message | Special Guests
Thank you for joining us!
This year’s meeting was a hybrid, held both in-person at the Quattro Hotel in Sault Ste. Marie and online in Zoom. Joining us was our special guest, the Rt. Rev. Dr. Carmen Lansdowne, 44th Moderator of The United Church of Canada. If you were unable to join us, not to worry. Below you will find the recording of the regional meeting along with pertinent meeting documents. We look forward to seeing everyone again soon!
Day 1 Sessions – Friday, May 3, 2024
Day 2 Sessions – Saturday, May 4, 2024
Day 3 Session and Celebration of Ministries Service – Sunday, May 5, 2024
Meeting Resources and Materials
These items are pending and will be added as they become available
- Resource Book – [pdf | 70 pages] – PDF (changes may still be made to this document until the day before the meeting)
- Draft Meeting Agenda [pdf | 4 pages] – UPDATED MAY 1 – PDF
- Consent and Procedural Motions [pdf | 3 pages] – PDF
- Holy Manners [pdf | 1 page] – PDF
- Draft Minutes of Regional Meeting – November 25, 2023 [pdf | 4 pages] – PDF
- Zoom Tip Sheet – includes how to vote during the meeting – [ pdf | 4 pages ] – PDF
- Proposals – None at this time
- Business: Draft Budget – [ pdf | 2 pages ] — See our 2024 Regional Meeting Budget Information Page if you have any questions for clarification – PDF
- Reports: Digest of Actions – [ pdf | 3 pages ] – PDF
- Reports: Regional Council Executive Accountability – [ pdf | 4 pages ] – PDF
- Reports: Pastoral Relations Commission – [ pdf | 8 pages ] – PDF
- Reports: Support to Communities of Faith Commission – [ pdf | 2 pages ] – PDF
- Reports: Nominations Committee – [pdf | 1 page] – PDF
- Reports: Nominations Slate of Officers – [pdf | 4 pages] – PDF
- Reports: Property Resource Team – [ pdf | 3 pages ] – PDF
- Reports: Affirming Resource Team – [ pdf | 2 pages ] – PDF
- Reports: Right Relations Resource Team – [ pdf | 2 pages ] – PDF
- Reports: Mission Support Grants Resource Team – [ pdf | 2 pages ] – PDF
- Reports: GC44 Commissioners – [ pdf | 2 pages ] – PDF
- Reports: General Council Executive – [ pdf | 5 pages ] – PDF
- Reports: Social Justice Network of Ontario Regions (SJNOR) – [ pdf | 1 page ] – PDF
- Reports: Stewardship – [ pdf | 2 pages ] – PDF
- Reports: United Church Women (UCW) – [ pdf | 1 page ] – PDF
- Reports: Grand River Bookstore – [ pdf | 1 page ] – PDF
- Reports: Emmanuel College – [ pdf | 3 pages ] – PDF
- Reports: St. Andrew’s College – [ pdf | 2 pages ] – PDF
- Reports: Atlantic School of Theology – [ pdf | 1 page ] – PDF
- Reports: United Church Rural Ministry Network – [ pdf | 1 page ] – PDF
- Ordinands and Comissionand [pdf | 2 page] – PDF
- Jubilands [pdf | 1 page] – PDF
- Retirees – [pdf | 1 page ] – PDF
- In Memoriam – [ pdf | 3 pages ] – PDF
Chair of Executive’s Message
Siblings in Christ,
“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit;
and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord;
and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God
who activates all of them in everyone.
To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”
1 Corinthians 12:4-7 NRSV
Our Regional Meeting may have concluded on Sunday, yet the work continues. So, it is with a grateful heart that we take a pause … and I write to you in my capacity as your Chair.
We were so blessed this past weekend to witness the hours of faith-filled work and the variety of gifts expressed toward the common good that went into making this meeting one that was enriching, life-giving and allowed everyone a voice at the table.
From Regional Staff to Regional Representatives & Ministry Leaders
From Planning Team Members to Hotel Hospitality Providers
From Note Takers to Tech & Zoom Facilitators
From Music & Worship Leaders to Bookroom Sellers
From Workshop Leaders to Resource Team Members
From Executive & Commission Members to invited Guests
Each one of you, working together, sharing your gifts, your questions and your sweat equity made the meeting what it was. You put your trust in God and you opened yourself to the Spirit as it wove through the body collective in ways unexpected and wondrous, surprising us all! Our Region is stronger – this Body of Christ gathered here “Upon this Rock” – has been able to deepen our connection one to the other and our understanding of place in the wider church.
And here I sit in wonder and awe as I mumble words of thanks that can’t even begin to capture my gratitude for the part you played. For what seemed insurmountable was made possible as my contribution was added to the mix and together with yours, made this meeting one to remember!
Blessings to you as you continue to walk in faith.
Peace,
Rev. Nancy Ferguson,
Chair, Canadian Shield Regional Council
Thank You to our Special Guest Speakers!
The Right Rev. Dr. Carmen Lansdowne is the 44th Moderator of The United Church of Canada (UCC). She is the elected national spiritual leader and public representative of the United Church until 2025. As Moderator, Carmen chairs the governance bodies of the UCC.
She also sits on the board of the Vancouver Foundation–Canada’s largest community foundation. She has previously held a number of important governance roles with the UCC, including supporting indigenous candidates for ministry.
Prior to serving the national church, Moderator Carmen was the executive director of First United Church Community Ministry Society in Vancouver.
The Moderator leads with compassion, thoughtfulness, and creativity while maintaining academic interests, church ministry, indigenous ways of being, parenting, and partnering. She holds a PhD from the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, California, and is a member of the Heiltsuk First Nation. She is passionate about creating a life with great stories and amazing adventures with her family.
Rev. Dr. Andrew Richardson
Vocational Minister,
Fundy St. Lawrence Dawning Waters Regional Council
Bermuda-Nova Scotia Regional Council
First Dawn Eastern Edge Regional Council
As part of the General Council’s new operation plan, Andrew is the lead on collaborative ministry and mentoring. Before accepting the position of Vocational Minister in 2019, Andrew was a congregational minister for 31 years, He has been actively involved in the wider community, with a keen interest in community mobilization and collaborative leadership. Andrew will also be our guest speaker at the Ministry Personnel Retreat happening before the regional meeting at Willowgrove United.
Rev. Calin Lau
Growth Animator,
The United Church of Canada
Calin serves in the Growth and Ministry Development department, deployed to Canadian Shield and Shining Waters Regional Councils. Within the framework of the strategic plan, under the direction of the Director of Growth and Ministry Development, the Growth Animator plants, enhances, evaluates and connects new communities of faith, supports renewal efforts in existing ministries, and strengthens invitation to The United Church of Canada.
Rev. Melody Duncanson-Hales
Community of Faith Stewardship Support
The United Church of Canada
Melody is your go-to for all aspects of community of faith stewardship, including annual giving programs, year-round stewardship, Mission & Service, planned giving, the United Church Foundation and more. Melody also brings her experience to the modules of Called to Be the Church: The Journey, the United Church stewardship program.
Michael Shewburg
Executive Director
Five Oaks
Michael Shewburg joined the Five Oaks team in 2017 at Operations Manager and has been Executive Director since 2020. Michael is a Minister in the United Church of Canada and has worked in various ministry settings. Michael lives in Paris with his family on a regenerative organic farm and is connected to local community initiatives. Michael loves retreat, either in leadership or participating, he loves the land, water, trails and loves a good conversation with a coffee on the deck with new and old friends.
Aleyxa Gates Julien
PR/Communications Coordinator
Faithful Footprints
Aleyxa is a passionate advocate for advancing green building initiatives that contribute to the shift toward a sustainable built environment. With a strong academic foundation in resource sustainability and environmental impact assessment from the University of Waterloo, Aleyxa uses her inherent skills and expertise in strategic communication and creative strategy to encourage the uptake of sustainable building solutions. Aleyxa works closely with our Faithful Footprints team and UCC across the country to raise awareness and amplify energy conservation and decarbonization building retrofits projects of United Church communities.
Labyrinth Walk
Thank you to the Manitou Intentional Learning Center for hosting the self directed labyrinth walk at Willowgrove United. Walking the labyrinth is embodied prayer. It is a symbolic action that can bring meaning into everyday reality; a place of integration, of focus; a place to discover or recover the desire of one’s heart.