Workshops
Our workshops highlight both regional and nationwide church initiatives and communities. They take place Saturday, July 30, in the morning and afternoon.
SATURDAY MORNING
Ecumenical gift exchange: discoveries from the Anglican-Mennonite Dialogue

Facilitators: Rev. Canon Scott Sharman and Rev. Doug Klassen
Through video and stories, learn about the Anglican, Mennonite and Indigenous gifts given and received through this dialogue. Explore what local connections, partnerships and public witness could look like in various regions across Canada.
When evangelism meets interculturalism

Facilitators: Fanosie Legesse, minister of intercultural ministry for Mennonite Church Eastern Canada; José-Luis Moraga, discipleship pastor at Springfield Heights Mennonite Church
Mennonite Church Canada’s Intercultural Church Steering Committee will speak on sharing faith in different cultural contexts.
"Family on mission is the music to the lyrics of discipleship." - INNOVATE Network

Facilitators: Norm Dyck and Sean East, Mennonite Church Eastern Canada
Whatever your family looks like; be it a biological, blended, friends, extended community or whatever else, that is the place that God wants to transform into a seedbed for discipleship. Hear leaders in the INNOVATE Network share simple practices to encourage mustard seeds of discipleship to sprout and grow in your home and neighborhood.
Cultivating a culture of call

Facilitator: Michael Pahl, executive minister of Mennonite Church Manitoba
Across Mennonite Church Canada and other denominations, we see a growing need for good pastors to serve our congregations. While there are several important angles to addressing this problem, here is a crucial one: how can we renew a culture of call within our congregations and regional churches to discern and nurture pastoral gifts to meet our present and future needs for pastors?
"What do you have in your hands?" - Ministry in Thailand

Facilitator: Jeanette Hanson, director of International Witness
Join us for a digital tour of Thailand to witness how Witness workers Tom and Christine Poovong are challenging new communities of Jesus followers to build self-sustainable missional congregations, through church planting and income-generation ministry. Discuss what Canadian congregations can learn from this approach and how we can work together to strengthen ministry on both sides of the Pacific.
Creation is waiting: how do we live into a more sustainable future?

Facilitator: Tim Wiebe-Neufeld, executive minister of Mennonite Church Alberta
Romans 8 tells us that creation waits for the children of God to be revealed. Join members of Mennonite Church Canada's Sustainability Leadership Group to discuss responses to climate change and other ways organizations and individuals can move into a more sustainable—and faithful—future!
SATURDAY AFTERNOON
New resources and congregational resourcing tips from CommonWord and MennoMedia


Faciliators: Arlyn Friesen-Epp, director of CommonWord; Amy Gingerich, MennoMedia
MennoMedia is your publisher and CommonWord is your bookstore and resource centre. Learn how to best engage Anabaptist materials that are available for you and your congregation – to buy, borrow or access online. The workshop will include a profile of new resources.
"Do You Hear What I Hear?" - Young adults give voice to the church
Too often young-adult perspectives in our church are sidelined and lost as they step away from congregations. Hear from a panel of young adults leaders from MC congregations as they share their thoughts on the direction and longing of the church, both here at home and around the world.
“What’s Next?” - In This Together

Facilitators: Peter Niemeyer, Toronto United Mennonite Church; Alissa Bender, Hamilton Mennonite Church
In This together is grassroots group of people within our nationwide community of faith working to resource congregations and raise awareness in the area of LGBTQ inclusion. Wherever your congregation is on the spectrum of LGBTQ+ inclusion, there is something for you to learn. Three representatives from three different congregations share their experiences on the journey of creating safer spaces for LGBTQ+ people.
Sharing creation care stories
Facilitator: Joanne Moyer, associate professor of Environmental Studies and Geography, The King's University
How are you and your churches responding to changing environmental realities, such as climate change? What barriers and opportunities do you face? Contribute to research about Mennonite/Anabaptist engagement with the environment. Learn how churches can support flourishing communities.
Bees for Burkina and other creative ways to become a global church

Facilitator: Jeanette Hanson, director of International Witness
Hear about congregations across Canada who are living into the reality of a global body of Christ by sharing resources and building relationships with siblings in faith from Burkina and Burma to DR Congo and Colombia.
Congregational stories of intercultural community
This panel discussion will feature churches where different cultures come together as one faith community. Participants include Holyrood Church in Edmonton, a congregation that brings together members from African and European backgrounds, and Sherbrooke in Vancouver, a “faith community with a joyful sprinkling of English, Korean & Spanish Ingredients.” Come hear about the joys and challenges of walking together in faith when people come together from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds.