 Wednesday, June 4 | 6:30–8:30 p.m. | Kitchener Congregation
If you're in the area, we invite you to join us for a relaxed evening of pizza and fellowship at the Kitchener Church. While Canadian delegates and observers attending in Independence will gather for a similar event there, this is a great opportunity for our local community to connect and enjoy time together. A freewill offering will be accepted. To help us plan, please email Mary Jean Belrose at [email protected] with the following: Number of people attending Any allergies or dietary sensitivities Preference for vegan or regular pizza We hope to see you there!
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 The Mission Centre Development Team has shared two new recommendations from two of its guiding committees—continuing the conversation about how we build a strong, connected Canadian mission centre.
From the Mission Alignment & Planning committee: A recommendation focused on creating congregation profiles, supporting peer connection through clustered communities, and establishing a Mission Alignment committee to guide this work going forward. From the Communication and Transparency Processes committee: A recommendation that explores tools to improve how we communicate and stay connected—such as a potential app for timely notifications, an editorial policy for respectful engagement, and the formation of a Communications Advisory Group. We invite you to read the full recommendations and share your feedback. Email your thoughts or questions to: [email protected]  We are pleased to announce that Vonda DenBoer has been selected as the new Director of Camping and Campgrounds for Community of Christ in Canada. This newly created position is a direct response to the ideas, testimonies, and discernment shared during the All Voices process. In this role, Vonda will provide leadership in collaborating with our camps and campgrounds, supporting operational sustainability, and implementing a shared camping strategy across Canada.
Vonda’s experience, especially her executive leadership in the healthcare field, brings a valuable professional perspective to the implementation of our strategic plan. She also carries with her a deep love for camping ministry and a strong commitment to nurturing sacred spaces where community and spiritual growth flourish. She will begin her professional responsibilities on June 2, while continuing to serve in a volunteer capacity as Mission Centre President through the end of the year. We are grateful to all who submitted letters of interest following the posting of this position in December 2024. The selection process was thoughtful and difficult, as several gifted individuals with a deep passion for our camping tradition were considered. After careful discernment, we are confident that Vonda is uniquely equipped to guide and support our camping communities as we move Onward Together. Please join us in welcoming Vonda into this new role by reaching out to her at [email protected]  May 31 to June 6
Theme: Hope is Here The 2025 World Conference promises to be a historic, Spirit-led event. Major leadership calls will be considered—including Prophet-President, Counselors to the President, Presiding Evangelist, President of the High Priest Quorum, and six new Apostles. Whether you’re attending in person or connecting online, there are many ways to participate. All worship and legislative sessions will be livestreamed on YouTube, and observers are warmly welcomed throughout the week at our remote site in Kitchener, ON. Don’t miss these key moments! (All times Eastern) Saturday, May 31 9:30 a.m. – Opening Legislative Session Includes the opening ceremony, conference organization, farewell from the First Presidency, and presentation of the inspired call to serve as Prophet-President. 8:00 p.m. – Evening Worship: Telling and Singing Our Story A celebration of President Stephen M. Veazey’s 20 years of leadership through music and storytelling. Sunday, June 1 11:00 a.m. – Communion Service Presided over by the Council of Twelve Apostles in the conference chamber. 3:00 p.m. – Legislative Session Features consideration of the Prophet-President call and the proposed Statement on Nonviolence. 8:00 p.m. – Evening Worship Pending Conference approval, this service will include the ordination of Stassi D. Cramm as the next Prophet-President of Community of Christ. Wednesday, June 4 6:30–8:30 p.m. - Evening Social at Kitchener Church Come enjoy a relaxed evening of connection, conversation, and pizza! Everyone is welcome — bring a friend! Please RSVP Mary Jean Belrose ([email protected]) Legislative Exploration Session Videos Summary videos from early 2025 Legislative Exploration Sessions are now available. These include comments, questions, and insights from across the church. Watch Here Observers Welcome! Come watch the legislative sessions for FREE at Kitchener Church — happening Monday to Friday. Be part of the experience and see the process in action! Reserve your spot!  Community of Christ in Canada has adopted a new national policy concerning priesthood and personal relationships. Under the new policy, cohabitation is no longer an automatic disqualification for ordination or continued service in priesthood. All other expectations for priesthood ministry remain unchanged.
This change responds to long-standing concerns about how past policies affected members in committed relationships outside of marriage. While not identical to the proposals brought forward last year, this policy seeks to remove one of the key barriers that prevented people from responding to a call to priesthood. The policy affirms the principles of covenant, mutual respect, responsibility, and Christ-like love as foundational to all relationships, and recognizes the evolving cultural and ethical context in which we live and minister. At the same time, it upholds the expectation that priesthood members model an ethical and holistic lifestyle rooted in the gospel. We know that members across Canada will receive this news with a range of responses. We remain committed to open and respectful dialogue as we walk together. For questions about how the new policy may apply to individual circumstances, please contact your pastor or mission centre president.  By Shannon McAdam, Canada West Mission Centre Co-President
I have been working closely for the past three months with some amazing people from across Canada on the project of designing a new mission centre for all of Canada. I always find it a good practice, when I have been deeply immersed in something, to pause and remember the “why” behind what I am doing. So I thought I might take you along as I pause and ask “why” for this project. We have been on quite a journey over the years as Community of Christ in Canada, navigating both being a part of an international church and being accountable to the regulations for being a charitable organization in Canada. It has been interesting to hear some stories about the history of this during our Mission Design Team meetings! Many things have stayed constant through the organizational changes that have had to take place though—two that stand out to me are: our desire to be part of something much bigger than ourselves, and our longing for and work towards deep connection and community with each other. As the larger culture has changed, we have seen participation in church life across many denominations waning—not just in our own. And we have had to adjust to that waning participation. One of the things I noticed when I stepped onto the Canada West Mission Centre President Team was that a key to freeing our leaders to do mission in today’s world was having solid administrative support. People who are involved in things like making sure the books balance, the website stays up to date, and campgrounds have the cashflow to keep operating, are essential to allowing our volunteers to do the work of Christ’s mission of community building. As our Mission Centre President Team became more acquainted with our friends in Canada East, we noticed some places where duplicate work was happening and where sharing resources could be effective. This is why I think a very important “why” to this work of making one Canada mission centre is the streamlining of administration. Duplication of work is an inefficient use of our resources. In becoming one mission centre, the streamlined administration would allow our resources of money, time, and people to be freed up to do more missional work. Another “why” is the ability to speak as one Canadian voice on issues that matter. Just like our World Conference passes resolutions to make statements about important issues in the world, we will have the opportunity at our conferences to make statements about issues particular to Canada. These statements can be important in the work of social justice as we address the root causes of issues like homelessness in our society. Yet another “why” is the sense of connection. One of the unexpected results I saw of the COVID-19 pandemic was that online events hosted by the two mission centres extended invitations “across the boundary” of East and West, meaning that many members became acquainted with one another through these events. A sense of curiosity, connection, and learning from each other’s experiences began to emerge. This sense of connection can be deepened and extended if we join together as one. Will it be easy? Not at first. I suspect some misunderstandings and disagreements await us, but, as Doctrine and Covenants 161:3c says: “Be patient with one another, for creating sacred community is arduous and even painful. But it is to loving community such as this that each is called.” I had a manager at work who used to say, “we don’t not do things because they are hard”—in other words, something being difficult is not a good enough reason not to do it. The beauty of this concept of one mission centre for all of Canada is that in the end, I believe it will make things much easier for us, not harder.  Experience World Conference — Here or There! With just over 20 days to go, anticipation is building for the 2025 World Conference! For the first time ever, you can participate either in person in Independence or closer to home in Kitchener—a unique opportunity to be part of history, wherever you are. A Historic Moment Don’t miss this significant gathering, as the very first item of business will be the consideration of Stassi Cramm’s call to serve as President-Prophet of Community of Christ. This will be addressed on Opening Day (Saturday). Several other inspired calls will also be presented, including our own Shannon McAdam’s call to the office of Apostle. Click the button below to read the full pastoral letters. We Still Need Delegates! There’s still time to join our delegation! If you feel called to participate, this is your moment. Sign up with Melissa at [email protected] – registration fees are fully covered by Community of Christ in Canada Canada. Observers are warmly welcome, both at the Kitchener site and online. Whether you're discerning future participation or simply wish to witness the process, you are invited to attend. Joining from Home? You can livestream all legislative sessions and worship services from home. Register here to watch the sessions Click the button below for more information. What to Expect Wednesday Evening Social — All Are Welcome! As our Canadian delegates gather in Independence, we’ll connect in Kitchener for pizza and fellowship on Wednesday, 6:30–8:30 p.m. This event is open to all—come enjoy relaxed community time together! Lunch & Learn Sessions (Monday–Friday) Join us each day for a simple lunch (free-will offering) and a special presentation: Monday: Kristin Douglas – World Accord Tuesday: Brian Carwana – Encounter World Religions Later in the Week: Rod Downing (TBC) – North American Climate Justice Team (Live video session) Caucus Sessions (Saturday & Monday–Thursday) These local (in-person only) gatherings will help us:
Shared Worship Opportunities We’ll gather in worship each evening and with the full Conference Chamber on Sunday. All worship services will also be livestreamed for home participants. Need a Place to Stay? A limited number of billets are available for out-of-town guests. Please contact: Mary Jean Belrose at [email protected] See the attached schedule to help plan your experience. We hope you’ll join us—whether in Independence, Kitchener, or from your own home—for this meaningful, Spirit-led gathering of our global community. 
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