Gathering 2022
in Edmonton, Alberta, and online
Friday, July 29, to Monday, August 1
We declare to you...what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life. 1 John 1:1
Join us on Treaty 6 territory as we re-examine what it means to tell the Good News and bear witness to the Gospel of peace.
"Energy is building in Edmonton as we prepare to host 'We Declare: what we have seen and heard'"
Meet members of the Mennonite Church Alberta Gathering 2022 planning team in our invitational video, and learn what to expect at our nationwide event this summer!
Song written for Gathering 2022 blends virtual voices from across Mennonite Church Canada
“When Doug Klassen started to dream about the in-person gathering of MC Canada, he wondered if I might be able to write something based on the theme. That was so long ago that the key scripture passage has even changed:) But what hasn't changed is the desire Doug felt to hold two seemingly contradictory things at the same time - the need to confess failings as seen through our complicity in things like colonialism and climate change, and the conviction that in spite of failings, our faith in Jesus and our efforts to follow him should be invitational. Even though we make mistakes, come and join us, and see what amazing things God will do through us.” -- Phil Campbell-Enns, songwriter of “Greater things than these,” compiled by Darryl Neustaedter Barg
Share. Build. Nurture. Strengthen.
We gather to
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share faith stories
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build the ministry and mission of the church locally, regionally, nationally and internationally
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nurture faith and fellowship
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strengthen a nationwide Anabaptist Mennonite identity.
Gathering 2022 is worship centred
Worship times are enriched by:
- speakers' presentations on our Gathering theme
- faith stories from members across our nationwide community of faith
- being situated locally, within the context of our Mennonite Church Alberta family.
Join us as we join together in praising our God!
Day for Spiritual Leaders - July 29, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Edmonton First Mennonite Church
The Day for Spiritual Leaders is a day intended for pastors, lay leaders, spiritual directors, parish nurses and deacons and is hosted by Mennonite Church Canada's Community of Spiritual Leaders.
Sarah Kathleen Johnson and Anneli Loepp Thiessen will lead worship. Time will be set aside for naming laments and grief from the past two years, with each other and before God, and a space provided to turn toward praise.
Glen Guyton, executive director of Mennonite Church USA, and author of Reawakened: How your congregation can spark lasting change, will speak on reawakening to ministry.
Registration for the Day for Spiritual Leaders $75.
Contact your regional church leadership minister for more information.
COVID-19 protocols
Mennonite Church Canada and Mennonite Church Alberta are aware of the current wave of COVID-19 cases this spring, due to the highly transmissible Omicron variant. While we hope this wave will subside before our gathering in Edmonton, we continue to monitor and will abide by current and future public health orders in the province of Alberta. Alberta is currently (as of March 1) in Step 2 of removing its pandemic restrictions.
Current guidelines do not require vaccination. However, Mennonite Church Canada will require the use of masks at Gathering 2022.
What to expect in Edmonton
Speakers
John Boopalan
Rev. Sunder John Boopalan, Assistant Professor of Biblical and Theological Studies at Canadian Mennonite University, is the author of the book Memory, Grief, and Agency. He is the Series Editor of the Politics of Scripture (PoliticalTheology.com) that offers commentary on Sunday texts from the Revised Common Lectionary. John is a peer reviewer for journals such as Religions, Political Theology Journal, and Wabash Center Journal on Teaching. He has lived in India, the Middle East, and the United States. Married to Ester, he is the proud parent of their daughter, Junia. John loves cooking and believes in the wonder working power of God, food and laughter.
Cheryl Bear
Cheryl Bear is from Nadleh Whut’en First Nation, is a respected voice and teacher on behalf of Canada’s Indigenous peoples and has traveled to over 600 Indigenous communities raising awareness and understanding of Indigenous issues. She is a founding board member of NAIITS, an Indigenous learning community; an Associate Professor at Regent College; earned her Doctorate from The King’s University, and Master of Divinity from Regent College. Her doctoral work presents an approach to First Nations ministry from the foundations of Indigenous worldview and values. She currently serves as Director of Community Ministry at First United Church in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside.
Kara Carter
Kara Carter is lead pastor of Wellesley Mennonite Church in Wellesley, Ontario. She is a PhD candidate at Martin Luther University College, researching MCEC pastors’ lived experiences with barriers and facilitators as they lead cultural, organizational change. Kara is examining how God's people are being invited to "Go Local," to join with God in the neighbourhood to further God's mission.
Schedule
Please note that this is a working schedule and subject to change.
**Children's programming is planned for ages 5 to 12 all day, Saturday, July 30.
Friday, July 29
9 a.m. - 3 p.m. - A Day for Spiritual Leaders for pastors, lay leaders, deacons, spiritual directors, etc. (Edmonton First Mennonite Church)
1 p.m. - 7.p.m. - Gathering 2022 registration (Evario Event Centre)
5 - 6 p.m. supper
7 - 9 p.m. - Opening worship/plenary - guest speaker John Boopalan
9 p.m. Crokinole tournament
Saturday, July 30
breakfast
9 - 10 a.m. Worship/plenary - guest speaker Cheryl Bear
10:30 -11:45 a.m. workshops #1
lunch
1 - 3 p.m. Delegate session
3:30 - 4:45 p.m. workshops #2
supper (not provided)
7 - 8:30 p.m.
9 p.m. Hymn sing
Sunday, July 31
breakfast
10 a.m. - noon nationwide worship service - guest speaker Doug Klassen
lunch
1 - 5 p.m. tours/outings
supper (not provided)
7 - 9 p.m. optional evening activities:
- Worship time hosted by In This Together. Led by LGBTQ+ and allied siblings in faith, we will See, Hear, and Declare the goodness of God in the diverse gifts within Mennonite Church Canada.
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"Treaty Talk - Sharing the River of Life is a 50-minute teaching tool to better understand our collective responsibility to treaty" (from www.treatytalk.com) Join Dr. Pat Makokis (producer) and allies from Indigenous-Settler Relations and elsewhere as we learn and talk together about treaty, building bridges and building understanding.
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“Do you see an end to this [Palestine-Israel] struggle?” asks Hannah, the protagonist of Syrian playwright Aksam Alyousef’s play Souls. Produced as Readers Theatre by Palestinian Edmonton-based actor and director Amena Shehab, this is a daring and sensitive play that explores the notions of justice, guilt, redemption, and the complex emotions and opinions that swirl around the complex history of occupation in Israel-Palestine. Discussion to follow.
Monday, Aug. 1
breakfast
9 - 10:15 a.m. Delegate session
10:30 a.m. to noon - Closing worship/plenary - guest speaker Kara Carter
lunch
Gathering 2022 ends
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.
Early bird registration
Full-time $550 ($600 after May 20)
Part-time $275 ($325 after May 20)
Children's program, ages 5-12 (part-time/full-time): $50
Youth attendee, ages 13-17 (part-time/full-time): $100
Meals included with full-time registration
- Friday supper
- Saturday breakfast, lunch, two coffeebreaks
- Sunday breakfast, lunch, one coffeebreak
- Monday breakfast, one coffeebreak
Meals included with part-time registration
- Friday/Saturday: Friday supper; Saturday breakfast/lunch, two coffeebreaks
- Sunday/Monday: Sunday breakfast, lunch, one coffeebreak; Monday breakfast, one coffeebreak
Questions about registration? E-mail us.
Accommodation
We Declare will take place at Evario Events Centre, which is located in the Holiday Inn South Edmonton, 950 Parsons Rd SW. Gathering 2022 participants are encouraged to book their accommodations with the Holiday Inn:
- for a discounted rate of $109 plus taxes and fees for a total of $122 per night for either a room with a king bed or one with two queen beds.
- Rates are available for one additional day prior to and one following our event, that is from July 28, 2022, to August 2, 2022.
- A booking code is available upon registration.
Ready to register?
We Declare - Gathering 2022
Edmonton, Alberta
Registration deadline is June 28!
We Declare - Virtual Gathering 2022
Join us online for Gathering 2022
Participate in live worship and plenary sessions throughout the weekend and take part in a unique virtual experience with members from across our nationwide community of faith.
Offset your GHG emissions with a carbon levy
Gathering 2022 registrants can offset greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from their travel to Edmonton by donating to a new fund established by Mennonite Church Canada.
The carbon levy contributes to MC Canada’s creation care fund. The levy amount ($/tonne of CO2e) is set by Joint Council and is currently $50.
For information on how to calculate your contribution, click here.
We Declare study guide now available for congregations
Mennonite Church Canada has published a study guide in preparation for Gathering 2022 in Edmonton, Alberta, July 31 to Aug. 1.
The guide is centered around the Gathering 2022 theme, We Declare: what we have seen and heard, and explores what it means to share the good news in today’s context.
The study includes six sessions on being a missional church, when the good news becomes bad news, biblical perspectives and bearing witness in a secular age.
Each session is accompanied by Scripture readings, reflection questions and links to reading lists curated by CommonWord for further reading.