Contracts and Covenants: Strengthening the Pastor Congregation Relationship

Ministry is a covenant of mutual trust and accountability, where all parties are attentive to God’s call and seek to serve Christ and the church. The relationship between the pastor and the congregation is also a formal agreement in which all parties agree to the specifics of the role (job description, hours of work, regular review process, etc.) and a compensation package (extended health coverage, vacation time, professional development, etc.). Balancing the spirit of covenant with the specifics of the employer-employee contract can be tricky. The pastor is both employee and spiritual leader; the congregation is both employer and the community who receives spiritual and pastoral support and leadership. What are the policies and practices that strengthen the relationship between the pastor and the congregation? How can the congregation and pastor honour the contract they have with each other in a covenantal spirit? Come to share and learn together through stories and conversation.

Meet Marilyn Rudy-Froese
Marilyn has been working with pastors and congregations as MCEC's Leadership Minister since 2018. Prior to that, she served as a pastor, chaplain, and interim pastor in MCEC and Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference, as well as an adjunct instructor in Conrad Grebel's MTS program. She is currently enrolled in the Doctor of Ministry in Leadership at AMBS.

Every Tribe's Song: Embracing Cultural Diversity in Worship

This one-hour interactive workshop explores how culture shapes Christian worship and why worship styles matter. Participants will reflect on worship styles as vessels for expressing our adoration to God—the ultimate audience of all worship. Through shared experiences and discussion, we will discover the value in diverse worship expressions, learning to approach them with humility and openness. By engaging multiple culture-shaped worship styles, participants will expand their understanding of worship and grow in creativity in music, singing, movement, and other expressions of praise to our redeeming Lord.

Meet Fanosie Legesse
Fanosie has worked with MCEC for the past ... years. He...

Faith and Fundraising: How Our Spiritual Heritage Could Help Us Meet The Budget

This workshop will help us tap into the Anabaptist roots that grew a faith heritage of generosity and mutual support. With this background we will examine how our congregations can better communicate the financial needs of God’s commonwealth and motivate inspired generosity. Come ready to share your congregation’s challenges and success stories.   

Meet Fred Martin
Fred W. Martin has served as director of advancement at Conrad Grebel University College for 24 years.

Gather Around Scripture: An Invitation to Dynamic Bible Study

Have you ever been in a Bible study and wondered what was the point? Does it feel impossible to find people to teach Sunday School, or do you have someone who dominates any attempt to study together? Have you led a study that fell flat? Maybe you are hesitant to engage the Bible because it feels like a source of polarization, are still aching from a negative experience, or feel like you’re driving in well-worn ruts and you’re not sure how to get out. As a result, maybe you or your congregation have taken a break or even given up on studying the Bible altogether.

Join us to gather around Scripture together to explore what’s possible. We (Derek and John) passionately believe in the transformative possibilities and importance of gathering around Scripture together to hear God’s voice and discern our response in our own time and place. In this workshop we plan to lead people to reflect on their own encounters with the Bible, experience a brief study together, and share some ‘tips and tricks’ to increase engagement. Finally, you will hear about an exciting new initiative focused on group Bible study, and invite you to consider whether you would like to be part of it.

Meet Derek Suderman
Derek Suderman is a Bible professor specializing in Old Testament who has taught at Conrad Grebel and the Univ. of Waterloo for 20 years. He is passionate about facilitating group Bible studies, and has done so in congregations, regional and national church gatherings. He is particularly fascinated by how social, geographic, and historical contexts inform interpretation and has gleaned insights by facilitating studies  in various international contexts including Cuba, Thailand, Colombia, and Benin. 

Meet John Borthwick

The Rev. John Borthwick is the Director of the Centre for Lifelong Learning at Knox College, Toronto and Curator of www.ministryforum.ca, the virtual presence of the Centre. The Centre’s Team supports and encourages ministry leaders and remind them that they are not alone as they serve. 

Global Companions in Action: Learning from PeaceBuilders Community and the Malipayon Peace Hub

PeaceBuilders Community (PBCI) Philippines is growing in relationship with the church and in the community.  The Malipayon Peace Hub is bustling with activity. Come to hear how MCEC congregations both laid the groundwork and can reap the benefits of continued relationship and engagement with these global companions.   

Meet Jeanette Hanson
Jeanette Hanson, as Mennonite Church Canada International Witness director, loves seeing the global and Canadian church work in harmony beyond the divisions of borders, language and culture. She has been working at bridging this gap since 1991.  

Have you ever wondered what it's like to be a teenager today?

Join Carrie Lehn and Stephen Kennedy as we listen to video interviews with students from Avon Mennonite Church and Ottawa Mennonite Church, sharing what it means to be a teenager today. Together, we’ll ask the question: How should our youth ministries and churches respond to the realities students are facing now?

Meet Stephen Kennedy
Stephen's heart for students has turned into 14 years of Pastoral Ministry in a variety of contexts. Graduated from Conrad Grebel (MTS), Youth Culture Writer for Youth Specialties, and occasional Youth-Worker coach, Stephen loves the gift that students bring to God's family. Working with students is a joy. Stephen's desire is for students to find a space of belonging, have freedom to ask big questions, and find a supportive network that journeys with them. When Stephen isn't working with students he can be found at home with his wife and kids, learning new recipes, and exploring as many coffee-shops as possible. 

Meet Carrie Lehn (she/her)
Carrie is originally from Leamington Ontario and has been doing youth ministry for the last 15 years, most of those at Ottawa Mennonite Church. She recently graduated with her masters from St.Stephen’s New Brunswick. She is passionate about youth ministry and walking alongside teens as they figure out what it means to be a person of faith these days. Carrie has enjoyed the challenge of creating a youth ministry that is both relevant and leaves room for doubt and lot’s questions. She is passionate about her annual youth group trips and creating a church young people want to be a part of. When not doing church things she is likely kayaking, playing volleyball or spending time with her wife Sarah.

Ubuntu Dialogues

Preaching Sermons, Making Tents: A Panel on Multi-vocational Ministry

While popular culture usually depicts church ministry as a full-time job, a growing proportion of pastors have work in more than one sphere. What does it look like when pastors are employed part-time or volunteer? Where are there gifts and challenges for the pastor and their congregation? Whether you’re new to the idea of multi-vocational ministry or want to hear how it’s playing out in other contexts, bring your curiosity and questions to this panel discussion with three multi-vocational MCEC pastors. 

Meet Micah Peters Unrau (facilitator) 
Micah Peters Unrau is church engagement associate with Mennonite Church Eastern Canada and graduate theology student at Canadian Mennonite University. 

Panelists:
             Kathryn Cressman                     Chinda Kommala                              Kapilan Savarithum

Meet Kathryn Cressman
Kathryn Cressman serves as a part time pastor at Hillcrest Mennonite Church. Before returning to university to complete her Masters of Theological Studies, Kathryn was a stay-at-home mom raising children on her family's dairy farm. This role continues as she divides her time between parenting and pastoring. 

Meet Chinda Kommala
Chinda Kommala is a pastor at Lao Canadian Evangelical Mennonite Church in Toronto. He says, "I want to thank God for giving me the opportunity and strength to serve Him and at the same time God has blessed me to work as a tool maker. I love to plant churches and out reach to the Lao people and beyond."

Meet Kapilan Savarithum
Kapilan Savarithum is pastor at the Markham Christian Worship Centre, a Tamil-speaking church whose congregants are mainly from Sri Lanka. His educational background is in computer networking and works full-time outside the church.

Safer Together: Exploring the Purpose and Promise of Safe Church Policies

We invite you to join us as we explore the purpose and lived relevance of Safe Church policies in our church communities—from infancy through older adulthood. Together, we will reflect on how these policies help keep our most vulnerable safer and listen closely to your voices as we consider next steps in conflict resolution and care. This workshop is a shared conversation, and your insight and experience matter as we learn together. 

Meet Cathrin van Sintern-Dick
Cathrin van Sintern-Dick has been serving the Mennonite Church since 2000, first in Germany and since 2003 in Ontario. She is currently one of three Regional Minister with MCEC and brings compassion and faithful presence to her work with the church. She supports congregations and pastors. Cathrin’s passion is helping faith communities embody trust, accountability, and reconciliation as they walk together in Christ’s mission.

What’s a regional church? / Une église régionale, qu’est-ce que c’est? 

This bilingual workshop will (re-)introduce MCEC in the big picture: Biblical ideas that inspire our collaboration, the story of how MCEC came together, and an overview of our present-day ministries as a regional church. If your congregation has recently joined MCEC, or you just want to refresh your knowledge of this regional faith family, check it out! 

Cet atelier bilingue (ré)introduira l’EMEC dans son ensemble: Des idées bibliques qui nous inspirent de collaborer, l’histoire de comment l’EMEC s’est formée et un aperçu de nos ministères d’aujourd’hui en tant qu’église régionale. Si votre congrégation vient de joindre l’EMEC ou vous voulez simplement refraîchir vos connaissances de cette famille de foi regionale, venez voir! 

Meet Micah Peters Unrau (facilitator) 
Micah Peters Unrau is church engagement associate with Mennonite Church Eastern Canada and graduate theology student at Canadian Mennonite University. 
Micah Peters Unrau est associé pour l'engagement des églises avec l’Église Mennonite de l’Est du Canada et étudiant de théologie de Canadian Mennonite University.