Celebrating 1 Year of MinistryForum.ca
One year ago, MinistryForum.ca launched with a mission to connect, resource, and support ministry leaders across Canada. It has been a year filled with growth, encouragement, and connection as we’ve built up this online community - spaning all aspects of ministry work. As we reflect on this milestone, we’re filled with gratitude for the way Ministry Forum has become a space where ministry leaders can find trusted resources, share insights, and celebrate our diverse faith journeys together! THANK YOU Ministry Forum Community!
Here’s a look at what we’ve accomplished in our first year!
150 Web Posts
Since launching, we’ve published 150 blog-style posts on topics that matter deeply to ministry leaders—ranging from pastoral care and preaching to practical ministry tips, trends, and leadership. Every post is created with you in mind, we hope these posts have provided you with inspiration and practical insights for your work. It’s been inspiring to hear from readers who have found guidance, encouragement, and fresh ideas in these articles.
43 Notes of Encouragement from YOU
We’ve received 43 notes of encouragement from the Ministry Forum community sharing how being a part of this community has shaped or impacted their ministry. Whether it’s a simple “thank you” or a story about how a resource, article, or event made a difference, these messages fuel our commitment to serving this community. We’ve kept every note and posted many on our “what people are saying page.”
178 Events Shared
This past year, we’ve promoted 178 events on our events calendar, a place where ministry leaders can find learning opportunities, networking events, and spiritual gatherings across Canada. From webinars and workshops to conferences and retreats, our events page connects leaders with experiences that help foster growth, learning, and community. Got an event other should know about? Send it in and we’ll add it to our calendar.
This webinar is for anxious souls and anyone seeking greater calm in a turbulent world. Please join us as Roger shares his experience and wisdom.
One of the priorities of the Commission on Justice and Peace Sexual Exploitation Working Group is to educate, advocate and theologically reflect on the area of Sexual Exploitation and Demand Reduction. True justice requires reducing the demand. The demand for paid sexual services is what fuels sex trafficking. Minimize demand: minimize the need for vulnerable individuals to be exploited to meet the demand.
Engage Difference! Deepening Understanding for Intercultural Ministry (DUIM) is a 5-day interactive and engaging program with practical ideas for implementation in your own context. DUIM is for ministry leaders and community members nurturing cultural relevance, understanding, and awareness in their communities.
You’ll walk away with actionable strategies on how to:
Build a culture of trust, inclusion and community
Weave diversity, equity and inclusion into the DNA of your organization
Encourage effective open dialogue on sensitive DEI topics
Measure the tangible impact of DEI initiatives
Learn from organizations that model a positive and inclusive culture
The Rev. Dr. Patricia Dutcher-Walls, Moderator of the 2024 General Assembly of The Presbyterian Church in Canada, will lead this in-person workshop for both ministers and laity. It will consider tales of hope from the Bible that lay a foundation for our own stories of hope and possibility. Participants will explore ways to find parallels in these ancient tales of hope for us today in the midst of challenging times. Listening to these stories and each other engages our spiritual imagination in the service of our faithfulness and future as God’s people.
Learn how to demystify the concept of intergenerational ministry, contextualizing it to our modern circumstances of aging and small congregations. This workshop will cover:
Defining Intergenerational Ministry
A Biblical and Theological Foundation for Intergenerational Ministry
Who does Intergenerational Ministry in the Church?
Ideas of Intergenerational Ministry
Join Mike Wood Daly, President and Principal Research Associate at Sphaera Research/Halo Canada and Flourishing Congregations Institute Fellow, for an interactive half-hour webinar – 15-minute research presentation & 15-minute Q/A (optional 15-minutes after for networking) – based on his research on the "Halo Effect" and how Canadian congregations generate measurable economic impact through everyday actions, programs and expressions of faith. While the social, spiritual and communal value of local worshipping congregations has long been accepted, learn about the real economic impact that these congregations provide directly to their surrounding communities.
Two great leaders will make this weekend worth your while: the Rev. Dr. Jeff Crawford and singer-songwriter Drew Brown. Spend some low-key time with them thinking about where you're at just now and how God might be at work in your life and in your relationships. There will be plenty of music, some time to get outdoors and a few drinks around the fire (alcoholic/nonalcoholic both included).
Join us for "We Need To Listen" where participants will find:
- support and encouragement
- accountability and celebration
- ideas and strategies
…and most of all, a community of people passionate about sharing the Good News of Jesus with the world but sometimes feel alone doing it.
Ministry Forum is delighted to host an online space that will strive to be safe as modelled and facilitated by its hosts where ministry leaders will gather with almost no agenda and where everything is on the table and tangents are welcomed.
Join James Finley and Kirsten Oates, hosts of the Turning to the Mystics podcast, on a 4-day interior pilgrimage mirroring the journey laid out in the 19th-century Russian mystical text, The Way of a Pilgrim.
A day of insightful discussions and networking with fellow church researchers on trends in the Canadian church. Don't miss this opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals passionate about church research, data-informed decision making and opportunities for mission. Whether you're a seasoned researcher, denominational leader or just starting out, this event is perfect for anyone interested in exploring the latest trends and findings in Canadian church research.
How many times have you sat through a poorly run meeting, knowing that if the session were being better facilitated, you would be accomplishing twice as much in half the time?
Discover the skills, knowledge, and behaviours to help you effectively facilitate in a wide range of situations. This 2-day, 14-hour workshop will introduce you to the core competencies of facilitation, modelled through the use of multiple engaging facilitation techniques grounded in adult learning.
The 2025 APCE Annual Event invites participants to explore profound questions of faith and community. Inspired by Genesis 32:28, the event will delve into:
Wrestling with Fallibilities: Acknowledging individual shortcomings and the struggles within the Church's historical narrative.
Wrestling with Disenchantment: Navigating the tension between personal faith and the Church’s imperfections.
Wrestling with Reimagination: Calling for innovation, new perspectives, and envisioning a church centered on love, justice, and equality.
brings together people from a variety of roles in worship and leadership, including pastors, worship planners and leaders, musicians, scholars, students, worship bands and teams, organists, visual artists, preachers, chaplains, missionaries, liturgists, council and session leaders, and more;
encourages leaders in churches and worshiping communities of all sizes and settings;
offers sessions on themes related to universal design for worship, faithful antiracism in Christian living, building connections and empathy in divided times, cultural intelligence, and the global and historical nature of Christian worship, and more;
Join us for "We Need To Listen" where participants will find:
- support and encouragement
- accountability and celebration
- ideas and strategies
…and most of all, a community of people passionate about sharing the Good News of Jesus with the world but sometimes feel alone doing it.
Ministry Forum is delighted to host an online space that will strive to be safe as modelled and facilitated by its hosts where ministry leaders will gather with almost no agenda and where everything is on the table and tangents are welcomed.
The Art of Transitional Ministry Part 1 introduces students to intentional transitional ministry leadership. Once called Interim Ministry, The Art of Transitional Ministry Part 1 introduces students to the Arc of Transitional Ministry - featuring deeper conversations about entering systems, assessing needs, considering history and current context, considering the role of conflict and healthy departing. We start in a place believing all ministry is transitional and that understanding congregational systems theory undergirds the work we do. Our goal is to provide pastors with tools for leading in the midst of transition while providing a supportive and safe learning community for exploration and questioning.
Join us for "We Need To Listen" where participants will find:
- support and encouragement
- accountability and celebration
- ideas and strategies
…and most of all, a community of people passionate about sharing the Good News of Jesus with the world but sometimes feel alone doing it.
Ministry Forum is delighted to host an online space that will strive to be safe as modelled and facilitated by its hosts where ministry leaders will gather with almost no agenda and where everything is on the table and tangents are welcomed.
Women are stepping into their calling to proclaim the Gospel, find their unique voice and embrace the future of preaching! If you’re a clergy, student, or simply passionate about the art of preaching, hearing from those who are leading the way can inspire and guide your growth.
This spring, join us for Tending Tomorrow, a full-day event that brings together four leading Canadian women homileticians as they reflect on the current state of preaching in Canada and imagine bold, hope-filled directions for the future.
Join us for "We Need To Listen" where participants will find:
- support and encouragement
- accountability and celebration
- ideas and strategies
…and most of all, a community of people passionate about sharing the Good News of Jesus with the world but sometimes feel alone doing it.
Ministry Forum is delighted to host an online space that will strive to be safe as modelled and facilitated by its hosts where ministry leaders will gather with almost no agenda and where everything is on the table and tangents are welcomed.
A wildly practical and inspirational three-day event for future thinking family ministry leaders.
Join the annual event that launches teams of kids ministry and youth ministry leaders into brighter future recharged and overflowing with real tools they can use they very next week. In three exciting days, you’ll fill your notebook while a vibrant community fills your soul. Discover one thing every church can do to change everything for the next generation.
Join us for "We Need To Listen" where participants will find:
- support and encouragement
- accountability and celebration
- ideas and strategies
…and most of all, a community of people passionate about sharing the Good News of Jesus with the world but sometimes feel alone doing it.
Ministry Forum is delighted to host an online space that will strive to be safe as modelled and facilitated by its hosts where ministry leaders will gather with almost no agenda and where everything is on the table and tangents are welcomed.
Join us for "We Need To Listen" where participants will find:
- support and encouragement
- accountability and celebration
- ideas and strategies
…and most of all, a community of people passionate about sharing the Good News of Jesus with the world but sometimes feel alone doing it.
Ministry Forum is delighted to host an online space that will strive to be safe as modelled and facilitated by its hosts where ministry leaders will gather with almost no agenda and where everything is on the table and tangents are welcomed.
Growing Resource Hub
Our resource hub has grown to 81 resources, and we are excited to reach our goal of 200 resources by Spring 2025. Each resource—whether it’s a course, guide, tech tool or podcast — has been chosen to support the diverse needs of ministry leaders. This collection reflects our commitment to curating helpful and accessible resources across a range of topics relevant to ministry today. We’re grateful to everyone who has shared their recommendations and to all who use this library to strengthen their ministries.
Visitors from Coast to Coast and Beyond!
Since our launch in November 2023, we’ve welcomed 7,100 unique visitors who’ve generated over 12,000 page views. We love knowing that ministryforum.ca has been able to reach people across Canada (and beyond), and we hope to see this number grow exponetially in the coming years as we expand our offerings and grow the community.
Looking Ahead
As we celebrate this first year, we’re excited to see how MinistryForum.ca will continue to grow and serve you. We’re committed to expanding our resources, sharing stories that encourage, and building stronger connections within this beautiful community of ministry leaders. In the coming year, we’ll continue to focus on creating content that speaks to the heart of ministry, promoting meaningful events, and adding valuable resources to help you thrive in your calling.
Thank you for being part of MinistryForum.ca. Your engagement, feedback, and support have been such a blessing in shaping this community.
Cheers to another year of growth, connection, and encouragement as we journey together in ministry!
The gospels base their stories of Jesus’ nativity on Jewish ideas: Matthew’s Jesus is a new Moses; Luke’s Mary is a new Hannah; John’s “In the beginning was the Word” draws on Jewish theology; the “virgin birth” tradition begins with the Greek translation of Isaiah. How did the Christian Church adapt its Jewish roots, and how can Christians avoid the antisemitic teachings that occur when those roots are forgotten?