Indigenous Ministries of the Presbyterian Church in Canada
September 30 is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. How will you be marking this day in your ministry context? For those in our Presbyterian Church in Canada community, I’d suggest supporting one of our Indigenous ministries.
Knox’s Book Club Bingo - Summer ‘24
Over the summer the faculty and staff at Knox College participated in Summer Book Club Bingo. We’ve curated a list of all of the books that were read and we’re sharing the board in case you’d like to try a version of it in your own ministry context (or event a solo journey). Have we mentioned how much we LOVE books at Ministry Forum?
Ministry Forum Podcast Coming October 1st
Coming Soon” no more… well, it is still coming soon officially but to whet your appetite check out our Ministry Forum Podcast teaser here.
A Bible Study for the Whole Congregation
As ministry leaders, we often find ourselves juggling a myriad of responsibilities—sermons to prepare, pastoral care to offer, meetings to attend, and programs to lead. With so much on our plates, adding one more thing—like leading another Bible study—can feel overwhelming.
That’s where Catching the Spark: A Dynamic Bible Study Series can be a gift for you and your congregation this fall.
Preaching Refresher - Session 2
The biblical text lies at the heart of preaching. How do we enter into the text in creative ways that will allow us to speak a fresh word to our communities? We will explore playful approaches to exegesis and preaching that will inspire and revitalize your relationship with the biblical text.
Resource Hub - Now Available!
The Resource Hub is now available!
Whether you’re involved in preaching, pastoral care, youth ministry, or any other aspect of church ministry, we hope this collection of tools, articles, and guides is helpful in your context.
Meet the Ministry Forum Interns ‘24-’25
We are delighted to introduce you to our new Ministry Forum Interns!! Starting this Fall, as a part of Knox College’s commitment to Student Support and Experience, we’ve created some capacity to hire two Interns who will be working alongside us for this academic year.
Flourishing In Ministry
One of my favourite books, that I’ve mentioned before, is Flourishing in Ministry by Matt Bloom. I think everyone who serves as a minister should read it - and I think it should be required reading for congregational leaders too. I think many of the concepts also translate to other areas of ministry leadership.
The Reality of Clergy Burnout in 2024
Inspired by the webinar “Preventing Burnout and Promoting Flourishing Among Clergy” from Common Table Conversations, let’s have a conversation about Burnout as we approach the fall—a time when work new expectations, meetings, and initiatives begin to pile up, and your next season of rest seems to be a million miles away.
Knox Counselling Centre
As a part of Knox College’s commitment to serving the Church and the wider community, we are delighted to share the news of the soft launch of our Knox Counselling Centre.
Transitioning from Summer to Fall in Ministry
As the relaxed pace of summer gives way to the bustling activity of fall, ministry leaders often find themselves navigating a whirlwind of events, meetings, and programs. It can feel like you blink and suddenly it’s Advent, with a non-stop flurry of autumn activities and the resumption of weekly meetings. In the midst of this transition, it’s crucial to bring moments of rest, balance, and self-care into your routine to prevent burnout.
Here are 5 tips to help you embrace this seasonal change mindfully.
Community-Based Ministry
As someone who spent over 20 years cultivating an intentional community-based ministry in Guelph at St. Andrew’s PC, I can attest to the meaningful connections forged with community members, organizations, businesses, and local government. This ministry was invigorating, often leaving me in awe at the conversations and activities that made a real difference in our city.
While this approach didn’t always translate to numerical growth in the congregation, it opened doors to incredible ministry opportunities—providing pastoral support to community leaders, being called to the hospital in times of crisis, and offering unexpected financial and prayer support to those in need.
1 Tip to Stay On Top of Too Much Content.
In the fast-paced world of ministry, staying informed and inspired can be challenging. Articles and resources can easily pile up, making it hard to keep up. For me, the summer is the time I catch up on reading articles, I try to keep up during the year but it often becomes challenging. Here’s my process for staying on top of content that I WANT to read through, but don’t always have the time on a weekly basis.
Elevating Lay Leadership
When I was in Saskatchewan recently, I had some insightful conversations about lay leadership in today’s Church. It’s fascinating how the Church passionately aims to empower the laity in congregational roles, yet over the decades, we’ve marginalized these roles through ordered ministries like the Diaconate or lay missionaries. This has resulted in an over-reliance on ordained clergy, who are now stretched beyond capacity and dwindling in numbers…
Let Us Know
Every week we’ll ask a question to the community. We hope you’ll provide your thoughts and insights and engage with other lifelong learners on this journey of growth and development.
Is the Future of the Church Lay-Led?
In a recent episode of the Pivot podcast, the conversation dives deep into the vital yet often overlooked role of laypeople in the church. The conversation sheds light on how small congregations, often seen as burdens, might actually hold the key to the future of our denominations. The episode challenges us to rethink our traditional models, which have long centered on ordained clergy - now stretched thin and dwindling in numbers.
OurBible App
The OurBible App is a progressive, inclusive Bible study and devotional app designed to support LGBTQ+ Christians, women, and other marginalized groups. It offers a range of devotionals, Bible translations, podcasts, and other resources to help users grow in their faith.
Bible in a Minute - Riverside Church NYC
1,189 daily videos, all 1 minute in length detailing each chapter of the Bible… one day at a time!
Daily Ripple - Small Acts of Discipleship Everyday
Daily Ripple is an idea we had to build a community of readers and authors. For authors, it’s a chance to share their experiences and their ideas about discipleship. For readers, it’s a chance to disciple in a different way.
Repost: 17 Podcasts for Church, Care, Leadership & Learning
Reposting the top articles from Ministry Forum over our first 365 days.