Join us Here LIVE | June 1st at 1PM
Bonus Materials and Resources
reimagine | church land community
Shifting the narrative of decline around Canada’s church properties into stories of renewal, justice, and flourishing neighbourhoods.
Over the past decade, thousands of churches in Canada have closed, with many sold to the private market. In the coming years, even more churches will face decisions to redevelop, sell, or close. Many church properties are underutilized, and others are becoming burdensome to their congregations, with long lists of deferred repairs and upkeep. Some church communities, however, are awakening to new opportunities to reshape their land and buildings for justice and partnership within their neighbourhoods. Our coalition seeks to support the reimagining of these urban spiritual spaces. We encourage collaboration with diverse stakeholders—urban organizations, municipal planners, Indigenous groups, non-profits, artists, and housing agencies—to transform church assets of land, bricks, and mortar into thriving community spaces.
Urban Church Development
From the team at reimagine church land and community.
Transmission Peace and Justice 2024 | Spiritual Covenant (start at 9:14)
Full episode includes the following stories:
1. Living in peace in Ukraine
2. Hearing God's voice in Northern Ireland
3. Preparing for Justice in Burundi, Rwanda and DR Congo
4. Finding hope in Canada.
Five centuries ago, a group of people took radical steps even if at great cost to themselves. This group, that became known as the early Anabaptists, were perceived as a threat to society. They chose to be rebaptized and that simple act of faith led to persecution, torture, and death. We, producers of the Transmission video series set out to explore what it means to be members of our Anabaptist faith family 500-years later. We chose to give voice to young adults as they grapple with faith and life issues today. We found and documented a sense of hope, resilience, creativity, and determination to be true to what Jesus taught, no matter what the circumstances. The series provides a glimpse into a collective sense of identity, drawing on stories from 18 countries from around the globe.
Rev. John Borthwick’s conversation with congregational representatives of the 1% Spiritual Covenant.
The conversation explores the historical context, personal journeys, and the challenges faced by congregations in implementing this covenant. The guests share insights on the importance of relationship-building, the significance of reparations, and the unique role of Mennonite identity in this process. Through their stories, they highlight the ongoing journey towards understanding and supporting Indigenous rights and communities. The conversation explores the theme of reparations and the involvement of various church denominations, particularly Mennonite congregations, in addressing historical injustices towards Indigenous peoples. The participants discuss the importance of understanding land history, financial commitments to Indigenous ministries, and the need for congregations to engage in reparative actions. They emphasize the significance of community involvement, generosity, and the journey of decolonization as they navigate their roles in supporting Indigenous communities.
Guests: Jonathan Neufeld and Elsie Rempel from Charleswood Mennonite Church in Winnipeg, Pat Manske from Stirling Avenue Mennonite Church in Kitchener, Esther Epp-Tiessen and Judith Friesen Epp from Home Street Mennonite Church in Winnipeg.
Additional Reading:
Let’s Open Doors!
An online guide for churches that are interested in creating affordable housing
Safe - A documentary film about the affordable housing and opioid crises
Safe is a documentary film that follows the stories of staff and tenants at Indwell, a Canadian charity that provides supportive and deeply affordable housing units to the unhoused and precariously housed in Southern Ontario.
HAMR Housing Model
Scott Innes from St. C's shared with us the innovative work of HAMR Housing. This alternative model for creating affordable rental properties is detailed in this pdf. It seeks to be collaborative and is certainly another "creative way" that people are seeking to address today's housing crisis. If you'd like to learn more, please feel free to reach out to Scott directly - his email address is in the document.
To help people learn that anything can spark a time of prayer when you are out walking Randell Neudorf created a resource called “A Visual Guide to Prayer Walking.” The series of drawings and prayer prompts are intended to help spark your own imagination as you are out prayer walking. Find it here
Keynote: Adrian Jacobs
Senior Leader for Indigenous Justice and Reconciliation
Adrian is Ganosono (Deer Lodge), Turtle Clan, Cayuga Nation, Six Nations Haudenosaunee Confederacy, Grand River Country in Southern Ontario, Turtle Island. He founded an Indigenous church on his home reserve. For 47 years he has trained Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in spiritual and social service in various venues throughout the United States and Canada. His personal and professional studies include Indigenous worldviews, cultures, and health, through a culturally affirming approach. He serves NAIITS An Indigenous Learning Community as Elder Liaison for the NAIITS Elders Circle and is Senior Leader for Indigenous Justice and Reconciliation for the Christian Reformed Church in North America in Canada.
Adrian is a single father of five and grandfather of four. A storyteller and artist at heart he writes poetry and poetic prose about passionate matters of Indigenous justice and the vicissitudes of life. Public speaking has taken him to collaborations with Indigenous and decolonizing communities in Canada, the United States and globally.
Creative Speakers & Leaders
Teresa Howe, Community Engagement Manager, Indwell.
Teresa Howe is Indwell’s Community Engagement Manager and has been serving with Indwell since 2011. In her role she’s involved with donor relations and fundraising and oversees the communications team. She loves connecting with churches, and supervised turning an Indwell book into an interactive website, Let’s Open Doors, a free resource for churches seeking to be involved in supportive and/or affordable housing. Gym, strategy board games (+ Scrabble), family and friends fill her spare time. She and her husband love living in Hamilton, are parents to five adult children, and enjoy hosting a small group in their home most Tuesday evenings.
Jess Brand, Regional Director, Indwell.
Jess Brand is Regional Director for Hamilton and Peel Region at Indwell, a Hamilton-based Christian charity that creates and operates supportive, affordable housing communities that support people seeking health, wellness, and belonging. In her role, Jess supports Indwell’s staff teams and tenants and oversees program design and development. Jess’ draws from fourteen years of experience with Indwell. This has included direct support to tenants, program and staff supervision, Indwell committee work, and speaker. When not working with people struggling with poverty, addictions, homelessness and disabilities, Jess can be found running, hiking, playing soccer, and spending time with her husband Tim and their three teens. Her family is active in New Community Church.
The Rev. Dr. J. Mark Lewis
Mark has served in Presbyterian congregations since 1980…or 1960, if you count Christmas pageants. Mark has ministered with congregations in Nova Scotia and Ontario, served as convenor of several national committees, and was the Moderator of the 2003 General Assembly. Mark retired from St. Andrew’s, Kitchener in 2018. Since 2019, Mark has been an Assessor and Coach for Hope Partnership for Missional Transformation, which works with Canada Ministries, helping congregations that are “stuck” to move forward in new ways. Since 2020, Mark has been the Interim-Moderator and Stated Supply at St. Paul’s, Hamilton.
Randell Neudorf,
Greater Ontario House of Prayer
Randell Neudorf is an artist & storyteller from GOHOP (24-7 Prayer) and the creator of A Visual Guide to Prayer Walking. He will be sharing stories and drawings from his own prayer walking adventures to illustrate the idea that anything can spark a time of prayer.
The Greater Ontario House of Prayer (GOHOP) is a praying community, following the way of Jesus through shared spiritual rhythms. As part of a larger, global prayer expression within 24-7 Prayer, we exist to serve and equip the Church and do our part to create, nurture and sustain a local, Hamilton expression of prayer.
The Greater Ontario House of Prayer (GOHOP) is a praying community in Hamilton, Ontario, dedicated to cultivating deep spiritual rhythms of prayer, discipleship, and mission. As part of the global 24-7 Prayer movement, GOHOP exists to serve and equip the Church by fostering personal and corporate prayer expressions that unite believers across denominations.