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On Saturday, October 15 more than 220 clergy and lay of the Diocese of New Westminster gathered at St. Dunstan's, Aldergrove for the biennial Mission Conference.

This year the conference theme was based on 1 Thessalonians 5:11, "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as you are doing." The keynote speaker and facilitator was Dr. Amy Zidulka, Royal Roads' instructor and associate professor. Dr. Zidulka researches and teaches innovation and design thinking. Following Opening Worship, she presented a talk on Nurturing Creative Conversations specifically to the ministries that would be workshopped following her address;

  • Spiritual Development
  • Housing and Homelessness
  • Climate Justice

Dr. Zidulka's presentation PowerPoint is available here and below in .PDF format.

Following the first plenary which did include break-out groups and some reporting, each "Creative Discussion" took place in a different venue with Spiritual Development located in the St. Dunstan's Sanctuary; Housing and Homelessness in the parking lot under canopies and Climate Justice in the church hall.

Following the workshops there was lunch in the hall catered by Sto:lo Catering. The food was delicious and received rave reviews from the conference attendees. After lunch there was worship followed by Dr, Zidulka leading the plenary in debriefing discussions about what they had experienced in the three larger groups and in smaller discussion groups. These were formed during the workshops to come up with some creative ideas connected to the ministries being discussed. Although there were a number of "reporters" during the debrief there was much information gathered which will be examined by the Mission and Ministry Conference Committee and communicated widely at a future date.

Unfortunately Bishop John Stephens was unable to attend due to a positive COVID-19 test. The Venerable Kelly Duncan, Archdeacon of Lougheed read Bishop John's sermon at Opening Worship. It is is linked here.

The Mission Conference 2022 Team

Mission and Ministry Conference Committee: the Reverends Alecia Greenfield (lead); Adam Yates; Roberta Fraser; David Taylor; Lorne Manweiler, Tellison Glover (MMD representative) and Ms. Deirdre Thornton.

Presenters: Dr. Any Zidulka (keynote/facilitator) the Reverends Tim Morgan (climate); Alex Wilson and Simbarashe Basvi (homeless task force); David Taylor (Spiritual Development) and Peter Bailey (Homeless task force) 

Behind the scenes the workshops were developed with assistance from the Climate Committee (Alecia Greenfield, Tim Morgan, Brynn Craffey, Liz Hamel, Harold Munn and Mr. Jeddy James) the Housing and Homelessness Committee (especially, Vicki Potter and Peter Bailey) and the Spiritual Development workshop (Eric Mason, Sharon Smith and Ms. Mary Millard)

Worship: the Reverends Simbarashe Basvi; David Taylor; Roberta Fraser; Wilmer Toyoken; Helen Dunn; Lorne Manweiler, Andrew Halladay and Clare Morgan.

IMAGES

  • Dr. Amy Zidulka "Nurturing Creative Conversations"
  • The Reverend Arvin Amayag (centre) and conference attendees participating in Creative Conversations during the small group component of the first plenary session at diocesan Mission Conference.
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