A Year in Review - Part 2

by the CEM Mission Centre Presidency Team

As the Mission Centre Presidency Team assumed our roles in April, the next challenge was planning for the October 2022 online conference. That took considerable preparation in a few short months but plans for this year's hybrid conference have necessitated even more planning.  

Our conference planning team, led by Pat Pallister, has been meeting bi-weekly for months to ensure the 2023 hybrid conference experience is efficient as well as meaningful. As you know, while some may choose to zoom into our conference, others have the option to gather in person at the Woodfield congregation. Our theme is “Courage to Live Gods Will”. A beautiful artistic rendition of that theme has been created by Shone Carson and Michael Pickard. We have also asked camp directors to involve the children in drawing pictures about what it means to them to live Gods will. We look forward to a calendar of their compiled artwork.
 
During World Conference, we found the blend of business legislation interspersed with moments of joyful singing, prayers and meditation, during times of pause or consultation, brought such a sense of spiritual formation that we wanted to share that with you. So, we have also asked our Evangelists to work with others to prepare these blessing moments. If you are musically inclined, play instruments or like to lead songs please offer your help to the Evangelist group for that purpose.  

In response to feedback from the last CEM conference, you will see some changes this October. We formalized our advisory Mission Council for consultation on emerging issues. We are working with Canada West Mission Centre to formalize a committee to develop a Canadian policy on marriage. We have constituted a Standing Rules committee to ensure we have guidelines for a hybrid conference. We will be more rigid in adhering to the timelines in our bylaws for submission of delegate lists, to reduce the chaos that happens with last-minute changes to the credentials list. The bylaws committee that was struck from last year’s conference has completed its work and will bring forward recommendations to the 2023 conference assembly. And now we need to think about 2025 World Conference and whether there are resolutions forthcoming from CEM that necessitates a spring mini conference.

While pre-legislative sessions are scheduled once again to take place the week prior to conference, we have separated the presentation of reports and will offer them earlier in the month. On the Sunday morning of conference, we have planned two worship opportunities - an ordination service at Woodfield as well as the Beyond the Walls service.  

We appreciated the feedback received after the last conference and hope you plan to attend this conference as we need your voice and would love the gift of your presence. 
 
Namaste
Vonda DenBoer
CEM President Team