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

​This week we bring you a few highlights from Youth Camp at Samish Island. Lots of fun was had!

It has been just over a year since Mary Jean, Dawn, and I assumed the role of Mission Centre presidents. Our first year has been interesting, coming out of two years of COVID restrictions. In forming the team, we deliberately did not divide the Mission Centre into three sections but rather chose to focus on our strengths and share the leadership and administrative workload among this volunteer team.  
We identified four foci: leadership development, camping programs, conference planning and strategic planning to address the realities that all churches in North America are facing-dwindling numbers, aging congregations and buildings that do not meet current needs.
The first challenge in 2022 for us was how to re-open our campgrounds and safely resume in-person camping experiences last summer. This necessitated water inspections, maintenance of equipment and buildings which had been unused, and weather beaten for two years. We are so grateful for all the work that Nancy, Stacey and Melissa have done to ensure our camps have appropriate staff. We cannot forget all the other essential people that make our camping experiences life changing. We thank all our volunteers including caretakers, teachers, cooks, KP staff, directors, lifeguards, counselors and others. It really requires assembling an amazing team, and that’s what happens again and again.  
We know there are many for whom camping experiences are their only church encounter, so we want to make sure they have lifelong memories where peace, joy and love are personified. We experience community at our camps and for some, that is their only positive community experience. So, let’s not keep that a secret! Last year our greatest challenge in camping was getting a full complement of certified lifeguards in a year when certification opportunities were limited. This year the challenge has been staff and getting everyone registered as youth workers as we ramped up capacity. Registered Child Youth Worker certification is necessary to protect our campers and teach staff awareness of potential risks and ways to mitigate those risks. It is a world church program required for all priesthood and anyone working with children and youth.  
It is in camps where we form community and experience the blessings of belonging. It is a safe place where children, youth and adults can intermingle, learn from one another, learn to respect differences and live in harmony. I hope you are able to get to at least one camp this year. You will be blessed, for we have faith that the Spirit resides where two or three are gathered in the name of the Divine.  
Because camping is so integral to our lives, we invite you to share your camping stories to inspire new campers and potential leaders. I know it is hard to put an experience, especially a spiritual one, into words but we invite you to share your camping experiences trusting the Spirit will translate the meaning for the hearer. Surely, we all have stories to share about fellowship, campfires, classes, silly antics, shared meals, games and friendships. If you are one of the many volunteers at camp, talk about how good it feels when you truly connect with someone like soul mates and how that makes all the hard work of preparation worthwhile. Share how you feel when you step onto those hallowed grounds and why it’s so hard to leave at the end of camp. You might just inspire someone. And if nothing else, make sure you express your appreciation to all the people who make your camp safe, successful and spiritually meaningful.  
Look for a continuing saga. Next, we’ll talk about our second priority.

Namaste
Vonda DenBoer
CEM President Team