Why Christian Unity Matters in a Divided World
The Church is beautifully diverse. Across the globe, Christians worship in different languages, with different styles, and through different cultural expressions. Even within denominations, there are rich variations in theology, liturgy, and ministry. These differences are not obstacles to overcome; they’re gifts to celebrate! They reflect the creative work of God and the depth of God’s kingdom.
Transform Your City
The local church has a unique opportunity—and a sacred calling—to be a visible sign of hope and unity right where it is planted. When we pay attention to the life of our neighbourhoods, listening deeply to the stories and longings of the people around us, we are embodying the Gospel in ways that words alone cannot. Whether you serve in an urban or rural congregation, engaging your community is part of participating in the mission of God to reconcile and renew all things.
Churches Connecting with Churches
We’re highlighting the work of City Leaders Collective - a movement to unite local churches around the common goal of serving and transforming their city.
Maybe one of these collectives exists in your city already… or maybe you’d be interested in starting one. I’d encourage you to explore them more fully and see how you can, in collaboration with a diversity of partners make a difference in the place where you have been planted
Your Input 2025
What conversations do you wish more ministry spaces were having?
What questions have been pressing on your heart or mind?
What resources, stories, or examples would encourage you or equip you in your ministry?
Are there areas where you feel alone or unseen—and where connection could make a difference?
Toxic Masculinity and the Church: A Call to Pay Attention
There's an undercurrent running through Christianity today that many of us sense but struggle to name. Perhaps you've noticed it in the rhetoric that conflates strength with aggression, leadership with dominance, or faithfulness with unwavering loyalty to certain political or cultural positions. Maybe you've wondered why some Christian spaces feel more like battlegrounds than sanctuaries, or why the Jesus who wept and welcomed children sometimes seems overshadowed by a warrior-king who looks suspiciously like a Hollywood cowboy.
Church Hurt: 6 Resources You Should Know About
We are in the beginning days of an ongoing conversation about creating cultures of safety, accountability, and grace. This week, we’re opening this conversation up to our Ministry Forum community - we’re talking about toxic masculinity in the church in our companion post and in this post were highlighting several resources that may be helpful to those who have been hurt, and some for those in leadership seeking to better understand and care for them. We hope these will be a helpful starting point for reflection, conversation, and healing.
Tech Resources for Ministry
A round-up of ai based tech resources we’ve added to the hub—think of them as friendly helpers ready to make your ministry life just a little bit smoother.
5 Tech Tools to Boost Efficiency in Ministry
5 practical tech tools that can handle those everyday challenges—like scheduling, writing, and content creation—so you can get back to what matters most: serving your people.
Good Robots? Ethical and Philosophical questions surrounding AI
Good Robot is a compelling four-part series from Vox's Unexplainable podcast, created in partnership with their Future Perfect team. The series explores "the stories shaping the future of AI" through a thoughtful lens that balances both the promise and perils of artificial intelligence.
7 Reasons Why You Should Have An Annual Planning Retreat For Your Church
The bulletin needs finishing
Someone’s asking about tables for the potluck
The sink in the church kitchen is leaking again
…And your inbox is full of half-answered emails.
So much of ministry is lived in the swirl of the immediate—reactive, necessary, busy. And sometimes meaningful, yes. But often it leaves little room for the chance to ask: Where are we actually going?
That’s where the idea of a planning retreat comes in - we’re not talking about a long weekend of spreadsheets and strategies. We’re talking about stepping away—literally—from the building and the bulletin and the “Sunday is always coming” cycle. We’re talking about gathering a few thoughtful, trusted leaders from your congregation, and giving yourselves the gift of time and space to ask important questions
Becoming Ourselves with AI A conversation about change, faith, and possibility
Thanks to some additional funds from the Lilly Grant Foundation, we’re hosting monthly webinars are several important topics between now and November.
Transitions in Church Ministry
The summer can be a time for transitions. Some of our recent grads from our theological seminaries are in the process of discerning the people to whom they are being called by the Spirit. It is an exciting time and an anxious one too. We see you - if this is you. And we are here for you if you need a listening ear.
Let me offer a few pearls as you travel this road… and end with a nugget for those who aren’t going anywhere but who might like a fresh start where they are already planted.
Resources for Church Administration & Management
Whether you’re a part-time volunteer juggling bulletins and birthday cards, or a full-time administrator navigating cloud storage, scheduling apps, and a phone that won’t stop ringing, your ministry keeps the whole church moving. You may not be preaching or leading Sunday school, but your work is what allows others to gather, give, serve, and feel connected.
On the Road with Ministry Forum Summer 2025
In celebration of Ministry Forum's 500th email subscriber, Director John embarked on a 10-day road trip through Northern Ontario and Winnipeg to preach, connect with ministry leaders, and witness their diverse contexts. Highlights included preaching at St. Andrew’s in Thunder Bay, visiting the Anamiewigummig (Kenora) Fellowship Centre with Yvonne Bearbull, and engaging with Indigenous ministry leaders in Winnipeg. The journey was both pastoral and personal, underscoring the beauty and challenges of ministry in remote and urban areas, and affirming the importance of connection, collaboration, and continued support for those serving across the church.
Annual Planning for Ministry Forum 2025
Our Ministry Forum Team committed to doing some Annual Planning last month. Over two consecutive Mondays we stepped away from our screens and spent a little time in nature at our “FIRST CHOICE” for all of our Ministry Forum retreat needs - Crieff Hills Retreat Centre.
Summer Playlists 2025
Some are fun and poppy for backyard meals or road trips. Others lean into gentle folk or thoughtful instrumentals, ideal for reflection or focus as you work, write, or simply rest. We hope these playlists are a gift to our Ministry Forum community—small offerings of sound and spirit that accompany you in this season of growth, movement, and grace.
Soul Work for Better Leadership
A book I read recently brought the importance of this intentionality into focus for me. Ruth Haley Barton’s Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership: Seeking God in the Crucible of Ministry reminds ministry leaders that we need to take time in solitude to nourish our very souls.
Paying Attention to the Quiet: Mindfulness and Ministry
In our fast-paced world, ministry leaders often find themselves swept up in the “adrenaline of busyness.” Consider how mindfulness practices—like meditation apps (Headspace, Calm, Lectio 365) and prayer—can help us notice and tend to our inner life. Sometimes the most faithful thing we can do is simply stop, breathe, and listen to what our souls are trying to say.
Trauma-Informed Practice: Fundamental Concepts for Complex Workplaces
Thanks to some additional funds from the Lilly Grant Foundation, we’re hosting monthly webinars are several important topics between now and November.
How to Practice A Flourishing Ministry | Duke Clergy & Religion Research Collaborative
What does it actually mean to be well in ministry? The team at Duke’s Clergy & Religion Research Collaborative explores this question in their Fully Alive resource—a guide to cultivating deep, sustainable well-being in ministry.