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.
The event includes time on the farm, time with one another, and time with some of the brightest minds continuing to shape conversations related to ecology and theology, food justice, sabbath, and more, including Willie Jennings, Barbara Brown Taylor, Jeff Chu, Michael Twitty, Tiya Myles, and Heber Brown, among others.
Some call this is a ‘liminal season’ — a time when individuals and institutions are struggling with surprising forces inside and out, often experiencing disorientation, disengagement, and disenchantment. Leadership in ministry today requires dexterity in navigating the ‘known and the unknown’ of this time.
Join colleagues from across Canada for a day of learning, reflection, and skill-building as we focus on developing research competency in spiritual care and psychospiritual therapy. This one-day virtual conference offers practical insights and tools to strengthen your ability to engage with and apply research in your ministry context. Certificate of completion provided
Pastoring in Polarizing Times, hosted by Transforming Engagement, is a free two-day virtual summit equipping ministry leaders to navigate division with courage and compassion. Featuring six sessions from leading voices in ministry, the event offers practical tools for preaching, pastoral care, and community healing.
This 8-week course explores how biblical interpretation shapes our understanding of gender and sexuality. Rooted in the Reformed tradition, it invites participants to consider readings of Scripture that reflect the generous and redemptive character of God. It is suitable for those seeking credit or continuing education, and offers a space to engage pressing theological and social questions with depth and compassion.
What drives ordinary people to resist authoritarian rule?
Drawing on case studies from Nazi Germany, Communist Eastern Europe, and the Soviet Union, Bruce guides participants through the stories of pastors, poets, factory workers, and dissidents who had to choose between safety and solidarity. Expect close readings (think Bonhoeffer, Havel, Klemperer), lively discussion, and concrete take-aways for our own democratic fragility.
The Festival of Preaching – Preaching Truth to Power, hosted by Church Times and Canterbury Press, is a one-day gathering at Southwark Cathedral featuring bold preaching, theological reflection, and practical encouragement for proclaiming justice and hope. Speakers include Bishop Mariann Budde, Sam Wells, Mark Oakley, Selina Stone, Isabelle Hamley, and David Runcorn.
Yale Bible Study’s What Do We Do with a Book Like Revelation? is a six-session online course examining the historical, literary, and theological dimensions of Revelation. Participants will explore diverse interpretations of this challenging biblical text.
Columbia Theological Seminary’s Pastor, Do You Have a Minute? is a three-part online webinar series for ministry leaders exploring grief, resilience, and Christian pastoral care. Facilitated by Melissa Kelley, the sessions integrate theological reflection with practical skills for supporting individuals and communities in times of loss.
Fresh off the On Tyranny conversation, the Institute for Christian Studies invites everyone to gather again in September to discuss theologian Hanna Reichel’s forthcoming book, which is a punchy, historically informed field‑guide for Christian faithfulness amid democratic backsliding. Kristin will join Hanna to spark a conversation on Hanna's timely book. You’re encouraged to join along and to submit questions.
In the midst of an awareness of growing diversity and declining church attendance, many congregations are considering shifting their worship and formation practices to better include people of all ages. Intergenerational ministry is more than just putting people of different generations in the same room. It is a call to reimagine the practices by which faith communities engage in worship and become formed as disciples of Jesus. In this webinar, we will consider theories and practices that help congregations bring the generations together, focusing especially on how leaders can implement gradual changes as they experiment with all-age ministry.
Leaside Presbyterian Church’s Hear My Voice workshop with Dr. Katherine Piderman helps participants reflect on and record a personal spiritual legacy to share with loved ones. The session includes guided questions, storytelling, and practical tips for preserving spiritual wisdom.
Stewardship Kaleidoscope is an annual conference offering excellent plenary speakers, informative workshop leaders, provocative worship experiences, and incredible networking opportunities for all passionate about stewardship and generosity. Drawing leaders from across the Presbyterian Church (PCUSA), the Lutheran Church (ELCA), and other ecumenical partners, Stewardship Kaleidoscope is designed to help participants explore stewardship in its many colorful dimensions!
The Church is the hope of the world, and everyday ministry is where that hope takes root. Join us for a digital event that equips every Next Gen leader, from volunteers to senior pastors, with world-class tools, practical strategies, and fresh vision to elevate your ministry and impact the next generation.
Leading the Church Through Times of Conflict, offered online by Conrad Grebel University College, is a four-afternoon workshop equipping church leaders to navigate congregational conflict with practical tools, theological grounding, and grace. Facilitators are Betty Pries and Malcolm McKinlay.
New Leaf Network, in partnership with Shalem Mental Health Network, presents Flourishing on Mission, a four-part online series equipping ministry leaders to understand and cultivate mental wellbeing in church settings. Sessions cover practical tools, relational health, and community building through fair process.
The 4 Seasons of Indigenous Learning, offered by The Outdoor Learning School & Store, is an Indigenous-led, year-long program exploring Indigenous knowledge, perspectives, and relationships with the Land. Participants can choose from four themed learning “seasons” or attend monthly virtual presentations with Indigenous speakers.
This 6-week online course offers a provocative and timely reading of the Epistle of James, engaging with themes of justice, resistance, and hope in the face of authoritarianism and oppression. Through poetic and prophetic engagement with Scripture, participants are invited to reflect on how James speaks into our contemporary context. Pay-what-you-can pricing makes this course broadly accessible, and recordings are available for those unable to attend live.
Participants will explore how ageism, both personal and systemic, impacts the way we understand and support older adults. Together, the group will examine how congregations, senior-care organizations, families, and caregivers can challenge ageist assumptions and adapt to the diverse needs of aging populations with dignity, equity, and creativity.
The Children’s Spirituality Summit Fall Online Summit (Oct. 2, 2025) features keynote speaker Dr. Emily Hunter McGowin on the theology of church and family, alongside workshops, discussions, and Q&A. Open to all, with recordings provided for registrants.
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.
This free public lecture invites students, theologians, committed church-goers, and curious seekers alike to reflect deeply on the meaning of solidarity in our relationships—with God, with each other, and within systems of power. It offers a space to wrestle with difficult theological and political questions, and to imagine how faith might guide us in confronting injustice and fostering more equitable communities.
This four-week course will delve into four proven, part-time ministry models that lead to heightened congregational vitality and improved clergy well-being.
Learn to leverage a part-time position for the strategic empowerment of laity, neighbors, colleagues, and themselves.
Consider unsung strengths, self-sabotaging biases, and untested assumptions.
Analyze case studies to see how mental shifts enabled spiritual fruit to emerge.
Discover how a less staff-dependent culture liberates laity and clergy alike.
Practice resetting expectations and laying the groundwork for breakthroughs.
The 2025 Kavanagh Lecture at Yale Institute of Sacred Music features Teresa Berger on the enduring liturgical motif that “all creation sings” and its relevance amid ecological crisis. The October 7 lecture is free, open to the public, and livestreamed.
The Flourishing Congregations Institute hosts Rev. Ross Lockhart for a webinar on Christian witness in secular contexts, drawing on his research into innovative ministries in Vancouver. Includes presentation, Q&A, and networking.
Mental health is a growing concern in many congregations, yet many ministry leaders feel under-equipped to offer meaningful support. The Church Mental Health Summit is a free, one-day online event designed to provide practical tools and faith-rooted resources for churches engaging with mental health care.
Join leaders who are working in intercultural spaces to dialogue about what is going well, what is challenging and what is emerging. At this conference, you will dialogue with other leaders in facilitated conversation spaces for shared wisdom and best practices, and you will hear stories of hope-filled opportunities for cultivating belonging in intercultural spaces.
Helping your church reach the people who need you most by turning social media into a life-giving reflection of your mission, offering connection, community, and hope before they ever walk through your doors.
Theology Beer Camp is a unique three-day conference that brings together of theology nerds and craft beer for a blend of intellectual engagement, community building, and fun. Organized by Homebrewed Christianity, this event features a lineup of well-known podcasters, scholars, and theology enthusiasts who come together to "nerd out" on theological topics while enjoying loads of fun activities.
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 United Church of Canada’s 40 Days of Engagement on Anti-Racism offers live events, videos, reflections, and leader resources for a season of learning and action. Free registration available via CHURCHx.